Burren Connect interacts with a number of committees representing various interest groups. Aside from the administrative role of the Steering Committee and the advisory role of the Advisory Committee (See the About Us section of the web site for details of these committees) and the North Clare Councilors Group we are assisted greatly in our day to day work by the following groups/committees:
BTEI Group: This committee had been set up to advise the Burren Tourism and Environment Initiative, the predecessor to the Burren Connect Project. This group provides a link with the work of the previous initiative and advises us on issues relating to tourism businesses, such as the Passport and the Training CD, Ecotourism and Research.
Membership:
Bernie Cosgrove, George Cunningham, Monica Droney, Simon Haden, Peter Houllihan, Sheila Linnane, Marie Neylon, Eileen O'Brien, Mary Jo O'Connell, Patsy O'Connor, Christine O'Neill, Mary Sweeney.
Passport Group: This committee was formed with the express intention of developing a Burren Passport or guide to businesses in the Burren. Burren Connect got in touch with this group to discuss the possibility of merging their idea with the Project’s brief to produce an information guide to the Burren and its tourism services. The resulting collaboration is the Burren Passport. We are continuing to work with the group to improve the current publication and to ensure its sustainability into the future.
Membership:
Helen Browne, Doolin Cave
Frances Connole, Manager, Burren Centre Kilfenora.
Fintan O’Donnell, Tubber
Orla Vaughan, Kilfenora Hostel.
Cliffs Walks Committee: This committee was formed to investigate the potential of including the walk along the Cliffs of Moher into the Burren Way. The current walk is unregulated, dangerous in places and runs through private land. Issues relating to access to private lands, public liability, investment in path repair and maintenance, conservation and tourism business are being investigated and addressed by this committee.
Membership:
Gerard Kennedy, Burren Way Ltd
Cyril Killen, Walks Development Officer
Niall O’Dwyer, Doolin Tourism Development Committee
Eimer McCarthy, Rural Recreation Officer
Congella McGuire, Heritage Officer, Clare County Council
Flan Quilligan, Shannon Development Trails Programme
Pat Sweeney, Landowner
Katherine Webster, Cliffs of Moher Centre
New Quay Committee: This committee arose out of two public meetings on visitor management in the area. This collaboration with a local committee, created specifically for the purpose, to address visitor management in a specific area, is an important development for Buren Connect and how it plans its infrastructural programme into the future. The direct involvement of the committee, as representatives of the local community, will provide a new level of participation, which should enhance the sustainability of programmes created and implemented from such cooperation.
Membership:
Collette Burke, Roger Fahy, Brian Farrell, Niall O’Brien, PJ O’Dea, Muireann Simons, Gerry Sweeney
Research Committee: This ad hoc committee was formed to advise Burren Connect on the development of a research brief arising out of the survey work carried out by the project in the summer of 2007. The committee was asked to advise on a programme whose results would inform long term visitor management strategies, the development of ecotourism and be of benefit to tourism businesses operating in the Burren.
Current Membership:
Jim Deegan, Director, National Centre for Tourism Policy Studies, University of Limerick
Geraldine Enright, Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre
Barbara Faulkner, Aillwee Caves Visitor Centre
Mary Lyons, Maria Henegan & Stephen Hynes, Teagasc
Michael Neylon, Clare County Council
Niall O’Dwyer, Doolin Tourism Development Committee
Suzanne Trehy, Shannon Development
Ecotourism Working Group: The development of this group arose from a public meeting in Lisdoonvarna. It was agreed at the meeting that the group should comprise 50% relevant agencies and 50% tourism related businesses. Fifteen nominations were received from tourism related businesses. All nominees and agency representatives attended a meeting on September 24th 2008 where the committee was elected, and agreed terms of reference, a work programme, rotation of representation and public information and meetings.
Click here for details of public advertisement and here for minutes of the meeting.
