Connemara Language and Cultural Centre (CLCC) is a newly formed educational, tourism destination located in Clifden, County Galway. Clifden is the capital town of the geographical region of Connemara, world renowned for its rugged and unspoilt beauty.

CLCC is a unique venue combining an existing holiday village, Clifden Glen, located within a safe and fully self-contained 80-hectare site 1.5 km from Clifden town with an English as a Foreign Language (EFL) school catering for families, groups and individual students. The site contains a licensed clubhouse, restaurant, laundry, 85 detached 3-bedroom lodges, childrens playground, 3 tennis courts, mini-golf course and nature walks, all bounded by the Owenglin, a prolific wild Atlantic salmon spate river. The site is set off the main road with no through traffic and is a haven of tranquility and safety adjacent to Connemara National Park with the magnificent backdrop of the Twelve Bens Mountain range.

CLCC in its initial stages, is providing English language tuition comprising classes in the morning with adventure activities in the afternoon and cultural events hosted in the clubhouse in the evenings. Professional, friendly and experienced staff, including qualified native English language teachers, are on hand to meet all clients needs, whether customising an English language course or providing specific activities to suit individual clients or families. The educational ethos is centred on interesting, enjoyable and creative lessons, delivered by thoughtful and caring professionals, while embracing the latest educational and technological tools available.

It is the introduction of educational services within the pre-existing site that makes CLCC innovative and CLCC aims to meet all clients needs on the site with no commuting required from accommodation to classes or for entertainment or meals.

CLCC is currently developing Gaelic language classes for those wishing to improve their Gaelic, or indeed complete beginners, and Connemara is home to Irelands largest Gaeltacht, a region where Gaelic is still commonly spoken.

Synergy is a major factor underpinning the development of CLCC with each element of the business enhancing the other. Integration with native speakers is vital for language learners and this is provided for with irish families holidaying in Clifden Glen as well as locals. Activities and cultural activities enhance the learning experience with a focus on experiential learning and CLCC strives to create a unique and memorable Connemara experience for each of our clients.

CLCC are justifiably proud of the culture and heritage in Connemara and showcase this at the cultural events hosted in the clubhouse at CLCC. Connemara is unique both in Ireland and Europe with its own identity, heritage and culture and untouched by the excess of the 20th and 21st centuries. It has inspired countless artists and embraced royalty with its captivating raw beauty, ever changing light and the un-spoilt landscape abundant with wildlife, epitomised by the magnificent wild Atlantic salmon to be seen leaping through its many rivers and lakes. Its essence is perhaps encapsulated best by its roads and fields bounded by stone walls, painstakingly hand-built without mortar, aged with lichen and moss over centuries yet perfectly preserved, withstanding the forces of nature and time. These roads promise unrivalled vistas to the traveller who ventures throughout their length and evoke memories and emotions, even in those who have never visited previously, and truly represent the “Road Less Travelled” both in terms of spiritual journey and travellers met along the way. These walls speak of an era when time meant something different than it does today. Neighbours, community and friendship are still the essence of Connemara and visitors always remark on the warmth and hospitality of the region. It is this and the landscape that draws them back year after year.

So whether to learn English or Gaelic, have an activity holiday or take the road less travelled come and stay at CLCC and experience this for yourself whilst creating your own Connemara Experience.

http://www.connemaralcc.com/en/

Online identity proofing service miiCard has placed on the 2013 FinTech 50 Watchlist, a shortlist of fifty companies in Europe that are redefining financial services through technology. The List, a collaborative project by The CEO Agenda, ICON Corporate Finance, Hotwire, Silicon Valley Bank and Fox Williams, is the first of an annual exercise to track one of the fastest moving sectors in technology.

The miiCard verified online identity solution eliminates a persistent roadblock in online transactions and trust by allowing individuals to prove their true identity to the level of an offline photo ID check, completely online and in just minutes. This enables a greater range of online products and services for the financial sector by reducing the expense of a physical ID check and saving consumers the hassle of visiting a physical bank branch.

The inaugural FinTech 50 Watchlist is based on the expertise of the Watchlist Panel, ten industry leaders from across the financial services and technology industry. The panel convened at the end of 2012 to debate and select the top companies that demonstrate the potential to become a game-changer in FinTech or the competitive staying power to continue being one.

miiCard is honoured to be chosen as one of the hottest FinTech companies in Europe because this service was created in direct response to the pain of offline ID checks in financial services, said miiCard CEO James Varga. Now miiCards online identity proofing has become a critical technology enabling the next wave of disruptive financial services and companies.

About miiCard:

miiCard is a global online Identity as a Service (IDaaS) platform that establishes true trust online by guaranteeing an individuals identity to the level of an offline photo ID check, completely online and in just minutes. miiCard helps businesses eliminate fraud, reduce manual processing costs, and prevent high rates of dropout when offline identity checks are required. A member-driven service, miiCard empowers consumers to proactively manage their digital identity, build trust online, and trade and transact with confidence. miiCard currently supports the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, South Africa, India, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, France and Spain.

