JULY 2008      FAIR TRADE How does anything progress? Usually, one step at a time. And then sometimes, building on steady steps over a longer period, you get a bigger jump and the rate of progress increases significantly. There are many indications that the rate of progress for Fairtrade labelling has recently made one of those jumps. The challenge will be to ensure that the increased growth rate continues in coming years. 2007 was the best year yet for Fairtrade in Ireland, with a significant increase in sales of 101%. Internationally, growth of 48% brought the value of global sales of Fairtrade Mark products to approximately €2.3 billion. The small success that Fairtrade is beginning to see, is the result of the committed support of thousands of people around Ireland and internationally. The fact that they have persuaded many others that buying goods with the FAIRTRADE Mark helps people in developing countries. The other side of the coin that will drive growth in Fairtrade, are the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategies of companies themselves. And nothing is going to impact more on companies’ CSR strategies, encouraging them to make corporate decisions that support Fairtrade, than the feedback they get from their customers. Handing in a leaflet in a supermarket, asking for more FAIRTRADE Mark products to be available, or thanking a coffee shop chain that has converted to 100% FAIRTRADE Mark coffee, does actually make a difference. Most companies to listen to their customers and they do watch market trends. All that is needed is to try to ensure that as many people as possible buy the products and offer the feedback in other ways. Already this year, there are a number of initiatives by companies that will help to keep the momentum going. Remarkably, there are now 60 voluntary groups involved with the Fairtrade Towns project and 30 of these have met the criteria. To give just one example of the success of the Fairtrade Towns project: in the two years between the Dublin campaign starting in 2006 and being achieved in 2008, awareness of the FAIRTRADE Mark grew from 40% to 69% of Dublin adults. .         BUTLER CHARTERIS HALL RE-OPENS    Built in 1870 by Lady Charteris as the Parochial School of St Paul’s Parish in Cahir, this is now the Butler Charteris Hall. It is owned by the VEC and is leased to Cahir parishioners and the Historical Society at a nominal rent. A major restoration has been completed, but a toilet has yet to be installed. A new wicket gate has been made in the boundary wall with St Paul’s Church grounds. The Cahir FAS team and John Buckley of the Church of Ireland FAS, Parishioners and Historical Society member Liam Roche are undertaking to continue to restore the grounds by  painting and laying flagstone paving to the wicket gate, to fulfil local contributions to the restoration, which is aided by the County Council. The re-opening event was a Cake & Bric-a-Brac Sale on Sunday 1st June. As always, the Cahir community was supportive and willing helpers acted as sales people with parishioners. Over €900 was raised towards internal painting fund for St Paul’s         "Oat" Sculpture at Cahir Farmers Market / Craft Granary Cahir   Last weekend ( 21st June 08) saw the installation of a new Sculpture at the site of Cahir Farmers' Market, next to the Craft Granary in Church Street.  This Kilkenny Limestone piece is called "Oat" and represents the re-emergence of Farmers' Markets in our society, and also reflects the site of the Granary, echoing the original use for this beautiful building.  This piece is part of the Cahir Sculpture Trail and was created by Holycross-based artist Philip Quinn.  The Sculpture Trail is part of an Art in the Community project.  As a continuation of this community theme, some of the local school children did some illustrations on the wall in front of the sculpture, portraying their impresssions of the Farmers Market.  The new sculpture was well received by members of the Farmers' Market and the public, and attracted plenty of comment.   CAHIR PARENT & TODDLER GROUP ARE TODDLING!!! Cahir Parent & Toddler Group recently went on a Big Toddle for Barnardos 2008, as you can see great fun was had by all and it was for a very worthy cause      Catch up with all the local weekly news through Maureen Calvert's page