The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
The Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award in the Green Awards 2013.
Now in its fifth year, the awards scheme celebrates excellence in sustainability and encourages green best practice amongst Ireland’s business and tourism organisations.
The Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience has been shortlisted in the Green Tourism and Leisure category alongside Croke Park, Fota Wildlife Park, Carlton House, Bellinter House and Fitzers Catering.
The announcement comes on foot of new figures from the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience that show considerable progress being made in the implementation of green, sustainable actions at the North Clare facility.
Director Katherine Webster says that there was a 9.5% reduction in electricity usage at the Centre during 2012 compared to previous year, along with a 24% year-on-year reduction in water usage, and a 12.7% increase in the level of recycled waste.
Ms Webster noted that the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience also increased its use of local food suppliers during 2012, to include products from Linalla Icecream, Burren Smokehouse, St Tola Cheese, Mount Callan Cheese, Biddy’s Bread in Doolin and Garrihys Seafood, amongst others.
The facility also remains an active member of the Burren Ecotourism Network (39 members) and is involved with the Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark.
According to Ms Webster, “This is the third time that we have been shortlisted for this award having won in 2010 but lost out to the newly opened Aviva Stadium in 2011.
“Being shortlisted is an achievement in itself and testament to the continued progress in sustainability initiatives at the Cliffs of Moher and the work of the Green Team in particular. I want to commend Phoebe Larkin and the Cliffs Green team for their hard work and success in delivering a range of successful sustainability initiatives.”
The winner will be announced on Thursday, April 18 at the Burlington Hotel, Dublin. For further information on the Green Awards 2013 visit www.greenawards.ie.
