Ennis may be part of the Electronic Super-Highway these days, but as journalists covering county council meetings there know, many councillors still take the coast road via Doolin when making a speech.
Now a Clare-born, US-based philanthropist has stepped in to ensure that this great democratic tradition survives, by stumping up $1,000 for the council's "Waffler of the Year".
The prize, which will be in the gift of the press corps, will reward particular excellence in waffling between now and next year's local elections.
Begging to be subtitled the "Mouth of the Shannon" award, the waffler competition will also help redress a serious imbalance in Clare culture: in a county which has been long synonymous with fiddleplaying, the prize is a belated recognition of the local authority's many fine wind instruments.
An outbreak of brevity and concision marred last night's monthly meeting, however, with nearly all representatives confining themselves to their allotted five minutes, and motions being efficiently processed.
But then the new award is in stark contrast to the council's own efforts to discourage verbosity. Announcing news of the prize at the meeting, council chairman P.J. Kelly - one of 19 Fianna Fail members on the 32-person body - said the US donor had been moved to act after reading in the Irish Echo of the local authority's attempts to crack down on unnecessary repetition.
In a relatively lengthy speech, the chairman also announced a system of red and yellow cards which are to be used to admonish councillors who waste the authority's time. And the first yellow cards were soon brandished last night, after Fianna Fail councillors - perhaps with an eye on the prize - attempted to table motions on EU structural funds.
Clare's radical political tradition - it returned both Daniel O'Connell and Eamon de Valera in landmark elections, not to mention Dr Moosajee Bhamjee - suggests the council waffler award could yet become a nationwide competition, along the lines of the Rose of Tralee.