Hurling rivals unite for Cliffs’ cause

The senior hurlers of Clare and Galway temporarily put their rivalries to one side ahead of this week’s All-Ireland Championship qualifier to pledge their support for the Cliffs of Moher’s bid to be named one of the ‘New7Wonders of Nature’.
The hurlers face each other on Saturday’s at Pearse Stadium in Salthill for a place in the next round of the Senior Hurling Championship. However, the hurlers of John McIntyre’s Galway and Ger ‘Sparrow’ O’Loughlin’s Clare took time out from training this week to throw their support behind the Cliffs of Moher campaign.
The iconic landmark was shortlisted in the New7Wonders of Nature competition in July 2009, along with 27 other sites – including the Amazon Rainforest and The Great Barrier Reef – from over 440 participants representing 220 countries.
According to Geraldine Enright, Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience, “We are very grateful to the hurlers of Clare and Galway who, while rivals on the pitch, have given the campaign a tremendous boost through their combined support. Their decision to back the Cliffs of Moher’s bid will help spread the message about our campaign to be named one the New7Wonders of Nature which, if successful, would be a major coup for Ireland to have one of the new seven wonders of nature.”
Pledging his support to the campaign, Clare hurler Conor Cooney said, “A vote for the Cliffs of Moher is a vote for Ireland and the domestic tourism sector. Voting could not be easier and I would urge people to play their part in achieving international recognition for this iconic landmark.”
Votes can be cast in the New 7 Wonders of Nature contest for the Cliffs of Moher on www.new7wonders.com. Each voter gets seven votes. Voting is also being accepted via text. Text MOHER to 53131. Texts cost 30 cent. The results will be announced on November11, 2011.