New brand hopes to attract new business

On Thursday evening (February 9), a new and exciting regional brand was launched at the Backstage Theatre, Longford. Based on the four pillars of enterprise, tourism, living and learning, the Midlands Ireland brand covers Longford, Westmeath, Offaly and Laois.

“We are looking to promote the region to visitors and entrepreneurs,” said Martin Daly director of the overseeing body, Midlands Regional Authority (MRA). “The Midlands Region has strengths and we have to play to those strengths.”

Mr Daly was one of a number of speakers to address those gathered at Backstage Theatre.

“It is about creating a sense of place, as well as setting the region out as being dynamic and progressive,” he said.

Longford County Manager, Tim Caffrey said that Longford was “located on strategic national infrastructure” and had an “excellent community network”. He went on to describe Longford’s tourism potential as currently “hidden”.

“One of the growth areas is in genealogy and heritage,” said Mr Caffrey. “We need to connect more with our diaspora as these people can act as great ambassadors for Longford.”

Mr Caffrey also complimented the Tidy Towns committees throughout the county for “doing excellent work in the area”.

For more on this story, see this week’s Longford Leader.