The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
FORMER Kerry footballer Pat Spillane made a presentation to members of the recently established Clare Rural Development Forum in Ennis today (Wednesday).
Better known nowadays as a TV football pundit, Pat Spillane has a new role as Government Ambassador for the National Action Plan for Rural Development.
Comprising members drawn from local community, business, tourism and farming groups, as well as Clare County Council, elected members, third level institutes, and State and Development Agencies, the Forum is currently developing a strategy for Clare, which will be launched in May.
Mr Spillane referred to his passion for rural Ireland, his chairmanship of the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (CEDRA) and the importance of interagency collaboration. He also acknowledged Clare County Council’s role in convening the Rural Development Forum and establishing of the country’s first Local Authority Rural Development Directorate.
The forum meeting was also addressed by Ciaran Lynch, development manager for LIT, who has a strong background in sustainable rural development and management. He worked as a local authority planner for over 20 years and was the planning and development officer for County Clare for
