Life in the Fast Lane

Hello Members, it is back to the print medium after our venture last week into video, the concept for which emerged from our recent Media Training at Ocean FM. This week the blog looks at Chambers Ireland related matters in which Sligo Chamber are currently involved and at connectivity from Sligo, this time East/West on the N16.
“In Business” magazine is published by Ashville Media Group on behalf of Chambers Ireland.  Through this quarterly production, Chambers Ireland catches up on news and events from the Chamber Network Nationwide as well as promoting features highlighting the important role Chambers and their members play in shaping a positive environment for businesses.  The latest edition of this high quality glossy magazine has a feature on our own Sligo Chamber CEO, Aidan Doyle.  Headlined “Life in the Fast Lane”, Aidan discusses in a wide ranging interview, infrastructure, connectivity, job creation, quality of life, family opportunities and how he as CEO, finds the challenge of building a stronger region for Sligo on behalf of the business community exciting and fulfilling.  Well done Aidan on a quality interview and on getting the Sligo Chamber message out to a wider business audience.
Our Sligo Chamber Industrial Group meets monthly under the stewardship of David Kiely.  As President, it is important for me to attend these meetings to keep up to date with progress on the main challenges facing our industry members.  Among the topics for discussion at the meeting last Monday was infrastructure.  Connectivity to Sligo, through the N4 to Dublin and N17 to Ireland West Airport, are part of an active lobbying campaign by Sligo Chamber. This week it was interesting to hear David refer to another route the N16, the connection east to Enniskillen and Belfast.  Sligo County Council have applied to An Bord Pleanala for approval to a 2.5 kilometre road development on the Manorhamilton Road.  Sligo Chamber is preparing a submission to An Bord Pleanala in support of the project and in support of our local authority partner.  Member firms may also wish to write to An Bord Pleanala in support of this important East/West project.
Returning to Chambers Ireland, the Annual Chambers Awards is a key date in the Chambers Ireland calendar.  As the largest business organisation in the country, the primary aim of Chambers Ireland is to advance Ireland’s competitiveness through developing the best environment for all businesses at all levels.  Chambers Ireland also seeks to promote the growth of the Irish Chamber network which consists of 42 Chambers located across the country.  The Chambers Awards affords the opportunity for Chambers Ireland to recognise the outstanding work of Chambers throughout the country.  The Awards showcase achievements in a variety of categories from innovative projects to policy campaigns, collaborations with local authorities and successful events.  The Chamber Awards 2019 takes place this Wednesday April 10 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dublin.  Sligo Chamber entered the awards for the first time this year.  We have been shortlisted in the Best Marketing Category for our Life is for Living – Life is Sligo” mini film which to date has over 200,000 hits and of which we in Sligo Chamber are so proud.  The Chamber Team, CEO Aidan, Mary and Geraldine will all be in attendance in Dublin on Wednesday together with Past President Fiona and Ciaran Byrne of Storylab, who produced the film on behalf of Sligo Chamber. 
So that is it for another week and here’s hoping for national recognition at the Chamber Awards for –
Life is for Living – #Life is Sligo.
 
Conor McCarthy
President Sligo Chamber