Author: Andrew

New community funding will go to 2016 events in Wicklow – Doyle

Andrew 2015, Dáil Éireann, Wicklow - East Carlow

hqdefaultFine Gael TD for Wicklow/East Carlow, Andrew Doyle said that a new €3 million funding package will support community participation in the Ireland 2016 commemorations in Wicklow.

“This €3 million funding package will support the extensive programme of local events planned for 2016 to mark the Centenary of the Easter Rising.

“Over 2,000 events and initiatives have already been confirmed for next year as part of the Local Authority led County Plans for Ireland 2016, many here in Wicklow.

“This funding package will enable local communities to deliver on their ambitious programmes and will also help to ensure the maximum level of participation and engagement, across all sectors of the community, in this once-in-a-century moment in Ireland’s history. Wicklow County Council’s programme of events will have something for all, from historical festivals and re-enactments to book publications, drama and imagination. Some of our flagship events include:

  • Development of a Downloadable app “1916WicklowLife” which will feature extracts from the county Wicklow newspapers, The Wicklow people and The Wicklow Newsletter, including articles about events in Wicklow, as well as advertisements from January 2016. Users will receive weekly updates on the newspapers from 100 years ago.
  • Following the Rising, granite from McEvoy’s quarry in Ballyknockan was used to rebuild the GPO. This will be honoured in an oral history of Lacken, Ballyknockan and Valleymount
  • A choral event with involvement from 300 members of amateur community choirs and 50 children from Music Generation Wicklow Children’s Choir.
  • Words to the Wind will give 1916 contemporary relevance especially for young people. This involves the production of an animated film incorporating a combination of handmade sets, lego minifigures and technology based on the key events of 1916. The film will be distributed to all primary schools in county Wicklow.
  • The Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray, will host Cine-Concert: Irish Destiny from the National Film Institute – with grand piano accompaniment by Micheál Ó Suilleabháin. This silent feature drama was released on Easter Sunday 1926, to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the 1916 Rising. The film is a love story set against the backdrop of the War of Independence and was shot in Enniskerry village. Films and newsreels from the 1916 period will also feature. More details on these and other programmes will be featured on a dedicated website www.wicklow1916.com.

“Today’s announcement recognises the important role our local communities will play in delivering these projects. After the economic progress of recent years we can look forward to the 2016 centenary with confidence. We cannot go back and it’s vital to keep the recovery going in 2016 and beyond.” added Doyle.

Wicklow stands to benefit as over 1.3m extra visitors come to Ireland in 2015 – Doyle

Andrew 2015, Finance, Jobs Enterprise Innovation, Tourism, Wicklow - East Carlow

 

hotel-reception“The latest CSO figures show that there has been a 12.8% jump in the number of tourists coming to Ireland in the first ten months of the year compared to 2014. These figures are extremely positive and highlight again the importance of offering value for money”, says Fine Gael TD for Wicklow, Andrew Doyle today.

“Between January and October 2015, there has been a 12.8% increase in the number of tourists coming to Ireland; that translates as more than 1.3 million extra people. This is extremely significant and underlines once again the excellent tourism offering that we have here in Ireland.

“I am particularly encouraged by the rise in the number of tourists between August and October, a period when the number of tourists coming to Ireland usually reduces. This year there were 14% more visitors to Ireland during this period.

“This Government has introduced a number of measures to revitalise and invigorate the tourism industry in Ireland; the Gathering dedicated a whole year to promoting tourism, the travel tax has been dropped and, most significantly, VAT has been reduced in the hospitality sector.

“The Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan, has however been very clear that in order to maintain the lower rate of VAT for the hospitality sector, value for money must be maintained. I believe it is vital that the tourism offering remains one that is affordable, represents value for money and will encourage people to continue to visit Ireland.

“Tourism feeds every sector of the economy, particularly in counties like Wicklow and growth of this scale is excellent news for everybody involved in tourism. This growth is testament to the fabulous scenery, facilities and activities we have available and to the people working in the tourism sector.

“There is a danger that as the sector expands and as we begin to emerge from the recession, we may lose the value for money factor that was so essential in boosting tourism in the first place. I believe that we must work to keep the recovery going and towards creating more jobs in the tourism sector.”