News Release -
Search is now on for Third Group of Street Ambassadors
THE search is now on for the third group of Street Ambassadors to promote Limerick to visitors this summer.
Limerick became the first city in the Republic to pioneer the Street Ambassadors project in 2006. These roving guides help tourists by giving them information on the best places to visit, eat and shop.
The project spearheaded by the Limerick Co-ordination Office (LCO) helped over 18,000 visitors to Limerick in 2007 and was so successful that Dublin City is now setting up its own Street Ambassador programme.
LC0 Chairperson Kay McGuinness said they are delighted with the success of the Street Ambassadors programme over the past two years and it is great to see Dublin now following Limerick’s lead.
“This is a unique project that Limerick can be proud of and we have had excellent teams of Street Ambassadors in the past two years,” Ms McGuinness said.
The Limerick Street Ambassador programme was a pilot project funded by an EU programme that has now ended. This year it is being run with funding from Shannon Development and the private sector in Limerick.
“We would like to thank Shannon Development and the private sector for supporting the Street Ambassador programme this year. But we still need more support from the private sector and any company interested in giving financial support to the programme can contact the Limerick Co-ordination Office,” Ms McGuinness said.
Eoghan Prendergast, Shannon Development’s Regional Development Manager for Limerick City said that Shannon Development were delighted to step in and ensure the Street Ambassadors would again be a feature on the streets of Limerick this summer. “We probably don’t appreciate as much as we should that Limerick has a very good reputation amongst visitors as a really friendly and accessible city in which to spend a very enjoyable time. While this is mainly because our local people are so naturally welcoming, the presence of the Street Ambassadors throughout the city makes a visit here one that stands out in the minds of our visitors. Long may that continue,” Mr Prendergast said.
This year’s Street Ambassador Programme will run from June 23rd for 10 weeks and the LCO is looking for people who love Limerick, have a pride in their city and want to promote it.
This part-time job would suit students, retired people or the unemployed and they will be required to work 20 hours a week. And the successful candidates will be provided with extensive training and a uniform.
The first Team Leader of the Limerick Street Ambassadors, Jean Ryan, will be taking up her post again this year. Her job will be to co-ordinate the work of the nine other Street Ambassadors who will be selected this summer.
Ms Ryan said that last year they encountered 18,180 visitors to Limerick from 64 different countries – double the number they met the previous year.
“We got a lot of positive feedback from visitors who thought the Street Ambassador programme was a great idea and should be copied by every other city ,” Ms Ryan added.
Anyone interested in applying for the 2008 Street Ambassadors programme this summer may send a Curriculum Vitae and a 100-word letter outlining why they want to become a Street Ambassador to:
Ms Orla O’Connor,
Administrator,
Limerick Co-ordination Office,
50, O’Connell Street,
Limerick
e-mail: info@limerickoffice.ie
The closing date for applications is Friday May 16th 2008
Magda Sudol, Poland and Shauna Zelinski, California lead the 2007' members of the second group Limerick Street Ambassadors onto the streets of Limerick to welcome visitors to the city.
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For further information please contact:
Nandi O’Sullivan
Public Relations Manager
Tel: +353 61 710259
Mobile: +353 86-2371510
Fax: 061 363180
E-mail: Click Here