A fusion of fashion and food

BUSINESSES in Killaloe and Ballina are uniting to organise a major food and fashion extravaganza in a bid to attract additional visitors next September.

 

The decision to organise a new festival was made at the annual general meeting of the Ballina Killaloe Business Association (BKBA), where it was also agreed to set up a sub-committee to put the necessary plans in place.

One of the most exciting new developments by the group is the production of a corporate brochure, which will be given to tour operators, trade shows and national and international tourism promoters to attract more overseas visitors.

Hopes are high that Leader groups in Clare and North Tipperary will be in a position to provide funding for this initiative, which would provide a major boost to the marketing and promotion of the twin communities.

Agnes O’Shaughnessy from Clare Local Development Company gave a presentation at the meeting about the funding available for new enterprises.Sean Crowley from North Tipperary Leader Partnership also gave a similar talk on the funding available to support and encourage businesses.

Another sub-committee has been established to co-ordinate the development of a new cookbook for the area with the help and significant input from all the local well-known eating establishments, pubs and the Lakeside Hotel.
All these innovative proposals coincide with a new recruitment drive to increase the number of members from over 60 to 100 by the end of November.

Group chairperson Miriam O’Donovan said she was delighted with the positive drive and ambition expressed at the AGM and had received great feedback from traders about their plans. She confirmed the group is also planning to organise three networking events over the coming year for members, to facilitate a discussion about business and ways for members to support each other.

“The group wants to develop new links with all the organisations in the town, such as the Tidy Towns, to make them aware of what we are doing and we can become more fully aware of their role and work to make Killaloe and Ballina a more attractive place to live and visit,” she said.

She also acknowledged the work of Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Alan Kelly, who secured €275,000 for the twin communities as part of the Active Travel Town initiative. The initiative ensures the towns are now part of national assessments for Smarter Travel Planning. This funding will go towards a comprehensive list of works in both towns with particular emphasis on footpaths, pedestrian crossings, cycle ways, access points to schools, bridge work and signage.

Money will be spent on a list of works at the Bridge/Royal Parade and in Cullenagh, Main Street and Ivy Grove Shoreside, Palm Grove Drive and Grange Road in Ballina and St Anne’s Community School, Ardán na Deirge, Newtown Junction, New Street and Scariff Road in Killaloe.

Describing this as a great boost for the town, she also acknowledged the cleaning of the canal being completed by Waterways Ireland, including the removal of trees and scrub following representations from the association.

Meanwhile, the group has announced that one-on-one social media training is now available to members. The training is 100% funded by Clare Local Development Company and North Tipperary Leader Partnership.

Training will be provided on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Googleplus and Pinterest for paid up members of the group. Spaces are limited, so it is on a first-come, first-served basis. Training commences this month and will be provided in individual businesses.
Contact the group via UnaRyan@discoverkillaloe.ie.