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Major conference for Buncrana 06.09.10

by Eamonn Mac Dermott, Inishowen Independent

BUNCRANA will get a major boost this week when over 300 delegates arrive from all over Ireland for what promises to be a major conference on the future of local government.
The Association of Municipal Authorities Ireland (AMAI) is holding its annual conference in Inishowen where the main topic of debate will be the future of local government in light of the McCarthy report, aka An Bord Snip Nua.
Councillor Nicholas Crossan of Buncrana Town Council said that the conference was a ‘major boost’ to the town.
“This conference will bring delegates from all over Ireland both North and South to Buncrana.
“We will be debating the future of local government and it patently does not make sense to do away with bodies like Buncrana Town Council, as was suggested in the McCarthy Report,” Cllr Crossan said. “Town Councils are the core of democracy and they are democracy at its lowest level.

“We shall have spokespeople from the three main opposition parties Phil Hogan from Fine Gael, Ciaran Lynch from Labour and Martin Ferris from Sinn Féin,” Cllr Crossan revealed. “On top of that we will hear from Éamon Ó Cuív the Minister for Social Affairs.”
Cllr Crossan said that as well as debating serious issues the conference was a great opportunity to market Inishowen and the surrounding area.
He said: “While the conference kicks off on Wednesday with registration and proper business on Thursday and Friday, we have left time for a social programme.

Councillor Nicholas Crossan

“There are going to be two tours on offer. One into Fort Dunree and the famine village and the other into Derry with a tour around the Walls.
“We are also offering golf for those that are interested and trying to ensure that delegates see Inishowen in the best possible light.”
He added: “The President of AMAI has already visited Buncrana and was very impressed by the facilities on offer at the Inishowen Gateway where the conference will be held.
“I think if we handle this one right then there could well be other conferences as Buncrana is ideally suited for medium sized conferences of around 300 delegates.”
Most hotel accommodation is already booked out and Cllr Crossan said if any B&Bs still had room they should let the council know.
He concluded: “This is a great opportunity for us to sell ourselves to people from all over the island of Ireland.”
The AMAI has been in existence 97 years and the first conference was held in Belfast in 1912.
The association held its annual conference in Buncrana in 1957 and again in 1976.

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