This article is from page 8 of the 2013-03-12 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 8 JPG
THE Clare County Council delegation’s trip to New York this St Patrick’s Day is estimated to cost one third of last year’s cost.
In 2012, a six-person delegation to the Big Apple cost in the region of € 12,000, with the council cutting costs by staying in the residence of the Consul General of Ireland in New York.
According to a spokesperson for the council, this year’s trip is estimated to cost € 3,000 as Mayor of Clare, Cllr Pat Daly (FF) and the County Manager, Tom Coughlan, travel to New York and Chicago. However, the St Patrick’s Day trips are not limited to the leader of the council chamber and council executive.
Cllr Brian Meaney (GP) will deputise for the Mayor of Ennis and travel to New York; Kilrush mayor, Cllr Mairead O’Brien (Ind) will represent the West Clare town in New York; and Shannon’s mayor, Cllr Michael Fleming (FG), will continue a 16year Shannon tradition by jetting off to New Jersey.
Mayor of Kilkee, Claire Haugh (FF) will not be going abroad this St Patrick’s Day.
Each mayor said that they would be representing the interest of the local people and encouraging investment in Clare during the trips.
Cllr Meaney will be in New York on the invitation of the Clareman’s Association. The Ennis councillor said that he does not use his town council expenses during the year, and believes that this would be a good use of those recourses.
“We didn’t send anyone last year, as we were afraid how it would look from a financial point of view. To me, that was a mistake,” he said. “It is important that we use every opportunity to ensure links with the Diaspora are maintained. It is important to encourage inward investment.”
Kilrush Mayor Mairead O’Brien’s expenses for flight and accommodation are set at € 1,177. Anne Haugh, Town Manager, will also be in attendance but the cost of sending the council official is not yet known.
The trip of the Shannon mayor, Cllr Fleming, to New Jersey on the invitation of the Union County Emerald Society is not known but last year the cost came to € 1,917.26. It is expected to be similar this year, according to Shannon Town Clerk Liam O’Connor who will accompany him on the trip.
Mr O’Connor said the Shannon delegation would promote the town to various investors and dignitaries.
During their trip to New York and Chicago, Mayor Daly and Mr Coughlan will meet with the wider Irish community representatives, United Airlines and city officials/representatives, enterprise agencies, Clare Association Chicago, Clare Association New York, Consul Generals of Ireland in Chicago and New York.
They will also take part in the St Patrick’s Day parade.