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Comeragh Mountains Ireland.
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Medals of America recently announced that they will be starting a project to expand their premises to accommodate for a much larger inventory. The expansion is in progress, and Medals of America is already beginning to add a massive variety of products to their inventory. In addition and in honor of St Patricks Day, http://www.medalsofamerica.com/ recently added a special edition shirt in honor of irish American veterans. The shirt will be available for a limited time, but there are hundred of other T-shirts that will make the perfect gift for any veteran. Get this exclusive item at http://www.medalsofamerica.com/Item–i-T1023_STYLE

Medals of America has been veteran owned and operated for over thirty six years and is considered the #1 source for military medals, ribbons, challenge coins, dog tags and more.. The perfect gift for any veteran can always be found at Medals of America. One of their most popular services is their custom shadow box and display builder. Anyone can design and customize a beautiful display for their military medals and awards. Many customers of Medals of America have designed displays in honor of a veteran in their family.

It is the personal goal of Medals of America to serve the veterans of the United States Armed Forces by promoting awareness, and showing gratitude to the brave men and women who have fought for our country. Medals of America offers a massive variety of products and services that make the perfect gifts to any veteran. They also maintain a blog that offers current information on military medals and awards, as well as other interesting military news. Many veterans are not aware that they have earned medals for their actions in service of the United States, and that the medals were simply never presented to them. Medals of America remedies this by providing information on all United States Military Medals and what requirements are associated with each award.

About Medals of America

Medals of America, is your premier source for Military Dog Tags, Medals, Badges, Military Ribbons, Patches, Rank, Rates and Insignia, as well as Custom Embroidered Clothing. We’re also proud to offer our exclusive Rack Builder, Military Medals Builder and Custom Display Case Builder.

Veteran owned and operated for more than 36 years! Our mission is simple – we want every Veteran and Service person to display the Medals our grateful Nation awarded them. Anything we can do to have all the great Americans who served their country in the Military Forces display their award will enrich future generations by these symbols of Duty, Honor and Country.

Medals of America

114 Southchase Boulevard

Fountain Inn, SC 29644

800-308-0849

The global medical device market reached 331 billion dollars in 2012, according to Kalorama Information, just 3% higher than 2011. The healthcare market research firm says reduced growth rate is the result of a challenged healthcare market in Europe and slow funding increases in the United States. The finding was lower than the firm had projected in 2012, and was made in its latest report on the industry, “The Global Market for Medical Devices, 4th Edition”.

Growth in the overall market was challenged as European and US healthcare systems reducing costs, said Bruce Carlson, Publisher of Kalorama Information. Those that did launched new products or acquired companies with novel products.

In the U.S. Medicare, Medicaid, as well as state governments implemented anemic spending increases to hospitals, the key buyer of medical device products. The cuts took the form of non payment for patients for infections acquired at the hospital, or code recovery fees. In Europe, the extreme economic downturn in Spain, Ireland, Greece and Portugal led to layoffs and proposed reforms to the health care systems. Even emerging markets have grown spending less quickly than had been expected. Hospitals continued to purchase through group organizations and insist on transparent prices.

The beginning of 2013 saw the medical device industry make the first payments to the IRS for a new 2.3% excise tax on all classes of medical devices, as part of the 2009 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (referred to in this report as US healthcare reform). Many companies attributed layoffs to the tax in widely-publicized announcements, or said that they would not build additional U.S. facilities. Kalorama didnt think the device tax factored into slow growth in 2012, but the report does predict long-term effects on venture capital investment and research spending in the industry.

In a slower-growing device market, there was little room for new entrants and giants dominated. Johnson & Johnson is the worlds largest medical device company, followed by imaging giants GE Healthcare and Siemens and cardiology and spinal device expert Medtronic. Other leading companies were Stryker, Covidien and Philips.

Emerging markets were a key strategy for leaders and the report notes a new trend last year: the acquisition of Chinese local companies by device giants. Johnson & Johnson acquired local Chinese company Guangzhou Bioseal Biotechnology Co. Ltd, while Medtronic announced it would acquire China Kanghui Holdings, a developer and producer of trauma and spine orthopedic transplants.

The full report, “The Global Market for Medical Devices, 4th Edition” covers these trends, lists company revenues and provides estimates of specific device markets. The report is available from Kalorama Information at http://www.kaloramainformation.com/Global-Medical-Devices-7546398/.

Beautiful family and cutest dog! What a fun shoot at San Dieguito Park in San Diego Ca. San Diego Family photography by Holly Ireland Photography www.hollyir…

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Since 1997, Fado has been a destination spot in River North and with a dedicated events manager to coordinate every little detail, Fado always serves up a fun and inviting atmosphere well suited for a range of occasions no matter the budget.

Fado is famous for its authentic Dublin, Ireland decor, top-notch menu offerings, exceptional service and has the ability to host events from an intimate party for 10 to the entire Pub buyout. Imported from Ireland for an authentic pub feel, the space makes customers feel welcome, comfortable, and at ease.

Mallory McSweeney, Event Manager at Fado irish Pub in Chicago shares, “