No washout for The Gathering

WITH the summer a washout, it seems those behind ideas for next year’s Gathering believe it’s a case of if you can’t beat it, join it. A celebration of the county’s rain, or Fliuch Fest, was just one of the many proposals that has been generated for next year’s event.

More than 100 people attended a Gathering meeting held in the Temple Gate Hotel recently to generate ideas and plans to bring Gatherings to Clare in 2013. The Gathering, an initiative launched by Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar, aims to be the biggest tourism event held in Ireland, bringing in 325,000 new tourists to Ireland in 2013.
Some of the ideas generated at the meeting include Fliuch Fest, inviting twin towns Arizona and Seattle to come and experience the rain in the west of Ireland and Clare to Clare, reaching out to all named Clare across the world to come to the county for a Clare Gathering.
The Gathering meeting was organised by the County Gathering co-ordinator, Monica Meehan. A number of Gatherings in Clare in 2013 were proposed at the meeting and an online resource is now available for those ideas to be shared at www.thegatheringireland.com. The website also contains tools and supports for people to plan their Gatherings.
Speaking at the meeting, Maghera native, musician Martin Hayes, an ambassador for the Gathering Ireland 2013 said, “At the moment, we’re trying to re-establish ourselves here in Ireland – politically, historically, economically and culturally. The Gathering presents us with a wonderful opportunity to reach out to our connections beyond our own country, even if they are no relation.
“The Gathering can be a turning point for our country and for Clare and that’s why I’m so happy to be involved with it and would encourage you all to be part of it too. County Clare has a tremendous reputation abroad, through the richness of its music and culture. You’re familiar with Anne Jones’ book The Scattering. We’ve all spent many evenings in households throughout Clare, tracing connections in our own families. We just need to take that wider and invite those connections to come and visit us next year.”
Jim Miley, project director of The Gathering Ireland 2013, congratulated those present at the meeting saying, “The individuality of the ideas that came out of the Clare meeting is what can make the Gathering a success here – each community and each county using its unique attributes and resources to inspire people from around the world to come visit. The next step is the commitment to see these plans become a reality in 2013.”
Meanwhile, a support scheme is now open to Clare festivals ahead of The Gathering. Clare Fine Gael TD Joe Carey has urged groups to apply to the funding scheme for the Regional Festivals and Participative Events Programme, which is now open and administered by Fáilte Ireland and Shannon Development Regional Team.
The 2013 application process for the Regional Festivals and Participative Events Programme has a submission deadline of Friday, September 7. The scheme is aimed at supporting events that drive domestic tourism and help improve visitor experience.
Given the number of festivals that take place in Clare on a weekly basis, Deputy Carey said organisers of festivals and events in the county, which fall under the remit of the scheme, should apply for funding support.
Deputy Carey commented, “The Regional Festivals and Events Initiative is administered by Fáilte Ireland/Shannon Development Regional Team and aimed at supporting events that drive domestic tourism and help to improve visitors.  Applications for this programme should be submitted via email to Laura Meehan, meehanl@shannondevelopment.ie
“There are a number of criteria attached to the programme in that festivals must generate a minimum of 600 bed nights and have a minimum expenditure of €10,000. Business plans must be included and the event must be able to show it can build on visitor experience in the locality. It is also worth noting that in the criteria, it mentions an ability to support the Gathering Ireland 2013 project will assist the application.
“From our traditional arts to sporting events and other festivals around the county, we in Clare have many events, which may fall under the criteria of the programme. I would encourage all festival organisers to take a look at the criteria and take this opportunity to apply for funding,” he said.
Deputy Carey added, “This funding programme is just one of the ways we intend to continue to increase support for our tourist and arts sectors over the coming months in the build-up to The Gathering 2013. I know from attending meetings in Ennis there is strong support locally for the initiative and already some good work is taking place on the ground in County Clare.”
Application forms are available online at www.failtreireland.ie.