Economic feast to stem from Famine

IRONICALLY one of the worst disasters ever to befall the country is to deliver an economic benefit for West Clare more than 160 years on.

Staging the 2013 National Famine Commemoration in West Clare could be worth €100,000 to the region’s economy. The 10-day commemoration (May 3 to 12) will be launched in Carrigaholt this Friday at 5.45pm, when fictional scenes from the 1840s will be enacted by Crack’d Spoon Theatre Company.

Dozens of events will be held throughout West Clare, including guided walks, exhibitions, religious ceremonies, plays and famine-themed evenings in the build up to Sunday, May 12, when President Michael D Higgins will be the guest of honour at the formal National Famine Commemoration Ceremony in Kilrush. There will also be a big international dimension to the event with over 40 ambassadors due to attend.

Kilrush Town Council marketing and development officer, Siobhán Garvey, is confident that visitors to West Clare will financially benefit the local economy during the famine commemoration period.

“I would expect the 10 days to generate at least €100,000 for the West Clare area.  Accommodation providers are reporting increased business and food outlets will benefit from the additional visitors also,” she said.

“Businesses have made a lot of effort to promote themselves. The commemoration involves events in Doonbeg, Quilty, Labasheeda, Kilkee and Killimer, I think that figure is a reasonable estimate,” Ms Garvey added.

In Bodyke this Friday evening there will also be a Gathering event that is related to the Famine. On Sunday, there will be a major ceremony at Drumcliffe Cemetery in Ennis, where a plaque will be unveiled to remember those who died in the area during the famine era.