A trip by Fianna Fáil councillors on Clare County Council to celebrate the work of writer Benedict Kiely came under fire yesterday. The trip costs €8,000.
The 11-strong Fianna Fáil group is to set out today for a weekend in Omagh, Co Tyrone. The councillors will hear expert views on the contribution of the famous Omagh writer. The trip is being funded by taxpayers.
Last year, a group travelled to Portugal on a fact-finding mission for the Cliffs of Moher visitors' centre.
In another trip, the then council mayor, Mr Pat O'Gorman, and the county manager, Mr Alec Fleming, along with their wives, spent 12 days in Australia on a €10,000 trip to visit one of the country's best known wine-growing regions.
Only four Fianna Fáil councillors from Clare are not going.
One of the travelling group, Mr Pat McMahon, yesterday admitted that he had "little interest" in the work of Kiely. However, he was attracted to go by the social interaction that took place, and what he would learn from other councillors.
It is costing taxpayers €738 for each councillor's attendance.
The Fianna Fáil councillors attending are Mr Flan Garvey, Mr Richard Nagle, Mr Bernard Hanrahan, Mr PJ Kelly, Mr Pat McMahon, Mr Bill Chambers, Mr Pat Daly, Mr Tony O'Brien, Mr Michael Kelly, Mr Peter Considine and Mr Colm Wiley.
They will be joined by two Fine Gael members, Mr John Crowe and Mr Joe Cooney, and the sole Labour member on the council, Mr Pascal Fitzgerald.
Green party councillor Mr Brian Meaney said yesterday that there was no justification in 11 Fianna Fáil members travelling to the literary weekend.
"I can't see any justification for it. Why do so many Fianna Fáil councillors have to go? What benefit will accrue to the Clare electorate from this? None. It is a waste of taxpayers' money."