Above: The Illinois General Assembly
A high-powered Government and Industry delegation from the State of Illinois will travel to County Clare later this year, it was confirmed today.
The State Senators and House Representatives will meet with Clare County Council, Shannon Development, and all relevant tourism and business providers and development agencies during their visit this September. The trip was initiated by the Mayor of Clare who met with Members of the Illinois General Assembly as part of a recent promotional visit to the US Midwest.
Councillor Madeleine Taylor Quinn said that the visit by over twenty-five leading Democrat and Republican politicians represented an unprecedented opportunity for County Clare to highlight its attractiveness as an investment location and tourist destination. “The visit will open up this region’s potential as a tourism and investment location to leading representatives of Illinois State, which has population of over 14 million people,” she explained.
The Mayor continued, “The primary purpose of this visit is to consolidate existing and establish new tourism and business links between both locations. During their visit the delegation will travel all over County Clare meeting with business development agencies and tourism providers. It should be noted each member of the travelling delegation possesses extensive contacts in the US business and commercial sectors.” Mayor Taylor Quinn suggested that the upcoming visit highlighted also the importance of restoring direct flights between Shannon and Chicago O’Hare on a full-time basis.
Aer Lingus this week commenced operating thrice-weekly direct flights between the two airports. The direct service is scheduled to continue until 24th October after which passengers travelling from Shannon will once again have to disembark at Dublin Airport before proceeding to Chicago. Mayor Taylor Quinn pointed out that if Shannon is to remain as the ‘gateway’ to the West of Ireland for North American traffic then it must be put in a position where it can benefit from direct services. She continued, “US business interests have for many years invested in the West of Ireland due to the provision of direct flights to the Region. Likewise, US tourists have long travelled to the region because of available direct flights. There is no doubt that corporate investment in this region by US Multinationals would increase if these direct flights were to be restored indefinitely.”
Commenting on the tourism aspect of the upcoming visit, the Mayor noted, “Visits such as this are undoubtedly crucial to the overall success and development of the industry throughout the island at a very challenging time in the global tourism market.” “Showcasing our flagship attractions is key to enticing tourists to County Clare and the wider region, but it would be doing the area an injustice to forget the lesser well known attractions. During their trip the delegation will travel from Kilkee in West Clare to Lough Derg in East Clare with a view to understanding the varied and high quality tourism product that is on offer here. The potential thereafter for attracting visitors from the US Midwest is significant,” concluded Councillor Taylor Quinn.
Above: The Illinois General Assembly
A high-powered Government and Industry delegation from the State of Illinois will travel to County Clare later this year, it was confirmed today.
The State Senators and House Representatives will meet with Clare County Council, Shannon Development, and all relevant tourism and business providers and development agencies during their visit this September. The trip was initiated by the Mayor of Clare who met with Members of the Illinois General Assembly as part of a recent promotional visit to the US Midwest.
Councillor Madeleine Taylor Quinn said that the visit by over twenty-five leading Democrat and Republican politicians represented an unprecedented opportunity for County Clare to highlight its attractiveness as an investment location and tourist destination. “The visit will open up this region’s potential as a tourism and investment location to leading representatives of Illinois State, which has population of over 14 million people,” she explained.
The Mayor continued, “The primary purpose of this visit is to consolidate existing and establish new tourism and business links between both locations. During their visit the delegation will travel all over County Clare meeting with business development agencies and tourism providers. It should be noted each member of the travelling delegation possesses extensive contacts in the US business and commercial sectors.” Mayor Taylor Quinn suggested that the upcoming visit highlighted also the importance of restoring direct flights between Shannon and Chicago O’Hare on a full-time basis.
Aer Lingus this week commenced operating thrice-weekly direct flights between the two airports. The direct service is scheduled to continue until 24th October after which passengers travelling from Shannon will once again have to disembark at Dublin Airport before proceeding to Chicago. Mayor Taylor Quinn pointed out that if Shannon is to remain as the ‘gateway’ to the West of Ireland for North American traffic then it must be put in a position where it can benefit from direct services. She continued, “US business interests have for many years invested in the West of Ireland due to the provision of direct flights to the Region. Likewise, US tourists have long travelled to the region because of available direct flights. There is no doubt that corporate investment in this region by US Multinationals would increase if these direct flights were to be restored indefinitely.”
Commenting on the tourism aspect of the upcoming visit, the Mayor noted, “Visits such as this are undoubtedly crucial to the overall success and development of the industry throughout the island at a very challenging time in the global tourism market.” “Showcasing our flagship attractions is key to enticing tourists to County Clare and the wider region, but it would be doing the area an injustice to forget the lesser well known attractions. During their trip the delegation will travel from Kilkee in West Clare to Lough Derg in East Clare with a view to understanding the varied and high quality tourism product that is on offer here. The potential thereafter for attracting visitors from the US Midwest is significant,” concluded Councillor Taylor Quinn.
The Mayor of Clare has described the recommencement of services between Shannon and London Heathrow as a “shot in the arm” for the West of Ireland economy.
Councillor Madeleine Taylor Quinn said the restoration of direct access to one of the world’s most strategically important airports would restore confidence among multinationals based along the western seaboard.
“The international connectivity that this region can once again benefit from will have significant consequences for the future operations of companies throughout the Region,” explained the Mayor. She continued, “Furthermore, it will encourage potential investors and foreign multinationals to relocate here. The return of the Heathrow service comes at a time when the economy needs every support available to retain its competitiveness.”
Mayor Taylor Quinn noted that tourism would benefit also from the restored service. She added that Aer Lingus would now have a challenge to regain and restore the confidence of its previous customer base.
“It must be recognised that a lot of damage has been done to the tourism and business community in Clare and the wider region since the withdrawal of the Shannon to Heathrow service last year. Shannon's rightful slots into Heathrow were wrongfully withdrawn in a cavalier and reckless fashion without any consideration of the fallout for the region,” stated Councillor Taylor Quinn. “As Mayor of Clare I wish Aer Lingus success with its partially restored service. However, I am requesting the airline and the Minister for Transport to restore all three flights in the immediate future,” she commented.
“I particularly wish to compliment the management of Shannon Airport for their determination in pursuing this issue with Aer Lingus and arriving at an attractive arrangement for the airline. Equally the Aer Lingus staff at Shannon must be praised for their co-operation on rationalisation, which undoubtedly was a factor in the airline reaching its decision to restore services,” concluded the Mayor.
