Momentum gathers for Fairtrade leader Cork

CORK is living up to its reputation as Ireland’s top fair trade county as a string of local towns enjoy a packed calendar of events to celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight 2008.

A “limerick” competition, the launch of a website, meetings with President Mary McAleese, a film screening, and visits from cocoa growers, trade unionists and producers are just some of the events scheduled around the region until March 9.

Cork boasts no fewer than five designated fairtrade towns — Kinsale, Bandon, Clonakilty, Skibbereen and Bantry — while Cork city is also a fairtrade centre. Five other areas — Glanmire, Mallow, Midleton, Schull and Youghal — are in the process of meeting the criteria for designation as fairtrade centres.

“There are two counties in Ireland which are the most interested in fairtrade — Cork and Tipperary,” says Peter Gaynor, executive director of Fairtrade Mark Ireland.

National awareness is increasing — fairtrade sales grew by about 75% here last year, and there are 61 voluntary Fairtrade Towns committees around Ireland.

Fairtrade Fortnight 2008 is being launched in Dublin today by Junior Minister for Foreign Affairs Michael Kitt. Cork will be a hub of fairtrade activity during the next two weeks.

Kinsale, recently named the Best Fairtrade Town in Ireland, will be sending two Fairtrade representatives to Áras an Uachtaráin to meet President McAleese at a special event on March 6. The town will also play host to Ghanaian Cocoa growers Paul Ayepah and Kojo Tano on March 9.

A controversial film about third-world coffee growers, Black Gold, will be screened at the West Cork Arts Centre on February 28 and in Bantry cinema on, February 26. Bantry is also hosting a limerick competition to coincide with a visit from a fairtrade producer from Ghana on March 4.

* www.fairtrade.ie