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PHOTOS Shannon Region Ambassador Awards 2022 recognises 40 ambassadors for attracting events to Midwest
Shannon Region Ambassador Awards 2022 – Pictured at the event are Sam Johnston, Failte Ireland, Karen Ronan Brosnahan, Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau, Ciara Gallagher, Failte Ireland, Shannon Region Ambassadors Mary Mc Cullough from Up with People and Liam Grant from Ultimate Frisbee and Tony Brazil, Limerick Travel. Picture: Kris Luszczki/ilovelimerick.
Memorial Award presented in Honour of James Griffin, SO Hotels
Shannon Region Conference & Sports Bureau recognised 40 ambassadors for attracting events to the Mid-West region which delivered an economic impact of over €18 million in Business & Sports Tourism. The wide variety of conferences and international sporting events attracted over 16,000 people to the Mid-West in the past year.
Speaking at the Shannon Region Ambassador Awards 2022 ceremony, Tony Brazil, Chairperson, Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau, said “The Shannon Region is fast approaching its 20th anniversary and over that time the team have worked with hundreds of ambassadors across sport, culture, business and academia. These ambassadors work tirelessly with us in the Bureau and Failte Ireland to bid for, and win, international events for the Shannon Region. Each conference delegate is worth €1600 to the local economy so you can see quickly how valuable this segment of tourism is.”
Sam Johnston, Failte Ireland, commented, “Without our ambassadors we cannot compete, never mind be so successful, on the world stage. They are responsible for three-quarters of the conferences and participative events that we host in Ireland. That is why events such as this are vitally important to recognise them and importantly, to say thank you. Conferences bring significant economic benefit to our economy; they also bring wider societal benefits. The ambassadors recognised are part of a wider Fáilte Ireland programme of over 3,000 who have bid to bring events worth over €1-billion to Ireland. By supporting the Shannon Region Bureau, Fáilte Ireland can deliver strong regional growth.”
Karen Ronan Brosnahan, General Manager, Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau, said, “We are so fortunate in the Midwest to have TUS, Mary Immaculate College and the University of Limerick. Their academic staff are wonderful ambassadors not just for their respective academic institutions but for tourism in the Midwest. Every year new and existing ambassadors travel internationally and bid for conferences and events in their chosen field of research. We support them by helping with bids, site visits and helping them access practical and financial support from Failte Ireland.”
Among the Shannon Region Ambassador Awards 2022 recognised on the night were:
- Dr Roisin Cahalan, UL attracted the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science with over 500 delegates from all over the World in 2022
- Mary McCullough from Nenagh is bringing over 1500 participants to the “UP with People” International Alumni event in Limerick in 2024
- Roy Keane from Limerick brought his International Tattoo Convention on tour to Ennis with over 150 tattoo artists from 25 countries together.
- Liam Grant & Barry Walsh were recognised for attracting the World Masters Ultimate Frisbee Club Championships 2022 to The University of Limerick Sports Campus
Richard Lynch of I Love Limerick was given a special recognition award for his work promoting the region.
On the night a special memorial award was given to the family of James Griffin of So Hotels who passed away last year. This award will be an annual award to recognise the most dynamic, motivated and inclusive member of the tourism trade in the region, embodying all the qualities for which James was best known.
About Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau
The Shannon Region Conference & Sports Bureau is a public-private partnership and the official events bureau for Ireland’s Shannon Region.
The professional team of advisers offer their services impartially and free of any charges or commissions. They provide impartial guidance to ensure a memorable event that exceeds your expectations – all in a region that makes an excellent destination for meetings, conferences, exhibitions, incentive travel, elite athlete training and sporting events.
Find out more about the Shannon Region Conference & Sports Bureau
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Pictures: Kris Luszczki/ilovelimerick