Greetings,

The attached just in from Gerry Darby of the Clones Regeneration Partnership

Best Wishes,

Colin
GMY Chang Sha
================begins===================
*PRESS RELEASE*
*
*MINISTER ASSURES DELEGATION THAT CLONES CANAL PROPOSAL IS HIS PRIORITY
A strong delegation of local TDs and representatives of Clones Regeneration
Partnership met with Minister Jimmy Deenihan, Minister for Arts, Heritage
and the Gaeltacht, in his Department offices in Dublin on Thursday the
2/Feb/12. The Minister had invited the delegation to Dublin to discuss
the Canal proposal. Brian Morgan and Cllr Pat Treanor, from Clones
Regeneration Partnership, began the meeting by thanking the Minister for
inviting the delegation to Dublin and for giving them his time and
consideration. They immediately highlighted the large amount of
preparation work that had already been carried out by Waterways Ireland on
the Canal proposal and of the momentum now created with the submission of
the Planning Applications on both sides of the Border for the proposal.

The strong economic regeneration and cross border benefits of the Canal
were also highlighted to the Minister by Cllr Pat Treanor. Cllr Treanor
referred to the recent economic appraisals carried out by Fitzpatrick
Associates on behalf of the Government and made reference to the large job
creation and physical regeneration that would flow from the Canal
proposal. The Minister firstly thanked the delegation for the hospitality
shown to him when he visited Clones for the Famine memorial and
congratulated everyone for that making the day such a huge success. The
Minister re iterated his support for the Canal proposal and , whilst
indicating the funding difficulties that existed, he emphasised that the
proposal would be a priority and that it was important to get the
Planning Permissions and the compulsory land purchase completed, so that
momentum for the project would be created. The Minister indicated that he
was looking at different funding options and that an inter-agency meeting
of the Councils and Waterways Ireland had been set up. The local TDs from
the area, Caoimhgh?n ? Caol?in, Heather Humphries, Brendan Smith, Sean
Conlon and Joe O Reilly all reiterated their full commitment to the
proposal, emphasising the economic and cross border benefits of the
proposal and reminding the Minister of the great cross border dividend to
be gained from the proposal. They all thanked the Minister for meeting the
delegation, listening to their views and providing a positive outlook for
the future. Brian Morgan Chairman of Clones Regeneration Partnership
commented on the meeting.

?I think it?s important to note that it was Minister Deenihan who invited
the delegation down to Dublin, which shows his desire to keep local people
informed. It is clear the Canal proposal is at the top of the Minister?s
agenda and he reiterated his desire to see the project through to
completion. All of the delegation left the meeting in a positive mood and
we are all now looking forward to the next Canal milestone, which will be
the issuing of the Planning Permissions

--
Gerry Darby
Project Co ordinator
Clones Regeneration Partnership
Monaghan County Council
Clones Area Office
Office 3, Old Bank House
Clones, Co Monaghan
Tel Clones 047 51150
Mob 087 7640301
Visit [www.clonesregenerationpartnership.com]

follow us on facebook

www.facebook.com/ClonesRegenerationPartnership
===================ends======================

Whilst it is wonderfull to see a community group like the Clones regeneration partnership, trying to do something to enhance their environment, is it not time to get a grip on reality. What is there in Clones to attract a tourist?. What exactly is envisaged for Clones to become a tourist attraction?. I was born and reared on the outskirts of Clones, and it is the only town/village that I know of anywhere that is exactly the same now as it was forty years ago. If the leaders of this Clones regeneration committee seriously imagine that a canal into the area from Upper Erne is going to somehow answer all their economic prayers, then in my opinion, they are seriously mistaken. If they are using the story of the Shannon-Erne waterway as their yardstick, they are comparing coal with cheese. Back in the early 90,s, the government powers that be and their relevant quango boards (NIT had enthuasism and appreciation of the "inland waterway" project, mainly due to the success of the tourism product enjoyed whilst under the threat of terrorist attack for over 30 years. That success that was down to the efforts of a very few private individual enterpreuners, was noticed by NITB and the same NITB simply followed and copied what the private people were doing, and then cynically stood up, clapped their chests and claimed all the credit. About now, the NITB were "on a high" and they got behind the shannon erne project with passion, finance and credible enthuasism. The only people who outshined the NITB during this era were the staff of the then Board Failte. We were of course knocking an open door and business was very positive and confidant. Today, we are in a far different situation. The NITB does not recognise anything that lies further west than Sprucefield. The tourism authorities in N Ireland are completely blinkered, and have NO INTEREST WHATSOEVER in anything to do with the west. I say this as a fact, not an opinion. In fact the "fermanagh born and bred" minister for tourism in N Ireland, Arlene Foster appears to be in favour of getting Fermanagh the worst possible reputation in the tourism sphere, by her "fracking" plans. It is my honestly held firm opinion that until these "political" conditions change in a radical way, then anything like the clones canal is doomed to failure before it even starts.

Careful now Robert, you'll frighten the horses!

On Mon, Feb 13, 2012 at 9:31 PM, IWAI forum ROBERT McCLEAN <
forum_user[AG]iwai.ie> wrote:

> Posted at: [www.iwai.ie]
> ROBERT McCLEAN wrote:
>
> Whilst it is wonderfull to see a community group like the Clones
> regeneration partnership, trying to do something to enhance their
> environment, is it not time to get a grip on reality. What is there in
> Clones to attract a tourist?. What exactly is envisaged for Clones to
> become a tourist attraction?. I was born and reared on the outskirts of
> Clones, and it is the only town/village that I know of anywhere that is
> exactly the same now as it was forty years ago. If the leaders of this
> Clones regeneration committee seriously imagine that a canal into the area
> from Upper Erne is going to somehow answer all their economic prayers,
> then in my opinion, they are seriously mistaken. If they are using the
> story of the Shannon-Erne waterway as their yardstick, they are comparing
> coal with cheese. Back in the early 90,s, the government powers that be
> and their relevant quango boards (NIT had enthuasism and appreciation of
> the "inland waterway" project, mainly due to the succ!
> ess of the tourism product enjoyed whilst under the threat of terrorist
> attack for over 30 years. That success that was down to the efforts of a
> very few private individual enterpreuners, was noticed by NITB and the same
> NITB simply followed and copied what the private people were doing, and
> then cynically stood up, clapped their chests and claimed all the credit.
> About now, the NITB were "on a high" and they got behind the shannon erne
> project with passion, finance and credible enthuasism. The only people
> who outshined the NITB during this era were the staff of the then Board
> Failte. We were of course knocking an open door and business was very
> positive and confidant. Today, we are in a far different situation. The
> NITB does not recognise anything that lies further west than Sprucefield.
> The tourism authorities in N Ireland are completely blinkered, and have
> NO INTEREST WHATSOEVER in anything to do with the west. I say this as a
> fact, not an opinion. In fact th!
> e "fermanagh born and bred" minister for tourism in N Ireland,!
> Arlene
> Foster appears to be in favour of getting Fermanagh the worst possible
> reputation in the tourism sphere, by her "fracking" plans. It is my
> honestly held firm opinion that until these "political" conditions change
> in a radical way, then anything like the clones canal is doomed to failure
> before it even starts.
>