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Islands of the Welcomes - from Rathlin to Cape Clear 
“emara News” warmly welcomes theannouncement late last year by Sinn Féin MLADaithí McKay of a forthcoming study visit to aSouthern Island to “learn of examples of good practise and governance in regard to other island communities in Ireland” and to bringtogether “Rathlin Islanders, Governmentofficials and local islanders to share experiencesand to help shape ideas for developing acomprehensive island policy”.We cordially extend an invitation andrecommendation that this visit should be toCape Clear Island given the many past andcurrent connections between the two islands.Both, at opposite ends of Ireland, are important bird watching centres, the sea around both isrenowned for marine life, there arearchaeological sites of great interest on both,they have a shared experience of innovation inwind energy and both now share the same ferryoperator who can promote joint marketing thatwill drive tourism forward on both islands based on new catamarans to arrive in Februaryand July of 2009.Rathlin Island has seen an increase of only 32%in visitors in the six years to 2007 up to 50,000under the marketing program operated byCalmac. By clever and innovative jointmarketing of the two islands with populationsof 75 and 130 we are confident that muchhigher growth rates can be achieved.Many imaginative techniques have already beendeployed to some effect in Co Cork which will“shape ideas” for the success to come in Rathlinand beyond. Why limit the scope of a thrustingand successful businessman? There are another thirty islands waiting for the magic touch.The 2008 Summer Cape Clear Ferry marketingcampaign is a case in point. Who else wouldhave thought of the simple, straightforward andutterly cost effective technique of erecting large plastic posters on electricity poles along themain roads of the county? Regrettably thesewere removed shortly after the erection of thisfree public art, at the insistence we understandof the Litter Warden but we hope that, with political good will that Moyle District Councilwill adopt a more progressive approach to thiskind of innovation.Perhaps too, our northern friends may one day be treated to the Pier Theatre performance art,involving what to the untutored mind looks like personal threats of immolation and creative personal abuse, but to the true art audience isimmediately recognisable as a celebration of free – government subsidised – enterprise andits triumph over foolish competitors.Our Rathlin island visitors will see much toadmire on Cape Clear Island. An inspection of our relief vessel, “The Spirit of the Isles” willno doubt impress them with the workmanshipof the craftsmen of long ago. This historicvessel, under its original name of “The Ingot”gave long service in Cork harbour before her move to Cape Clear as the “Spirit Of The Isles”,not to be confused with the “Maid Of The Isles”the vessel named in the contract for the service – which for the boat spotter can be seen on theBantry to Whiddy Island oil terminal run.Similarly a visit to the new holistic centre of excellence currently under construction will beequally inspiring. Rumours that it may be in the process of metamorphosis into additionalaccommodation, or that because of the nature of its construction it might be of interest to safetyengineers can be dismissed as the carping of small-minded people in the community, as canaesthetic criticisms by a number of unappreciative visitors to the Island.Both communities will need to discuss how theforthcoming tourism booms will be managed.Clearly the established businesses on Rathlinwill be unable to cope with the influx;fortunately we can see the answer on CapeClear. An aggressive building program of new properties to be owned and managed by theFerry operator would relieve any anxieties inthis regard.The question of funding will need to beaddressed. “emara News” calls for a new cross border fund of €5m to be established to bedistributed amongst all ferry operators operatingon both sides of the border.
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