New Website to Promote Sligo on World Stage
21/06/2010 -
Michael Flatley expects the newly launched sligo.ie website to be an ‘excellent resource to promote and market Sligo to a global audience.’ He was speaking at the launch of the site in the Model Arts Centre, which was also attended by his wife Niamh, son Michael St James and parents Michael Senior and Elizabeth. ‘Sligo is a beautiful county with amazing beaches and it is great that the website will give it the worldwide recognition it deserves and people can see for themselves what Sligo is all about.’
One stop shop
While there are numerous local websites offering a wealth of information on Sligo, the new website sligo.ie will streamline this information on one host site by providing a ‘one-stop-shop’ to channel on-line enquiries. The new site has being designed in such a way that it is easy to navigate, and people will be able to access the required service area straight away.
The home page of the site provides people with an option to access information in the following areas:
- Business and Enterprise
- Tourism and Lifestyle
- Education and Training
- Public Services and Community
The site will also link to an ‘events’ diary and will contain an index of local services.
User-friendly
Mayor Councillor Jim McGarry said ‘Sligo is a vibrant and exciting place, and the intention in developing this site is to capture and present this wealth of information in a user-friendly manner. My hope and belief is that the momentum shown in bringing the initiative to this stage will be sustained well into the future, which will underpin the continued development of the site. I welcome the fact that each of the key agencies promoted on sligo.ie take great pride in the high standards of their own websites.
Ambition
Chairman of the Sligo County Development Board Councillor Tony McLoughlin feels that the new website ‘has the potential to elevate the promotion of Sligo to a new and exciting level. All of the many agencies contributing to this project have different priorities and perspectives, but we are each driven by a shared ambition to present Sligo as a prime destination for enterprise and tourism. I think we are all proud of the fact that Sligo is an excellent place to live in and visit.’
Agency approach
Sligo County Council’s Director of Services Community & Enterprise, Arts and Environment, Rita McNulty, who mc’d the event, outlined the role of the Sligo County Development Board (CDB) in delivering the initiative; ‘The CDB is a forum made up of agencies and organisations, including the voluntary and community sector, that deliver services in the county. The sligo.ie website is an initiative of the CDB, and is designed to met the interests and needs of people who want to find out about County Sligo, be they business people, tourists, people interested in visiting or locating County Sligo.’
Centre of growth
Presenting the ‘Business and Enterprise section’ of the website, Carole Brenan of Enterprise Ireland said ‘As the key centre of economic growth in the North West, local agencies offer a wide range of valuable supports to new and existing enterprise. Many of the Development Agencies are listed on the panel with links to their individual websites e.g. Enterprise Ireland, IDA, Sligo CEB, Sligo Chamber, Business Innovation Centre, Look West. I would encourage everyone to promote Sligo.ie to the best of their ability and to ensure that all the information supplied is current and relevant to the development of Sligo.’
Cultural richness
Sligo County Council’s Arts Officer, Mary McAuliffe outlined the ‘Culture and Tourism’ Section of the website; ‘Sligo has an incredibly rich and diverse cultural offer that ranges from its unique archaeological heritage to its fascinating history and vibrant contemporary culture. The natural scenery of Sligo is amongst the finest and most spectacular in the country, and there are great natural amenities, such as, surfing, golfing, walking and cycling. The beauty of the countryside coupled with this rich and historical past inspires musicians, poets, dancers and artists alike, including the Yeats family, Michael Coleman, St Colmcille, as well as, our guest of honor, Michael Flatley, himself a cultural icon and champion with his roots in the great South Sligo tradition. Sligo’s culture provides it with a strong international recognition on which to base a thriving tourism industry. Sligo.ie brings this cultural richness together, in one place, in an accessible, user friendly way, placing helpful information alongside product promotion e.g. Benwisken Walking and Cycling Brochure.
Excellence in education
Shaun Purcell, CEO Sligo VEC, anticipates that there will be great interest in the ‘Education and Training’ area of the website. ‘Families considering setting up home in Sligo will see the standard of education as a major factor, and this section of the site promotes the range and impeccably high standard of schools available throughout our county.’
Partnership
There is an up to the minute online calendar to get information on Sligo’s many internationally acclaimed festivals and summer schools, as well as, excellent links to Sligo’s important network of cultural organizations
Sligo.ie was made possible through partnership and moving forward these partnerships will be built on to develop the county’s cultural assets and resources for the benefit of all who live in and visit the county.
Promoting Sligo
The new site will be an important resource for all main local agencies to facilitate their common agenda of promoting Sligo to a global audience, and provides a mechanism to present important information on Sligo on one domain.
Special guest, Michael Flatley at the launch of the sligo.ie website
For further information contact the Communications Office at 071 9111017 or by e-mail communications@sligococo.ie
