Body blow to council

IT’S one of the most recognised names in the sporting world, but the ownership rights to the name Muhammad Ali have meant that Ennis Town Council cannot use the name or images of the boxer to

promote an event commemorating the visit of The Greatest to the town.
An event titled Be The Best You Can Be has been organised by Ennis Town Council to mark the second anniversary of Muhammad Ali’s visit to his ancestral home of Ennis. The event is aimed at secondary-school students and plans to motivate them to aim for excellence in whatever they chose to do.
However, at this week’s meeting of Ennis Town Council town manager Ger Dollard confirmed the local authority are not using the name Muhammad Ali in the title of the event and its marketing, although they are describing it as a commemoration of the boxing legend’s visit.
The rights to the name, image and likeness of Muhammad Ali are owned by Muhammad Ali Enterprises.
“We will not be using the Ali name, it is an event being organised to mark the anniversary but we won’t be using the name in marketing. There is no issue with saying this is an event to commemorate his visit,” he said.
Councillor Brian Meaney described the situation as “celebrating something we can’t explicitly mention”, while Councillor Frankie Neylon suggested Abe O’Grady, Muhammad Ali’s Turnpike descendent, instead, as the focus of a celebratory event.
“In this town, there is always a reason why things shouldn’t be done, rather than what should be done. We need to look at positive ways to achieve things and if the Muhammad Ali name can’t be used because of the company that have bought the rights to that name, they don’t have the rights to the name of his great great grandfather.”
The event organised for this October will involve a visit to the town of a variety of motivational speakers, who will address secondary-school students from all over Ennis in Glór.
Town clerk Eddie Power explained, “The visit of Muhammad Ali to Ennis in September 2009 was a significant event, which attracted worldwide media attention. Muhammad Ali himself is supportive of a wide range of activities at a humanitarian level. One of the initiatives involves the promotion of the ideal ‘be the best you can be’. This could relate to sport, to academic achievement or to any walk of life.
“To mark the second anniversary of Muhammad Ali’s visit, it is intended to host an event in Glór. The theme of the event will be The Best That You Can Be and will be aimed at second-level students. It is planned to have notable speakers who can relate their own stories and achievements to the attending students. The objective of the speakers will be to motivate and encourage the students to aim for excellence in whatever they do and to capitalise on their natural skills and abilities.”
Preparatory discussions have taken place with the Clare Youth Service and contact has been made with secondary-school principals in Ennis. “The idea has been warmly welcomed and it is anticipated that it will attract high numbers of students,” Mr Power concluded.
Councillor Johnny Flynn added his support to the proposed event saying, “anything that gives direction and hope to young people and motivates them to try harder is welcome”.
Councillor Peter Considine suggested an inter-school project could accompany the event.