Autumn Classes at the Benwiskin Centre

Enrolment is now taking place at the Centre for the following classes. The minimum number of participants are required for each class to proceed. Class sizes are limited - please book early to avoid disappointment:-

MONDAY

Speech and Drama - Tutor Emma Pounch
5-7 year olds - 5pm - 6pm
8-11 year olds - 6pm - 7pm
First classes - 15th September 2008
Duration - 10 weeks

TUESDAY

Parent and Toddler group sessions
First session - 9th September 2008
Time - 10am - 12noon
Last class - 16th December 2008

Single Hand Card Games
First session - October
Time - 9pm - 11pm
Last game - 16th December 2008

WEDNESDAY

Adult Art - Tutor Sean O'Hannrachain
First class - 17th September 2008
Time - 10am - 1pm
Duration - 10 weeks
This class is generously supported by County Sligo VEC

Children's Art - Tutor Sean O'Hannrachain
First class - 17th September 2008
Time - 5pm - 6.30pm
Duration - 10 weeks

Pilates - Tutor Paul Burns
First class - 17th September 2008
Time - 8pm - 9pm
Duration - 10 weeks

THURSDAY

Yoga - Tutor Donna Good
First class - 18th September 2008
Time - 11am - 12.30pm
Duration - 10 weeks

Children's Hip Hop Dancing - Tutor Aileen McCann
First class - 18th September 2008
Time - 5.30pm - 6.30pm
Duration - 10 weeks

Basic Computers
First class - 18th September 2008
Time - 8pm - 10pm
Duration - 8 weeks

FRIDAY

Basket Making - Tutor Paddy Joe Gallagher
First class - 19th September 2008
Time - 11am - 1pm
Duration - 10 weeks

Expressions of interest are being taken for a Creative Writing workshop or a series of classes. Please contact the Centre if you are interested.

For information on any of the above please call 071 9176721.

Ecoescape - By Catherine Mack - Green travel in Ireland

ecoescape: the handbook to responsible escapism

Press Release

May 2008

A new shade of green for travellers on the Emerald Isle

ecoescape: Ireland

by Catherine Mack, published May 2008

the handbook to responsible escapism
slow travel • green places to stay • local food and drink • eco days out

"Here is proof that green is no longer extreme."
Richard Hammond, the Guardian's eco travel correspondent

ecoescape: Ireland is a new handbook to green travel in Ireland. Written by Irish travel writer, CatherineMack, this new guide follows the recent successful launch of ecoescape: UK. In this groundbreaking book, Catherine gives a personal insight into her top 50 ecoescapes around the country which she has visited over the last six months. Full of practical details, including a Slow Travel Toolkit, ecoescape: Ireland helps travellers find ways to responsible escapism closer to home, and provides international visitors greener options for their travels around Ireland, both North and South.

Eco-travel begins at home. Which is why ecoescape promotes travel in the UK and Ireland. Here tourism businesses, including hotels and attractions, are cutting emissions, sourcing locally, generating their own energy, moving off-grid and encouraging travellers and visitors to do the same. Through the books and ecoescape’s website at www.ecoescape.org, ecoescape provides a platform for Irish businesses to shout about what they do and to connect ecoescapers to the changes that are making the world a greener place.

ecoescape: Ireland offers insight into the people behind the green businesses. "I wanted to make a guidebook to share the stories of great people who are, quite simply, trying to make a difference," says author Catherine Mack. "They are striving to make a living out of Irish tourism, but taking responsibility for the impact it might have locally."

ecoescape promotes slow travel. This involves using our cars less and avoiding flying. Instead we take the train, the bus or the boat and use our bikes and our legs more. Each ecoescape book includes a Slow Travel Toolkit which shows the reader how to enjoy travelling slowly and,in the process, discover a new way of taking a holiday. The author travelled slowly and has included details of her cycle, bus and rail routes so readers can do the same. There are also practical tips on how to travel sustainably to Ireland from the UK using the ferry.

As ecoescape: Ireland covers the island of Ireland, North and South, it also explores the concept of crossborder tourism in a country that has, in the past, been divided by conflict. Catherine Mack explains, "If you are visiting Ireland, you will quickly discover that natural beauty such as the Mourne Mountain range does not stop at the border."

ecoescape: Ireland – published May 2008, price £8.99

ecoescape: Ireland is a 192-page, full-colour travel guide to the greenest places to escape to in Ireland. Each of the featured fifty ecoescapes includes the author’s personal review, inspiring photography and full contact details, plus advice on how to get there slowly.• There is also a comprehensive directory that covers places to stay, visit and eat, so wherever you go in Ireland, an ecoescape is never far away.

ecoescape: Ireland was printed in the UK using FSC-certified paper and eco-friendly inks.

ecoescape: Ireland is the second title in a new series of travel guides that celebrate escapism and holidays that are closer to home.

