Mc Grath of Harlow Tourist Information Ofices. Local Council's part in all this.

In order to get the local councils on our side we need to educate them that TIC's can play their part in making a town more attractive. At the end of the day, tourists can go back to the camp site/hotel and blob or they can try a free show put on by damn good mucisions (and bodhran players as well). If they don't like it, it costs them nothing to find out.

TIC's are run by local councils. Some TIC's are net aware - just. The barrier is getting TIC's to realise it is better to suggest a fine oak beamed pub with real ale and a session than any old oak beamed pub with real ale. That, I put it to you, is a much harder task than tweaking the councilors noses. Gloucester is lucky, arch folkie Terry Haines is Mayor, the TIC are helpful - I wonder why?.

TIC's are a mixed bunch and given that they shouldn't seek information but disseminated it, some do a pretty abysmal job. I know because I give them my URL - cresby.com and a paper precis of folk stuff in their area when in their town. A year later you can be told there is no info, never given any and when pushed will reluctantly find the wallet/card index labelled "music" (that they most certainly don't have) and grudgingly update the data you give them. I always ask first and inform 2nd because occasionally they know more "locally" than an information junkie like me, but they clam up if you are knowledgeable. Given that, what does Joe Public do when he asks the question? Tell them to look a bit harder? "No" is easier than "I'll look" and they may have part time staff. Some are wonderful, those have a folkie on the staff!

Ireland? they have the "folk" music PR battle sewn-up - all over the world.

Perhaps we should raise the profile of folk just a bit by informing the TIC's ourselves - regularly. If we mean business the councils may be more wary than bullish.

Yours - The Red Boran.

a quiet bodhran player! PS thanks Hamish for info on Ale House - any others you can confirm in Oxford?