Co. Clare, Ireland — 30 Apr. 2007 — A series of complimentary workshops providing expert advice for festival and cultural event organisers across County Clare gets underway later today and continues until Wednesday.

County Clare, IRELAND, 30th April 2007 – A series of complimentary workshops providing expert advice for festival and cultural event organisers across County Clare gets underway later today and continues until Wednesday. The three day series will feature workshops in Ennis, Scariff and Spanish Point and is being organised by Clare ‘Live the Life’ (CANTATA) - a community initiative of Clare County Council, Shannon Development and local tourism interests, supported by the EU INTERREG Programme.

This week’s workshops follow last month’s successful three-day series of workshops in Ennis, Scariff and Spanish Point. Over 50 promoters of festivals and cultural events throughout Clare heard Maria Moynihan, former CEO of the St. Patrick’s Festival in Dublin and current chairperson of AOIFE, advise on the different aspects involved in organising a successful event or festival. Key issues such as acquiring insurance, fundraising and sponsorship were addressed. Ger Kennedy, Rural Resource Development officer and Siobhan King, Shannon Development’s Clare Tourism Officer, also made presentations on the various funding opportunities available to event organisers.

“We see these workshops as a way of positioning County Clare to benefit from a portion of the estimated seven million people who are expected to attend nearly 600 festivals and cultural events throughout Ireland during 2007″, stated Candace Ingram, Executive Planner, Forward Planning Section of Clare County Council.

She added, “Topics to be covered include Marketing and PR, as well as the best legal structure for your festival. Well-known festival promoters from around the county will speak about their experiences and pitfalls to avoid. These workshops are a not to be missed event for all festival committees and organizers in County Clare, or indeed anyone with an idea for a festival.”

According to Mr. John Quinlivan, Shannon Development Regional Development Manager, Clare, “The workshops are designed for all levels of familiarity with the development and promotion of festivals and events. They will offer those in attendance the opportunity to ask questions, with the objective of making Clare the leading County for quality all year round cultural events and festivals.”

The workshops will be held at three locations around the County - Armada Hotel, Spanish Point (30th April 2007); The Old Ground Hotel (upstairs), Ennis (Tuesday, 1St May 2007); and McNamara’s Pub, Scariff (Wednesday, 2nd May 2007).

For further information please contact Clare County Council, Economic Development and Planning Department, Unit 1, Westgate Business Park, Kilrush Road, Ennis, Co. Clare. Telephone 065-6846381(9am-5pm). Fax 065-6892071. Email lmcinerney@clarecoco.ie

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors:
- Candace Ingram, Executive Planner, Forward Planning Section of Clare County Council (086-8538485) and John Quinlivan, Shannon Development Regional Development Manager, Clare (086-2230510) are available for interview.
- For further information please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy Public Relations on 086-8534900 or media@dunphypr.com.

Mark Dunphy
Dunphy Public Relations
Clonboula,
Connolly,
Ennis,
County Clare
IRELAND
www.dunphypr.com
media@dunphypr.com
00353-868534900 (Mobile)
00353-656839692 (Fax)