Tag Archives: Shannon Chamber

IDA chief executive Martin Shanahan will visit Shannon on Thursday to address the  local chamber on the organisation’s strategy and plans for the region. Speaking in advance of the lunch  time event at Dromoland Castle, Shannon Chamber’s chief executive, Helen Downes said, “The business community in the Shannon area will be keen to hear how the IDA plans to position the region to attract investment, particularly with the new focus on regions announced recently by Minister Richard Bruton. “Regional development is about turning regional strengths into opportunity, identifying, building on and realising the potential offered by a particular place and its geography or location. It’s also about organisations pulling together to make things happen. Shannon Chamber and its members are ready to participate in this initiative. We already have a successful CEO Forum which is focussed on generating further growth in Shannon by building on strengths and resolving barriers to further investment.”

The Government is well on target with its Action Plan for Jobs strategy, according to Taoiseach Enda Kenny. “We are on course to exceed our initial target of 100,000 new jobs by the end of next year, he said at Shannon Chamber’s annual president’s lunch in Dromoland Castle today (Monday). Another jobs announcement today in Ennis shows that new jobs are being created across the country and not just in Dublin. The recent budget was designed to secure recovery further – promoting new jobs and investment in the regions, working across the economy and across the country with businesses like those represented here today. I am confident that the growing recovery of Ireland’s economy will have a positive impact on the Shannon Region.” Welcoming the Government’s support for Shannon, particularly the decision to enable Shannon Airport operate as an independent entity, as part of the recently established Shannon Group, Chamber president, Kevin Thompstone said that the risk of doing so is …

Department of Social Protection supports available to employers and employees in the Mid-West will be outlined in a special morning briefing organised by Shannon Chamber next week. An open invitation is being extended to anyone seeking information of this type to attend the free briefing in the Oakwood Arms Hotel in Shannon on Thursday, October 2 from 8am until 9.30am. Shannon Chamber’s chief executive, Helen Downed outlined, “One of our roles as a chamber is to disseminate information that we feel will benefit our members and the wider business community. This breakfast seminar, which will outline the range of services, financial, recruitment and workplace supports available through the Department of Social Protection, will be informative and interactive. “It is aimed at anyone seeking information on the various schemes provided at no cost to employers, such as recruitment and employment schemes, grants and assistance schemes and workplace support schemes.” Ms Downes said this seminar would provide an ideal opportunity for employers and …

In a departure from its normal type of event, Shannon Chamber joined forces with mobile telecoms operator Three to host a morning conversation between rugby stars, former Irish and Leinster winger,  Shane Horgan and Munster’s Dougie Howlett in Dromoland Castle Hotel. In true rugby style, former All Black Dougie Howlett answered a last-minute call up to step into Ronan O’Gara’s shoes due to Ronan’s unfortunate unavailability for family reasons. A former Munster captain, Howlett was forced to retire from the professional game at the end of last season due to a shoulder injury. He has remained in Cork with his family and is now working as a Corporate Ambassador with the Munster Rugby’s Commercial Board. Undaunted by the task Howlett enthralled the audience with his recollections of playing for the All Blacks, his move to Ireland to join Munster Rugby, and his views on how the skills and disciplines amassed during a rugby career prepare players for the next phase …

IF the Shannon Free Zone project was starting today, what would it be called? That’s the question Shannon Chamber president, Kevin Thompstone posed when addressing attendees at the chamber’s annual president’s lunch on Thursday. While the Free Zone has strong global brand recognition, Mr Thompstone suggested that in today’s environment, a descriptor such as Shannon Economic City or Shannon Economic Zone might better reinforce the concept that Shannon is not just a business park but a Special Economic Zone in Ireland offering a mix of airport, industrial, residential, commercial and green areas to facilitate economic activity. Almost 300 business people attended the lunch at Dromoland Castle to hear keynote speaker Barry O’Leary, IDA Ireland’s chief executive, comment on Shannon’s potential as an international investment location. “IDA is looking forward to working on behalf of Shannon and the wider region under a new structure. Our aim will be to support companies in the region, helping them transform their operations and also …

HELEN Downes, CEO of Shannon Chamber, has been appointed to the board of Chambers Ireland. Her appointment was ratified at the Chambers Ireland AGM, which was held in Dublin last week. Congratulating her on her appointment, Kevin Thompstone, president of Shannon Chamber, said, “It’s a great honour for Shannon Chamber via Helen Downes to have input at board level in a national organisation. Helen’s nomination by the Chambers Ireland CEO Forum for a position on the board and her existing representation as a member of Chambers Ireland Human Resources Policy Council, is both indicative of the high esteem in which she is held by the organisation, and her ability to make a valuable contribution to strategic considerations. “Membership of the Chambers Ireland board gives Shannon Chamber a forum to make representation on behalf of members and to input their views and commentary on national policy issues being considered by Chambers Ireland for presentation to government and key stakeholders. It will …