This article is from page 10 of the 2013-02-12 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 10 JPG
THE Gathering Ireland 2013 will be the subject of a unique world recordbreaking attempt this June when the largest ever gathering of persons with the same first name is attempted in County Clare.
The Clare Volunteer Centre, supported by the Gathering Clare Steering Committee, is inviting people with the name Claire, Clair or Clare to travel to Ennis to participate in the potentially record-breaking feat on June 23.
The largest gathering of people with the same first name is 1,096 Mohammeds as part of the Dubai Shopping Festival at Creek Park, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on February 10, 2005.
The record-breaking attempt forms part of the ‘Welcoming Claires to County Clare, Ireland’ project, one of the estimated 230 Gathering festivals and events taking place throughout County Clare during 2013.
According to Sharon Meaney, Manager of the Clare Volunteer Centre, “This is a family event where everyone from babies to grandparents is welcome to attend. You don’t have to be from County Clare, you may not have even heard of County Clare, but you will share a name that is synonymous with being ‘clear, bright and famous’.”
Ms Meaney said the same-name gathering will form part of a weekend of welcomes featuring a free music event on Friday, June 21 in Ennis as part of the Love:Live Music event.
The weekend also will feature street entertainment on Saturday, June 22 and a special-edition ‘Welcome to Clare’ card, which will offer special offers and discounts to various attractions countywide for the weekend.
Tracy Crawford of BallyO Promo- tions and Director of the new Ennis Roots Music weekend added, “As it is the year of the Gathering, we are thrilled to extend the Love:Live event to incorporate a weekend of events, of which ‘Welcoming Claires to County Clare’ will form a part. We are all committed to getting the message out there, that if you want to visit Ireland, there is no better place to come to than County Clare.”
A short film is being filmed and produced by Martin O’Malley of Malbay Studios featuring Claire Daly dancing in various locations around the county showcasing what Clare has to offer.