Trap backs 7 Wonders campaign

Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni visited the Cliffs of Moher on Friday to pledge his support for the Cliffs’ bid to be included in the global New 7 Wonders of Nature. On his first visit to the Cliffs of Moher, he was accompanied by Marco Tardelli, assistant manager, and was met by the Mayor of Clare, Councillor Pat Hayes and staff at the tourist attraction.
Mr Trapattoni expressed his delight to be at the world-famous tourist attraction. “I have heard a lot about the Cliffs of Moher and am delighted to be able to visit to see its splendour first hand. I know that the Cliffs of Moher has been part of a long campaign to achieve the status of one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature and I, and the FAI, fully support Ireland in trying to achieve this designation. I am very familiar with long campaigns and hope that November can be a month when Ireland achieves success in both the Euro 2012 play-offs and the New 7 Wonders of Nature campaign.”
The visit follows on from a very successful Festival of Football held in Clare in July and a commitment given by the FAI to visit the Cliffs prior to the close of voting in the campaign. FAI chief executive John Delaney said, “We received a fantastic welcome from the people of Clare during the summer, when our Festival of Football and AGM were held in the county. Due to industrial action, Giovanni was unable to visit the Cliffs and lend his support to the campaign but I am very happy that he is now able to do so and further raise the international profile of this unique visitor attraction.”
The iconic County Clare landmark was shortlisted in the New 7 Wonders of Nature competition in July 2009, along with 27 other sites, from over 440 participants representing 220 countries.
Among the other shortlisted sites are the Amazon Rainforest, Table Mountain, The Black Forest, Vesuvius, Galapagos Islands, The Great Barrier Reef and The Grand Canyon.
Councillor Hayes stated, “We very much appreciate the strong support of the FAI in the bid of the Cliffs of Moher to be successful in this campaign. I am particularly delighted that Giovanni Trapattoni and Marco Tardelli have taken time out to honour us with a visit in advance of the conclusion of the vote next Friday. If everybody gets behind the Cliffs in the final week of the campaign, we stand a great chance of being successful. It would be a tremendous achievement and would bring major benefit to Ireland in the years ahead. I encourage everybody to do everything they can in the final few days to support the Cliffs of Moher. Every vote will count so spread the word to your friends and relations worldwide.”
The official New 7 Wonders of Nature list, which is subject to a worldwide poll, will be declared next week. Competition organisers, Swiss non-profit New 7 Wonders Foundation, expect to collect a total of one billion votes in the campaign overall. Voting closes at 11.11am on November 11, 2011.
Votes can be cast at www.new7wonders.com or by texting MOHER to 53131 (texts cost 30 cents each).