Never Mind The Eurovision -We Won The Goldman Prize for the Environment

News Release: Galway Shell to Sea Group. 086-3840973 15/5/07

Yesterdays meeting of Galway City Council did not dwell on Ireland s Eurovision defeat, instead the Council chose to recognise a recent Irish triumph. Members of the council congratulated Willie Corduff of the Rossport Five on his receipt of the Goldman Prize for the Environment.

Willie was selected as the European winner of the 93,000 Goldman prize as a result of his campaigning work to highlight the problems with the proposed Corrib Gas Project in his native Erris peninsula. Cllr Catherine Connolly who raised the issue explained that this award is the highest accolade available to environmental activists in the world and is recognised by the heads of state of over 100 countries worldwide.

Willie was feted by the Irish American community and members of the US Government when he travelled to San Francisco last month to collect his award. In contrast to the other six award winners no member of the Irish Government accompanied Willie to the awards. In fact no sitting member of the national Government has seen fit to recognise this unique achievement. Galway s support for our Mayo neighbours may not be so evident in next weekends sporting fixtures!