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Tag Archives: clare county council

Council hears of Tourism Ireland’s work in US

Representatives of Clare County Council, who are in New York for the St Patrick’s Day period, met with senior executives from Tourism Ireland this week. They were briefed on Tourism Ireland’s extensive promotional programme for 2015, which is in full swing right now. Tourism Ireland aims to build on the success of 2014, which was the best year ever for tourism from the United States, with visitor numbers increasing by +13% over 2013 – 134,000 additional American visitors during the year. Tourism Ireland’s Alison Metcalfe said, “Our ambition for 2015 is to grow visitor numbers from the US by a further +6% and we look forward to working closely with our valuable industry partners, in both the US and Ireland, to achieve that target. The outlook for 2015 is very positive, particularly given that the number of airline seats from the United States to Ireland is set to grow by +14% in the peak summer season months, making it that much …

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A matter of pride in Clare

Clare communities, project groups and housing estates have once again an opportunity to demonstrate how best they can enhance their surroundings Such groups have until Friday of next week (March 27) to express their interest in participating in the 2015 IPB Pride of Place competition. For the second year in a row, the national finals will be hosted by Clare County Council in Ennis in November. Nominated Clare communities will be hoping to emulate the local successes of recent years, including Miltown Malbay’s first place award in 2013 and Killaloe and Tuamgraney’s runner-up finishes in 2014. Last year, Clare County Council also won a special award for its contribution to the competition since it was first established in 2003. Clare County Council may nominate one group per category, providing the total number nominated does not exceed five. Judging for Pride of Place 2015 takes place between June and August. Further information on the competition is available at www.prideofplace.ie

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The sad passing of county’s grave diggers

THE full implementation of new burial ground regulations will lead to the demise of the long established and cherished practice of grave digging, a local undertaker has warned. Clare County Council is preparing to engage in public consultation over its new draft burial ground bylaws containing controversial provisions, including a requirement to sink a grave to at least 8ft for a new interment, unless consent is obtained from the Health Service Executive (HSE). Anyone flouting the bylaws may be asked to pay a fixed payment of €75 as an alternative to prosecution. Any offender who is prosecuted could face fines of up to €1,905 on conviction in the district court and a fine of €127 per day if the offence continues. Miltown Malbay-based undertaker, James O’Friel said grave diggers will no longer be a feature of burials, particularly in rural areas, if the council proceeds to introduce these new regulations. Stating that 8ft is well over 2ft higher than most …

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Council represented in NY parade

Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, John Crowe and the council’s chief executive, Tom Coughlan are in the US this week to meet government and business representatives in a number of cities. The high point of their visit will be when they lead the New York Clare Association down Fifth Avenue in the 2015 St Patrick’s Day Parade on Tuesday. Councillor John Crowe, Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council and Clare County Council Chief Executive Tom Coughlan pose with Boston City Council officials in Boston, .

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Tourism Initiative for the Diaspora fund

Applications can now be made for funding under the Community Tourism Initiative for the Diaspora. The initiative, launched last year, builds on the community involvement legacy of The Gathering 2013 and is a joint partnership between Clare County Council, IPB Insurance and Fáilte Ireland. The scheme provides a national fund of €1m to support local community-based events and festivals each year. Last year, 31 local events were supported in Clare, attracting over 1,400 visitors from overseas. Administered locally by Clare County Council, the application process will close on March 31. Interested parties can contact Ailish McMahon, Tourism & Community Department, Clare County Council. Cthaoirleach of Clare County Council, John Crowe said, “We all witnessed the benefits from The Gathering and this scheme gives us an opportunity to build on its legacy. The Community Tourism Initiative allows us to sustain many of the grass roots networks which sprang to life during The Gathering in Clare and sustain an infrastructure of events …

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What does the future hold for Lisdoonvarna?

FORTUNE tellers were on the receiving end of councillors’ wrath this week, for parking their camper vans in Lisdoonvarna for the months of August and September. Parking problems in the North Clare town were raised at Tuesday’s meeting of the West Clare Municipal District in Kilkee, when councillors Bill Slattery and Richard Nagle outlined their concerns. “You have traders and you have fortune tellers who take up their positions in the square, along the bog road and remain there for the whole month of September, taking up prime parking spaces,” Councillor Nagle claimed. The Clare Champion contacted a number of fortune tellers for their take on the suggestion that they park up for weeks on end in Lisdoonvarna. However, just one, on the understanding that she remained anonymous, was prepared to comment. “I predict that there will be no issue this year, if we are provided with somewhere to park. However, I also predict bad tidings for anyone who makes …

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€30 million Fleadh windfall for Ennis

  Hundreds of Clare businesses will be tuning up to a €30 million windfall next year after Ennis won the right to host the 2016 Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann. Securing the largest traditional music festival in the world for the first time since 1977 will attract an estimated 300,000 visitors to Ennis and neighbouring towns in August 2016, which will in turn provide a multi-million Euro boost in the coffers of local traders. Sligo are hosting the All-Ireland showpiece again in 2015 for a second successive year and local promoters were keen to stage it in 2016. However, after narrowly missing out on winning the right to host the prestigious annual event over the past four years, Ennis was named ahead of Sligo and Drogheda as the host venue for the event at a ceremony in Dublin on Saturday. Clare County Council has welcomed the announcement by the Ardchomhairle of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann to name Ennis as the host venue from …

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BreastCheck mobile unit in Ennis

The BreastCheck mobile unit has returned to the grounds of Clare County Council in Ennis and is expected to remain at this location until December. On its last visit, close on 7,000 women availed of the free service. “Since BreastCheck first came to Clare in 2010 may lives have been saved by this simple procedure,” Councillor Mary Howard remarked. “These lives have been our mothers, sisters, aunts and cousins. However, it is important to be aware that about 20 men get diagnosed with breast cancer each year also,” she added. The Ennis councillor said women should carry out regular self examinations of their breasts and encouraged eligible participants to attend their appointment. BreastCheck – The National Breast Screening Programme encourages women aged 50 to 64 to avail of their invitation for a free breast mammogram (x-ray) in the mobile digital screening unit in Ennis. It is expected that about 10,000 women will be invited in this round, including approximately 1,800 women who …

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