Attracting new investments

Photo by woodleywonders




Bringing a positive welcoming attitude back to Ireland can only do us the world of good, right? Let's just do it - let's get up and start the rebrand, Ireland's rebrand!
The benefits of rebranding include the ability to win more investment business and let's face it, this is something we so desperately need. Revamping our image is key to attracting tourists, jobs and international interest. Our image is our brand and our brand is what we are saying to the world, it reflects our labor skills, safety, the environment, political security - all qualities that will draw transnational attention.

Celtic tiger, be gone!!!

Photo by gbrummett




Maybe it's just me but are people getting friendlier since the celtic tiger bid a farewell?
It could be that, without the fiscal distractions and material greediness that Ireland has felt over the past 15 years, people are regaining some of their warmth welcomes and smiles that we (and others) have branded ourselves with for so long.

Irish Hospitality during volcanic times.....

Photo by Gerry Chaney


As the volcanic plume continued to wreak havoc on the skies, a tour group of elderly American visitors found themselves stranded in Dublin. Not knowing what to do, a group of self-employed tour guides came to their rescue helping them sort out cheap hotel accommodation, day trips to keep them busy - even helping them with sourcing medication.
Some may believe the Ireland of yesterday is no more and that the friendly hospitality we have always been known for is gone - not so, it seems!
"I think we would come back, just to see the people we have connected with" Debby Tharp from North Carolina explained.



Irish Times link »

Ireland of 100,000 welcomes......

Photo by Laura Cummins2



Tourists return to our shores time and time again but why? This answer is simple - our friendliness!
According to the 2009 Fáilte Ireland visitor attitudes survey - tourists just can't get enough of us with 98% saying they would recommend Ireland to family and friends.
Visitors reveal how they love Ireland's easy, relaxed pace of life (77%) – something many may have thought was under threat during the days of the roaring tiger, and now seems to be returning. This can't be anything but brilliant for the future of brand Ireland, do you agree?
Céad Míle Fáilte!

http://www.failteireland.ie/Home

Phoenix rising from the ashes

Photo by Sverrir Thor



Iceland's volcanic cloud of ash seems to be crippling most of Northern Europe, however, with the paralysing restrictions slowly returning to normal, so too it seems is the economic recovery of the Irish financial situation!
According to the ESRI quarterly report, a return to growth in the second half of 2010 could cancel out the fall in the first half of the year, leaving the economy just 0.5% smaller as measured by Gross Domestic Product. Last year GDP fell by 7%.
Could Ireland be rising from the volcanic ashes?




Check out for yourselves - http://www.esri.ie/irish_economy/

Taskforce at the ready!

Photo by theonlyone



So it was launched, will it work? Only time will tell.
The Report of the Innovation Taskforce was launched on 11th March 2010 by the Taoiseach.
Most of the young generation, of a type who might start things - those who are likely to become entrepreneurs, have an eye not on staying in Ireland, but getting out. It is difficult to see how this innovation effort can take root today.

Your Country, Your Call

Determined to find success and opportunity within the mess the bankers and other Mé Féiners have gotten this country into, here we have it, the competition to beat all other entrepreneurial competitions - Your Country, Your Call!

Designed to dig us out of this recessionary hole and hopefully find two major proposals that, when implemented, will transform our economy - or significant elements of it - by creating jobs and opportunity. Can this newly launched campaign find a new breed of top Irish brands?!

As they say - Is leatsa é


http://www.cisco.com/web/IRE/yourcountryyourcall/index.html

Irish Entrepreneurial Spirit

Recession, what recession?

The Irish entrepreneurial spirit is known the world over and when it was thought that the chips were truly down, we Irish took our future into our own hands and fought back creating new businesses all over the country. A lot of 'starter ups' are beginning their debut online and some are based from the humble homes of people determined to use this recession as a prime chance to grab opportunity by the scruff of the neck! Others are seizing their chances on TV and the internet with the likes of 'Dragon's Den' , 'The Apprentice' and 'Your Country, Your Call' to bring awareness to their fresh ideas. Come on - let's build brand Ireland back up to it's best.