10
Kinsale: a town with a conscience
‘Making consumers
aware of what they put
in their shopping basket
every week can make a
massive difference to
Champion hurler Seán
the lives of the suppliers
Óg Ó hAilpín with
children in Kinsale Photograph by Digipix-Ireland
in Africa’
Named Fairtrade Town of the Year at
the first ever Fairtrade Towns Awards last
year, Kinsale is flying the flag for ethical
business. Barbara Harding reports
ESTABLISHED by the Vikings as a trading Minister of State for Overseas Development Alarmed by some of the stories he produce, from fruit and chocolate to tea and
post in the 10th Century and then used as Michael Kitt TD in October 2007. heard, Fitzgerald joined forces with coffee, and representatives from all reli-
a fishing and ship-building port by the Pádraig Fitzgerald, a volunteer who Clayton and other Fairtrade enthusiasts gious faiths have also joined in with chari-
Anglo-Normans in the 13th Century, helped kick-start the Fairtrade ethic in in Kinsale — Gerard Timmons, Dylan table mornings using Fairtrade coffee.”
Kinsale, Co Cork has continued its deep- Kinsale, says: “Making consumers aware of Buckley, Liam McDade and Fred Tracy — Alivera Kiiza, a coffee grower who is a
rooted relationship with buying and what they put in their shopping basket upon his return. Between them, they set member of a co-operative in Tanzania, has
selling produce to this day — albeit on a every week can make a massive difference up a voluntary committee to launch a since visited the town to highlight the pos-
more conscientious level. to the lives of the suppliers in Africa. It’s not campaign in the town in 2004. itive difference Fairtrade has made in her
Since 2004, 25 shops and catering outlets about giving handouts; buying Fairtrade “I approached hotels, restaurants and community; the Irish National Teachers’
and 10 other local businesses in this thriv- products is positive because it gives shops in Kinsale and got a list of all those Organisation also held its first teacher-
ing community have switched from using long-term sustainability to people who selling coffee. Our committee then went training course on Fairtrade in Kinsale. As a
mainstream products such as tea, coffee, have no other industries to fall back on.” around informing each business about result, thousands of children will learn
wine and chocolate to their Fairtrade equiv- The prize awarded to the town was a Fairtrade coffee and the quality on offer,” about these issues in the classroom over
alent while also heightening awareness of trip to meet Fairtrade growers and farm- says Fitzgerald. the coming year. Further events are
the plight of African growers in the process. ers in Malawi and Zambia, which both Local schools got involved with poster planned for 2008 to keep pushing the
A series of charity drives, lectures, cof- Fitzgerald and fellow volunteer Alan competitions depicting the problems of momentum of the campaign forward.
fee mornings, educational videos and doc- Clayton will undertake in June 2008. African growers and this helped greatly in To acknowledge the shared pride
umentary screenings have also taken This will not be Fitzgerald’s first visit to spreading awareness throughout the throughout the town in winning this
place to drive home the Fairtrade mes- Africa. He became a Fairtrade volunteer community. By 2005, Kinsale was award, Fitzgerald adds: “I’d like to thank
sage. Celebrities such as Seán Óg Ó following a trip to Kenya with his wife declared an official Fairtrade Town. the schools, shop owners, hotels, priests
hAilpín, Adi Roche and BellX1 are coming Lisa a few years ago. Fitzgerald adds: “For a community of and the volunteer committee for all
on board to back this venture further. Unfortunately, they arrived in Mombasa 4,000 residents, we certainly achieved a getting behind the Fairtrade message. As a
It was, therefore, a proud achievement in the middle of a coup and had to remain lot. Many of our hotels, gourmet restau- result, many of the tourists visiting
for the residents of Kinsale when it in their hotel for the duration of their stay. rants and cafes now display the FAIR- Kinsale can now plainly see our Fairtrade
became Fairtrade Town of the Year in 2007 It gave the couple a chance to chat with TRADE Mark on menus and outside their logo, understand what it means and have
— the first town to receive the award. It locals about human rights abuses and to establishments. Supermarkets are now a clearer conscience while wining and
was presented to representatives by learn about fair trade for a fair price. stocking a wide variety of Fairtrade dining.”
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20