The Line-up for this years Ennis Book Festival has been announced.

It includes English novelists  Patrick Gale and Lynne Reid Banks,  bestselling
author of   'The L-Shaped Room' and the popular childrens book 'The Indian in the Cupboard.

 Irish Short Story writer and novelist Kevin Barry will be one of the writers giving public interviews at the festival which will be opened by poet playwright and broadcaster Vincent Woods and takes place from 2nd to 4th March.

650 runners and walkers will take to the roads between Doonbeg and Kilkee today for the annual West Clare Mini Marathon.

Now in it's 14th year - the popular fundraising event supports the work of the local cancer fund which offers support to those affected by cancer throughout West Clare, including taxi and bus services for hospital appointments, medical equipment and counselling services.

Ennis chances of hosting the 2013 All Ireland Fleadh have been increased after the Ulster Council rejected Derry's application to stage the event.

Clare's County Town along with Derry and Sligo had all applied to hold the Fleadh next year, with the northern city viewed as the favourite.

The all-Ireland Fleadh, which runs over 10 days beginning at the end of August, attracts 250,000 to 300,000 visitors and is worth some €40 million to the host town or city.

It's expected  West Clare will benefit from a major tourism boost as Clare County Council announce its to reopen   Loop Head Lighthouse this summer.

The 19th century building was one of the success stories in term of visitor numbers to the Kilkee area last year, attracting almost 17,000 people and generating around 400 thousand euro for the local economy during an 11-week trial run.

Tenders are also being sought to implement a plan which would further expand the tourism offering at the site

Thousands of people are set to converge on Sixmilebridge this weekend for the 13th annual Shannonside Winter Music Festival

The event, which is supported by Shannon Heritage, will see venues throughout Sixmilebridge and the surrounding areas come alive with the sound of music, as well as poetry readings.

2012 also sees the introduction of a new Concert Trail in Bunratty Castle & Folk Park for the first time, and organiser Brendan Walsh says there's something for everyone.

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It seems there's no need to jet thousand of miles away in the search for exotic hotspots - when there's one right here in County Clare!!!

In the latest edition of the Lonely Planet - West Clare resort Kilkee has been compared to the Caribbean with the white powdery sands of its beach.

The Mid West comes in for further praise with Limerick described as having welcoming locals and an intriguing castle.

However overall the travel guide found that going to a pub in Ireland is apparently the greatest experience a tourist can have here!

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A programme of improvements to the cliff walk in Kilkee has been described as a "horror show" by one of Ireland's leading architects.

Clare County Council recently intalled signs and safety rails along with a tarmacadam overlay on the existing coastal walk at Newfoundout, in the popular West Clare resort, but recently Kilkee councillors expressed annoyance at the damage caused to green areas along the route by the 50,000 euro project.

It's hoped that the government's announcement of additional funding for Kilkee Library can also allow it become a permanent home to the town's tourist office.

The Department of Local Government has given a grant of 365,000 euro to the project, on top of the half a million already announced by the government.

In all, the facility will cost 1.6 million euro and is set to open in 2012.

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Representatives of Shannon Airport and Shannon Heritage will be among the speakers at a tourism planning workshop in Bunratty today.

The event, organised by Shannon Development, will see a number of key tourism figures gather to discuss the year ahead for the local tourism industry .

Dr. Vincent Cunnane, CEO of Shannon Development, will be among those who address those in attendance, along with Declan Power of Shannon Airport and John Ruddle, CEO of Shannon Heritage.

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Clare Fianna Fail TD Timmy Dooley has claimed that Ireland has missed a golden opportunity to capitalize on next summer's London Olympics.

He made the comments in the Dail this week while criticising the Oireachtas taskforce set up to ensure that the state derives the maximum sporting, tourism and enterprise benefits from the Games.

President of the Olympic Council of Ireland Pat Hickey quit his role on the group last week, and referred to it as a 'toothless talking shop'

Deputy Dooley is disappointed with what he perceives to be inaction.