On behalf of the newly elected board of the chamber we urge all businesses to join together with us to ensure that the undoubted challenges facing commercial life in Connemara this year are met with confidence. Our regions principal industry is tourism. The vast majority of the over 100 business members of the chamber rely to a great extent on the tourist influx we get every year in Connemara. With such a dependence on one industry, a coordinated, effective and respected business representative body is critical to ensure that not only does Connemara retain its share of the tourism market but in fact grows into the future.

Developing Working Relationships

To do this you need a working relationship with all levels of local and national government and with the tourism and enterprise organisations nationally. The chamber has over the years built a strong working relationship with Galway County Council, the local and national elected representatives of the area, Failte Ireland, regional and national enterprise and development boards to ensure the interests of the area are constantly kept on the agenda. Our area faces signifi cant infrastructural defi cits in transport, water services and sewage and with deteriorating public finances the risks to projects in our area grows. An effective commercial representative body is needed now more than ever to lobby for delivery of our infrastructural projects.

Promoting the Area and Visitor Numbers

We continue to support and enhance the tourism calendar in the area and promote Connemara as a year round destination. We assist organisations to run events in the area and we organise our own events to promote visitor numbers. We encourage shop local drives and support many other local organisations and initiatives through our local amenity lotto. The chamber has been in existence for over a quarter of a century. Over that time we have seen good times and bad yet we have always committed to one principle which has seen our organisation through all manner of economic conditions. Your elected chamber officers work on a completely voluntary basis year round to promote the commercial and business fabric of the area and to ensure that at all times the highest standards of accountability and responsibility to the purposes on which the chamber was founded are met. We ask you to continue your support both financially and where possible in donating time to help us ensure we see out these difficult times and emerge for another quarter century of coordinated and effective business representation of our area.

Current Officer Board

Chamber of Commerce 2009 Officer Board Chamber President: Declan Mannion Chamber Vice-President: Brian Hughes Treasurer: Brendan Madden; Asst Treasurer: Stephen Foyle PRO: Joe Lynch; Secretary: Paul Mannion Past president: Gerard King Enquiries: Michele Hehir, Market Street, Clifden, Co. Galway Please make sure your membership details are up to date and email the chamber with any changes you would like to make to your web site listing.

St Patrick’s Day Parade

The annual St Patrick’s Day Parade requires much planning and administration but most importantly, the participation of the many schools and community groups that always get involved.

Connemara Marathon

The Chamber is a financial and administrative supporter of the Connemarathon, a very welcome addition to our calendar of events. The Connemarathon brings over 4,000 runners, joggers and walkers, along with their families and supporters to the west of Ireland, selling out accommodation and bringing a great boost to the area.

Railway Weekend 08

The Chamber held its first in a series of Heritage Weekends in April of 2008. Together with Galway County Council and Clifden Station House, the Railway Weekend was a huge success, reawakening an interest in local heritage and setting in motion a plan to develop a walk/cycle path along the old track, together with Minister Eamon O’Cuiv and Galway County Council.

Heritage Award Win

The Chamber was the proud recipient of the Galway County Heritage Award for its contribution towards Heritage in the Connemara Area. The Chamber’s intention is to continue to promote our valuable heritage through these weekends.

Jazz & Blues Weekend

The Chamber ventured into music on the June Bank Holiday with the Jazz & Blues Weekend. While our Bank Holiday’s in the past were guaranteed crowds, the Chamber feels that we need to provide more to encourage visitors to the region on such a weekend. Using member’s expertise and our administration, our committee created a music festival, which we hope will develop further each year.

Alcock & Brown Weekend and Air Show

In preparation for the 90th Anniversary Celebrations of Alcock & Brown’s first transatlantic flight, the Chamber successfully held an Air Show in June, where crowds were in excess of 3000. The Chamber worked closely with the Department of Defence, Galway Airport, Emergency Services and the IAA. Our working relationship with the Clifden Gardai was also strengthened with their huge support of this event.

Vintage Car Rally

The Chamber welcomed the West Run to Clifden in August, where over 200 vintage cars, descended upon the town. Under the expert guidance of Chamber member and vintage enthusiast, Paddy Pryce, the Western Veteran and Vintage Motor Club deemed the weekend a great success.

Clifden Arts Week

The Chamber continued its financial and administrative support of the wonderful Arts Week, successfully each year by the Arts Week Committee, led by Brendan Flynn.

Marconi Celebrations

The highlight of our 2008 Marconi celebrations was the honorary knighthood by the Italian Government on our two ex Chamber Presidents- Gerard King and Paul Hughes. In attendance were the Italian and Canadian Ambassadors, who continue to support many of our efforts. The celebrations were also highlighted on the main news on TV3, and on TG4, where the documentary “Marconi i gConnemara”, which was filmed during the 07 celebrations, was aired.

Christmas in Clifden

The Chamber felt this Christmas, more than ever, the idea of Community and Shop Local was paramount. To this end, our Chamber Christmas Committee divided into smaller subgroups concentrating on four areas- The Grotto; The Lights; The Windows and The Shop Local Campaign. The voluntary effort and the participation of the many community groups made this a huge success, which we plan to build on for 2009. The added bonus being that all the proceeds from the Shop Local Campaign went straight to 2 local Charities, with Criost Linn and Friends of Fatima Hospital, receiving cheques for €1,300.00 each.

Representation

Representing Clifden Chamber of Commerce, Michele Hehir is a member of the working group of the Heritage Forum, which will evaluate the Heritage Plan for the next 6yrs. Michele also represented the Chamber on the Tourism Learning Network Group, organized by Failte Ireland and GMIT, and she has just been elected onto the Leader Project Evaluation Committee.

Beach Road Committee

The Chamber is setting up a Beach Road Committee, which will focus on developing our seafront and exploring aspects of Marine Tourism with a view to promoting Clifden through this mechanism. If you are interested in joining this committee, please contact Michele at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Lotto

Under the administration of the Lotto Committee, the Chamber Lotto is a vital source of support to many local projects. In 2008, the Lotto has paid out the to the following: Christmas Lights €6,750: Large boulders in Playground (with Abbey Glen) €4,300: Sponsor Community Radio programme €1,600: Tidy Towns committee €750: Lotto Prizes paid out €26,300. To further support the Lotto, the Chamber has introduced an annual Lotto ticket for €90, which will automatically ensure entry into 50 draws. We would encourage all members of the community to support this initiative. Please contact Paul Mannion on 087 2675109.

Clifden Twenty Twelve

A steering committee has been set up to organize the celebrations for 2012, when Clifden will be 200yrs old. This celebration is of vital importance to the town, both commercially and an educational barometer for future generations. An open meeting has been set for Tuesday 24th February in the Clifden Station House @ 8pm. The Chamber welcomes submissions and proposals from all community groups and interested parties.

Business to Business Network

The Chamber is launching the fi rst in a series of networking evenings, where local businesses can meet in a social environment and discuss common problems and solutions. This month’s social will be held in Guys Bar on Friday 6th March from 6pm-7pm. The Chamber will also be launching details of new group schemes that it has sourced.