Press Release

Kilrush Chamber of Commerce

Member Clare Chambers of Commerce

PRESS RELEASE

6th December, 2004.

HUGE TOURISM OPPORTUNITY FOR KILRUSH AND WEST CLARE

The Kilrush Chamber of Commerce has strongly welcomed the announcement of the low-fare flights that will be coming into Shannon Airport and the opportunities this presents for tourism in the West Clare area.

At the Chamber¹s December meeting unanimous support was expressed at Ryanair¹s decision to increase the numbers of low fare routes to twelve flying into Shannon Airport.

With the range and quality of tourism products, such as the Vandeleur Walled Garden, Scattery Island, the Kilrush Marina and West Clare Railway, that are now available in area the increased international visitor access to the region could not have come at a more opportune time.

Vice-President of the Kilrush Chamber Paul Edson, who is also the Project Co-ordinator of the Kilrush Dolphin Gateway Project, is particularly excited at the potential for a new type of holiday market for the area.

This development is a massive boost to the Dolphin Gateway¹s aim of making Kilrush and West Clare the premier dolphin-watching location in Europe. This opens up the opportunity to market short-stay dolphin-watching based breaks to west Clare, which has huge tourism potential.

The European and British interest in dolphin-watching is huge and with the introduction of flights from some of largest urban areas this opens up a massive potential market.

Added to this the rich cultural heritage and tradition of music, song and dance, the scenery and hospitality that is to be found in west Clare, the future of tourism has never looked brighter for the area.

The Kilrush Dolphin Gateway Project intend to have a new Dolphin Trail in the town opened by Spring 2005, which will see the addition of a land-based dolphin-watching site at Aylevarroo Point, Information Boards and a Fin Exhibition, to further compliment the Shannon Dolphin Centre at Merchants Quay and the boat-based dolphin-watching from the Marina.

The Kilrush Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with the town¹s Marketing and Development Officer Siobhán Curran, will be working hard to maximise the tourism potential that has now been presented. The possibility of booking on-line through the Chamber's website www.westclare.com, will be examined. The westclare.com site together with the soon to be re-developed Council website - www.kilrush.ie, have already proved an effective marketing and promotional tool worldwide.

With the tourism products in place and a new quality hotel expected to be ready for business in 2006 to complete the range of accommodation types in the town Kilrush and west Clare certainly have reasons to be cheerful this Christmas.

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Contact: Paul Edson, 086-889 8395 or pedson@iol.ie

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Issued by Kilrush Town Council

Date: 28 August 2002

Following legal advice received today August 28th 2002, the Mayor and members of Kilrush Town Council have requested the Town Manager Mr. Tom Carey to make an order discontinuing the sale of parking discs in the town council area with immediate effect. The Manager has agreed to act on the request.

The Manager has confirmed that following consultation with the Gardai the traffic changes e.g. one way system, introduced in tandem with the Parking Places Bye-Laws 2002 will continue to remain in place.

The Manager, Mayor and Town Council Members acknowledge the success of the new Traffic Management Plan for the town. It's twin objectives of securing the free flow of traffic and enhanced commercial activity, by facilitating customer needs and making additional car parking spaces available along the main commercial thoroughfares, have been achieved. The positive feedback received from the business community, the general public and tourists on the new traffic arrangements is both welcome and reassuring.

The Mayor and members of Kilrush Town Council have requested the Manager to report back to the September meeting with updated proposals and procedures to be undertaken in relation to the introduction of Parking Place Bye-laws to regulate traffic and enhance the environment of the town.

Signed:

Margaret Clancy

Acting Town Clerk.

West Clare - One of Ireland's Best Kept Secrets

www.westclare.com

Kilrush Chamber of Commerce

Frances Street, Kilrush, Co. Clare, Ireland.

Telephone: +353 65 905 1061 Fax: +353 65 905 1002

E-mail: Kilrush Chamber of Commerce

Web: www.westclare.com

Web development by Kilrush Internet Bureau.