LATEST NEWS FROM CLEAN IRELAND

For more information read the press release below:

 

Farm and fishing households around the county can now learn more about the €7,000 prize fund on offer in the Clare Farm Idea Awards Competition by attending an information evening at their local Teagasc office.

 

West Clare householders can attend the Teagasc offices in Kilrush on Tuesday 20^th October while those in North Clare can go along to the Ennistymon offices the following evening, Wednesday 21^st October, both starting at 7.30pm.

 

Information evenings will also take place at 7.30pm the following week at Teagasc in Ennis on Tuesday 27^th October while those in East Clare can attend the Teagasc offices in Scarriff on Wednesday 28^th October.

 

The Clare Farm Idea Awards is an initiative of Clare Local Development Company (CLDC) to promote entrepreneurship amongst farming and fishing communities. Households in Co. Clare with a Herd or Fish number are invited to submit a short proposal for a new business idea. While there is no requirement that the business idea get up and running, supports will be made available to those entrants who wish to take their idea further.

 

Those who come along to the information evenings will learn how to complete the proposal form and will hear about the great prizes on offer. The top prize of €3,000 is generously sponsored by Clean Ireland Recycling Ltd. in Cree who provide a number of services to rural communities. These include taking in scrap metals at their Cree facility and the collection of scrap metals from the farm. The Company also provides wood chip for winter pads.

 

A number of local Agri-Businesses and Farm Organisations have kindly sponsored category prizes in the competition. They include Clare Marts, Kerry Agri-Business, Conor Engineering, Clare IFA, and FBD. The BIM Seafood Development centre in Clonakilty which opens this month will provide support for the best new seafood/seaweed product, to help take it from the idea stage to the market.  

 

A Clare farmer or fisherman who started their own businesses will be there at each event to tell of their experience to date as entrepreneurs. These include John Davoren of Caherconnell Stone Fort, Brid and Roger Fahy of Linnalla Farm ice cream, Lucy Hayes of Mount Callan Farmhouse Cheese as well as Luke and Mary Aston of Carrigaholt Sea Angling Centre.

 

The judging panel includes members from CLDC and Clean Ireland Recycling as well as Teagasc Rural Business Specialist Paul McCarthy, currently seen on RTE’s Higher Ground Programme. All entrants will be encouraged to submit their ideas to the National JFC Innovation Awards for Rural Business as this competition now has a new start-up category for people who are at the idea stage of their business.

 

The closing date for applications will be 5pm on Friday 27^th November.

 

Further information, including application forms may be obtained from Gerry McDonagh 086-8544036 or Hilary Gleeson 086-8235598. Alternatively, you can contact Clare Local Development Company on 065-6866800, by email at info@cldc.ie or through the website www.cldc.ie