Fairtrade mecca gears up for workshop

FEVERISH preparations are under way in Clonakilty — Ireland’s first Fairtrade town — which has been chosen as the venue for the first annual national Fairtrade conference to be held outside Dublin.

Up to 80 delegates from Fairtrade towns, and towns seeking Fairtrade status, arrive in west Cork today for the weekend event.

The annual National Fairtrade Workshop will be addressed by a number of speakers from Ireland and abroad.

The event is usually held in Dublin but is coming to Clonakilty this year, in recognition of the town’s fifth birthday as Ireland’s first Fairtrade town.

Currently, there are 31 Fairtrade towns along with 35 others working towards the status.

Delegates from Fairtrade towns and cities such as Limerick, Cork, Dublin and Waterford will rub shoulders with representatives from towns seeking Fairtrade status such as Gort, Nenagh and Roscrea.

The speakers include a representative of Uganda’s Mabale Growers’ Tea Factory, Eulogio Rusoke and Cork businesswoman Carol Doyle, who deals in Fairtrade fashion.

The annual national Fairtrade awards’ ceremony to name the best Fairtrade towns will be held tomorrow, and delegates will discuss a number of issues, such as the Government’s support of the campaign.

“Hosting the National Fairtrade Workshop weekend is a huge honour for Clonakilty, and we are very proud that fellow ‘Fairtraders’ from all over Ireland will be descending on us for this very important event on the annual FT calendar,” said Trevor Kingston, chairperson of the Clonakilty Fairtrade Committee.

“That this is the first time the event is being held outside of the capital and is coming to west Cork is very significant.”