The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
ENNIS’ first street ambassador has been out and about in the county capital, welcoming tourists and visitors to the town from both home and abroad.
The Promote Ennis Welcome Team involves Ennis Chamber intern Kevin Neylon acting as a street ambassador, giving advice and directing visitors using the Visit Ennis brochure.
Kevin, from Ballyea, told The Clare Champion, “I’m delighted to be the first street ambassador for Ennis and to be able to showcase to people everything that Ennis has to offer”.
He has been acting as an ambassador for the past three weeks. “It’s going well and I’ve been getting a good response from tourists.”
Visitors to the town are generally asking him for information on local attractions such as the Abbey, Cathedral and Friary. People also want to know where they can hear traditional Irish music and taste good local food.
The establishment of the Welcome Team for visitors to the town by Promote Ennis is in keeping with Visit Ennis’ tagline of Ireland’s Friendliest Town.
As well as the street ambassador, owners and staff from businesses in the town centre also undertook training with Shannon Development as part of the Welcome Team, primarily in retail and hospitality, who are at the frontline in meeting and greeting visitors to Ennis.
Over 35 people from nearly 30 businesses undertook the training and have received their Welcome Team stickers to display in their business or on their shop window, so visitors and tourists know they are welcome to call into these premises for information or advice and to avail of a copy of the Visit Ennis brochure.
Members of Ennis Town Council’s traffic wardens also undertook the training and are part of the Welcome Team. Staff and owners participating in the Welcome Team are also volunteering to accompany the street ambassador during his hours on the street, which are Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10am-1pm and 5pm-8pm.
Promote Ennis is a collaborative initiative between Ennis Chamber, Ennis Town Council and Shannon Development. It published 15,000 copies of the latest edition of the hugely popular Visit Ennis brochure in June, of which 12,000 have been distributed to date.
If businesses want to volunteer for the Welcome Team as an advice point or as street ambassador, they can contact Kevin on 086 845 8650.
