It All Begins at 2 p.m. Irish Time
Five years of preparation by eight committee members and numerous other helpers from all across Ireland culminates today when the Local Organising Committee welcomes the world to Killarney and the 13th WASBE Biennial Conference.
For the duration of the Conference, the WASBE web site will be the main place to get current information on the day's events and reports on recent happenings at the Conference. (The WASBE 2007 web site will remain in place for background and reference information, such as speaker bios.) If you haven't already done so, check out the first two episodes of the Conference Podcast, featuring an extended interview with Fergus O'Carroll, Local Organising Committee Chair. We hope to add a few more episodes before the week is out, including feature interviews with incoming WASBE President Dr. Glenn Price and composer Christopher Marshall, so subscribe to the podcast now so that you don't miss an episode!
In-town Travel Tips
The WASBE2007.com site describes in very helpful detail how to get to Killarney. Once you arrive in Killarney, you should be aware that the conference venue is a distance south of Killarney Town (Centre) on Muckross Road. If you are travelling to Killarney by bus or train, you may want to take advantage of some of the in-town transportation options available. Start by checking out the town map posted in the depot to help you get your bearings.
The Gleneagle Hotel offers a shuttle from Killarney Town to the hotel that leaves five times a day from the entrance to the town Car Park (just a few blocks west of the Bus and Train stations). If you are staying at Scotts Gardens Hotel or the Great Southern Hotel, the shuttle is next to and opposite those hotels respectively. It leaves from Town at 10:45, 11:45 (exc. Sundays, 12:30), 14:15, 16:00 and 17:15. The price is €1.50 per person each way.
Alternately, taxi service is available. The major queue in town is nearby that car park, right in front of the Burger King on College Square. There are three companies that offer service in Killarney. Finally, the distance is walkable in about 15 or 20 minutes if you are not dragging luggage.
For those of you not staying at Gleneagle or Brehon, you can use these same options to get to the Conference venue each day.
©2007 WASBE