This article is from page 15 of the 2012-02-28 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 15 JPG
THE first ever Ennis Food Festival is among the proposals being considered for the next phase of the Create the Magic Initiative.
The initiative was launched last year as part of a push to make Ennis the friendliest town in Ireland. Around 40 businesses have so far backed the campaign which, through a series of seminars of workshops and seminars, focused on improving standards of customer service.
The next stage of Create the Magic will be launched in Ennis next week. Business people have met in recent weeks to develop new iniatives to help Ennis rebound from the recession.
These include plans to promote Ennis as the culinary capital of the Mid West by capitalizing on the town’s market history and popular cafés and restaurants.
According to one local businessperson, the idea was one of several put forward in light of the recent decision not to put Ennis forward for the 2013 Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann.
“After losing out on the Fleadh, it was just one of the ideas raised. Food festivals have been very popular and there hasn’t been one in Ennis before. We have a lot of cafes and restaurants. It would be ideal to have a food festival in Ennis.”
A new Create the Magic committee has been selected to guide the initiative in 2012. They are Mary Kelly, Mary Kelly Newsagents (Chair); Ciara Mulhern, Rowan Tree Café Bar & Hostel; Kathleen Sullivan, KT Sullivan & Associates; Marie Dillane, Banner Motor Factors; Mary O’Halloran, An Binsin Luachra; Sarah Malone, Zest; and Rita Mc Inerney, Ennis Chamber.
A Create the Magic information evening for the launch of the initia- tive for the coming months has been scheduled for Wednesday, March 7 at the Temple Gate Hotel, O’Connell Square, Ennis. Businesses are being urged to attend to maintain the energy of the initiative.
Members of Ennis Chamber and Ennis Development Forum, along with customer service expert Kathleen O’Sullivan, launched Create the Magic last March.
Members were also involved in the production of Ennis Share the Feeling, a promotional DVD that showcased Ennis at Christmas. The film drew over 11,000 views on sites such as YouTube and Vimeo.