This article is from page 32 of the 2007-06-05 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 32 JPG
ENNIS has been named as the venue for the 2008 International Pipe Band Association Championship.
Over 30,000 visitors are expected to descend on the town for the event, which takes place next July. Bands from both sides of the border along with entrants from Scotland, Canada and North America will compete at the championships, which will take place in the Showgrounds.
The championship is traditionally alternated between counties on both sides of the border. Ennis beat off stiff competition from Kilkenny and Limerick to be selected as the 2008 venue.
It is anticipated that a huge number
of visitors will generate a significant economic windfall for the town.
Ennis was highlighted as a poten- tial location following a statement made earlier this year by hotelier John Madden.
During his term as president of En- nis Chamber of Commerce, Mr Mad- den said Ennis was a suitable location for a major international festival.
Members of the Tulla Pipe Band approached the Irish Pipe Band As- sociation to put forward Ennis as a oF NLECOR
Capt Michael Egan, vice-president of the Irish Pipe Band Association said Ennis proved the ideal location.
“It’s close to the airport, you have rail connections. Space was another consideration, you need a ground
that can cater for the numbers, and plenty of hotel accommodation. En- nis has the new bypass. It’s ideal re- ally, its so close to Shannon its easy to get here by rail.
“Certainly we’d be keen and proud to have it in Clare. We’d like to have it in Limerick but we didn’t have the JeYeu DBL Bony
“Being from Munster myself, I take a personal interest in bringing it down here. We got a very posi- tive response from Ennis and Clare in general; they were keen to have it. And were keen to be down here, GET rem ole bercmdelem elena erm mm aten the strong traditional music.”
Capt Egan explained the event has always drawn big attendance num- leTouce
“You re talking between 20-25,000 maybe even 30,000 people would travel. Between 60 and 80 bands aoe eas
‘The top ones from the country es- pecially the north, they’d be heavy into it there.”
John Madden said he was delighted at the decision to award Ennis the ak-WeaheyCovervevl ence
“After coming back from Milwau- kee last year I saw the need for an Irish festival in Ennis, because I thought it was ready for it.
“The Fleadh Nua was in existence and I asked for it to be reorganised and for it to become and interna- tional event. We are very happy that today we have seen the conclusion of a lot of work”.