New city to be discussed at conference

Serious and challenging issues regarding the proposed 'New City for the West' will be discussed at Knock House Hotel on Monday-Tuesday, May 14th-15th.

An overflow attendance is expected by the event's organisers for the international conference which is entitled the 'Future of Ireland'. It is understood that an international panel of experts will consider how Ireland can continue to enjoy the economic boom along with assessing the threats to the Irish economy.

"At the end of 2002, the EU will expand to include three additional countries, Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary, an additional 60 million people whose average earnings are between 3,000 and 5,000 dollars a year," the organisers stated.

"In these countries, there are excellent infrastructures, motorways, rail links to all the good infrastructure and a move to the new EU member countries. Money has no friends, it happened before to our manufacturing industry, it will happen again to our new IT employers, but there is one way to prevent such an economic disaster in Ireland, the Government can recognise the danger and act with new radical proposals," the conference organisers stated.

"Here, in the West, we are fully aware of the crisis facing Ireland, we have seen the textile industry and other basic manufacturing - the IDA success story of the 1980s - disappear over the last few years, 'Fruit of the Loom', 'Farah' and many others. Agriculture is almost totally dependent on financial supports," they added.

"What is left for the West? Jobs in Dublin for young people if they can afford to live there or if they can endure several hours per day sitting in traffic jams. So we now have a two speed Ireland - a booming capital, urban growth, a Celtic Tiger on the East coast where property prices are several times that in the West. In the West it is the same old story, the West appears to be content to suffer on without its share of national prosperity," it was remarked by a source from Enterprise Connacht/Ulster.

"However, the conference will be asked to evaluate one glimmer of hope, the 'New City for the West' proposed by William Thomas. At least William A. Thomas has ambitious plans for the future.

He proposes a new city which will bring opportunity to the west and which will benefit all of Ireland while at the same time resolving urban problems of crime and overcrowding and by helping to relieve congestion in Dublin," the organisation remarked.