The cost of Clare County Council’s most recent St Patrick’s Day trip to New York amounted to over €7,000.
Newly-obtained information reveals the local authority’s annual trip included two reservations at Manhattan hotel the Lotte Palace which claims to be the city’s “most iconic” hospitality venue and offers “a luxury retreat, beloved by New Yorkers and cherished by visitors”.
The total cost of the accommodation and flights came to just over €7,000 for the delegation which consisted of one senior official and one councillor.
Limerick City and County Council ran up the largest bill of any local authority in the country with the cost of its trips to New York and Savannah coming in at just under €80,000.
Overall, local councils spent almost €370,000 for sending politicians and officials abroad for St Patrick’s Day this year.
