This article is from page 9 of the 2012-08-28 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 9 JPG
A NEW blueprint showing how Clare is set to play its part in the Government’s ‘Gathering’ initiative is set to be produced in the coming months and will become a key promotional and marketing tool for the county.
The recently established steering group for ‘The Gathering Clare’ has announced plans for a calendar of events for 2013 that is set to be distributed nationally and internationally to try and encourage more tourists to choose the county as a holiday destination.
The steering committee has challenged community groups across the county to organise events that can become part of ‘The Gathering’ and thereby piggyback the Government initiative to bring over 300,000 extra tourists into the country in 2013.
“We are asking all groups/individuals who are planning events next year to submit details, as a Calendar of Events for 2013 is currently being prepared,” said Monica Meehan, coordinator of Clare’s County Gathering steering group.
“We hope to focus on a number of headline events during the year and the steering group is continuing to work through all the suggestions that have been received to date. Our key task is to mobilise and drive The Gathering throughout the county by engaging, planning and coordinating community-based activity,” Ms Meehan added.
The inaugural Daniel O’Connell day is one high-profile event that’s already emerging as a key part of Clare’s commitment to the ‘Gathering’, with July 5, 2013, being the 175th anniversary of ‘The Liberator’s’ historic election as MP for Ennis.
Other events in the pipeline include the revival of the Festival of Finn in Corofin, while the Clare Roots Society is organising a conference, entitled ‘Gathering the Scattering’, which will take place in the Temple Gate Hotel on April 6, 2013, and will be preceded by a week-long programme of events.
Anyone organising a festival or event during 2013 or planning a specific event for ‘The Gathering 2013’ is asked to submit event details by Friday, September 14, to: Monica Meehan, Senior Executive Officer, Tourism & Community Development Department, Clare County Council, New Road, Ennis, or by email to mmeehan@clarecoco.ie.