6th March 2013 – Breaking News

Today, planning permission has been granted after An Bord Pleannula turned down an objection by local groups of surfers. The new pier development south of the current one will cost about 6 million Euros and is badly needed if the area is to develop further on a tourism level.

On the busy summer days when the tide is too low for the ferries to come to the pier, they either have to wait for the tide to rise or use curraghs which makes for a quaint visitor experience but are a time-consuming affair.

Also, in terms of safety on the water, it is imperative that Doolin Rescue can launch their boats anytime, high or low tide. At the same time as the pier, there will be facilities put in place like restrooms and a paved parking space.

We hope that the pier will be finished by 2015.

Dublin or County Clare… sure where else would you want be? Or maybe on the beautiful coast of Clare.

Karin Funke Photography

The Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience in County Clare has been awarded the CIE Gold Award of Overall Excellence for Best Visit in Ireland during 2012.

The award, which is decided by clients of CIE Tours International, was presented at a ceremony held in the National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin.
Accepting the award last night, Mayor of Clare, Councillor Pat Daly said the honour was a suitable acknowledgment of how the visitor centre and associated facilities have greatly enhanced the overall visitor experience at the Cliffs of Moher.

Mayor Daly noted that the flagship tourism project has continued to attract significant visitors during recent years when tourism as a whole across Ireland and the world has experienced considerable difficulties.

Ms. Katherine Webster, Director of the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience stated: “This award is a tribute to the staff of the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience and the agencies that have made considerable investments in developing the attraction during recent years.  While we have won CIE Tours International awards in each of the past three years, this is the first time that we have been awarded the Gold Medal.”

The winners of the annual Awards of Excellence are chosen from an independent evaluation of feedback surveys completed by over 17,000 CIE Tours International customers.
According to Ms. Webster: “To receive such a high approval rating from our customers is an immense source of pride for everybody involved with the development and management of the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience. This award will undoubtedly help us during 2013 as we promote the Cliffs of Moher as a visitor attraction to prospective international visitors as well as the growing domestic market.”

Today, a new route from Shannon to Glasgow was announced: Flybe will be offering a year-round new route starting from May. Great news for Shannon Airport and our whole area, and of course for all Scots wanting to visit the land of their Celtic cousins!

There will be three flights per week (Wed, Fri and Sundays). This is the first new route since Shannon airport became independent, and more are to follow. Great news indeed for everybody in the Clare and Limerick area!

Why is this news making such big waves in the birdwatching world? This is the first time this wonderful creature has been recorded in the western Palearctic. It usual habitats include North America in summer, where they breed, and South America where they migrate to in winter. So that rare visitor makes us wonder how it had made its way over the big pond!

The Eastern Kingbird gets its name from a crown of yellow, orange, or red feathers on its head, which is usually concealed – unless it encounters a potential predator. Then the Kingbird may simultaneously raise its bright crown patch, stretch its beak wide open to reveal a red gape, and dive-bomb the intruder. With dark gray upperparts and a neat white tip to the tail, the Eastern Kingbird looks like it’s wearing a business suit. And this big-headed, broad-shouldered bird does mean business — they have no problem harassing crows, Red-tailed Hawks, Great Blue Herons, and other birds that pass over their territory.

When breeding in North America, they live on insects alone. In the winter along the Amazon, however, they have a completely different lifestyle: they travel in flocks and eat fruit. They seem to get all the water they need from their eating diet as they have never been seen drinking water.

Another astonishing fact: the oldest Eastern Kingbirg ever recorded got to live 10 years and 1 month!

There will be clan gatherings, festivals, special sporting events, music and concerts taking place all across the country, all year long. Cities, villages, towns and communities will show what they are made of and create events around sports, music, dance, business, Irish culture and the typical Irish sense of fun.

The Gathering is the people’s party. It will kick off in spectacular style at the New Year’s Eve Festival in Dublin and will be celebrated through gatherings of the people and Ireland’s major festivals during 2013. There will be clan gatherings, walking festivals, dance festivals and all kinds of festivals.

We will keep you posted on the Events Calendar page on this website, so come back and check!

Where will you go, in 2013?

The authorities will examine it to see what made it wash up on our shores which are far away from its usual hunting grounds on the other side of the world. See more information here…