This new edition and the editions to follow build on the considerable success of the first edition published in 2007 by Laura Burgess. Her ongoing research, and that of her team, will continue to expand the coverage of eco-tourism in the UK and beyond.

www.ecoescape.org

The website offers news, stories and travellers tips as well as an online directory of environmentally friendly places to stay and visit. It’s also a meeting place for green travellers to raise awareness of sustainable travel in the UK and promote responsible escapism globally. Here travellers are encouraged to share their stories of green travel.

Contact

For further information email media@greenguide.co.uk, call 01945 461 452 or see www.greenguide.co.uk

To contact Laura Burgess, founder of ecoescape, email laura@ecoescape.org.

ecoescape: United Kingdom written by Laura Burgess published March 28th 2008, price £8.99, ISBN 978-

1-905731-40-4.

ecoescape: Ireland written by Catherine Mack and edited by Laura Burgess is published May 28th 2008,

price £8.99, ISBN 978-1-905731-29-9.

Both Laura and Catherine are available for interview. A press kit is available including more on slow travel and what ecoescape is all about plus sample pages and images. The full PDF and print copies of ecoescape: Ireland are available for review on request.

Editor’s Notes

1. Ecoescape is published under the Green Guide imprint, by Markham Publishing. The Green Guide is the

directory for planet-friendly living – see www.greenguide.co.uk – and is the UK’s most comprehensive database

of eco-friendly, green and natural products, services and organisations. It was first published in 1994.

2. ecoescapes are available in bookstores, selected organic & wholefood stores and specialist retailers across the

UK. They can be purchased direct from the publisher’s website at www.greenguide.co.uk. Details of forthcoming

titles in the series are also available online.

3. The books are distributed by Vine House Distribution Ltd, The Old Mill House, Mill Lane, Uckfield, East Sussex

TN22 5AA. Tel: 01825 767 396 or email sales@vinehouseuk.co.uk

4. A limited number of copies are available for competitions and give-aways – please contact

media@greenguide.co.uk for further information.

5. Catherine Mack is a freelance writer specialising in responsible tourism. Her work regularly appears in the

Observer, Metro, Daily Telegraph, the Irish Sunday Tribune, Irish Times and various other publications and

websites. Catherine recently graduated with a Masters degree in Responsible Tourism Management from

University of Greenwich, London, gaining a distinction for her research on Travel Print Media and Responsible

Tourism. Catherine writes about the issues of ‘green’ travel, as well as destinations practising genuine

responsible tourism policies. Catherine was born in Ireland and now lives in London with her two young sons.

6. Inclusion in ecoescape: None of the businesses have paid to be included in the book. Nor do we get paid

commission for any holiday booked using ecoescape. Our editorial decisions are kept independent from

commercial ones. Although many of the businesses have received formal awards for their green initiatives,

ecoescape has another set of requirements which are difficult to measure. We look for businesses that

demonstrate that along with fulfilling the criteria set by green accreditation schemes and government initiatives,

they offer innovative ways of involving their customers in the travel experience. The business owners need to

offer guests an insight into the local communities that sustain them through their supplies of energy, food, drink,

local crafts and expertise. We include ecoawards such as the green leaf of the Green Tourism Business

Scheme as an additional guiding point for readers.

An ecoescape is about what the destination offers as an experience and a way to get ‘off-grid’. In other words

the business has to add to the stock of stories about responsible escapism. The ecoescape suggestions in the

guides therefore contribute to a storybook of how the owners think travel is possible whilst also paying respect

to the natural environment in which they live and welcome others to stay.

Benwiskin Centre Arts and Crafts Summer Camp

The Benwiskin Centre will be holding an Arts and Crafts Summer Camp at the Centre from the 11th - 15th August 2008. For further details contact the Centre on 071 91 76721. Please note you will need to call into the Centre to enrol your child/ren.

Community Organic Garden Project at The Benwiskin Centre

The Community Organic Garden Project at the Benwiskin Centre recommenced on Monday, 7th April 2008. This project will run every Monday until October from 10am - 12 noon. You can join the project any Monday. There is a charge of €40/50 for the course.

The Community Garden Project is a course where a gardener will guide and help you in growing food in the community garden based at The Benwiskin Centre. By joining this project, you will learn how to grow organic vegetables and fruit; grow what you and your family like to eat; learn how to prepare and cook fresh produce.

For more information about this project, please contact Hans at the Organic Centre, Rossinver, Co. Leitrim on 071 9854338.

Bicycle Hire Service available for guests

A bicycle hire service is now awailable for guests at the Benwiskin Centre. Why not park the car and get out and about and enjoy the beautiful surroundings! Details available at reception.

The Parent and Toddler Group sessions at The Benwiskin Centre, Ballintrillick, Sligo

The Benwiskin Centre Parent and Toddler Group sessions have now finished for the summer and will resume again Tuesday, 9th September 2008 and every Tuesday thereafter from 10am - 12 noon.

The sessions provides parents/guardians with an opportunity to socialise and network whilst at the same time relax knowing their children are in a safe environment. New parents and children always welcome. Toys and refreshments provided.

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