At the launch of the #WeAreWestmeath videos were, from left: Barry Kehoe, Director of Transportation, Planning, Economic Development and Athlone Municipal District, Westmeath County Council; Linda Jo Quinn, Westmeath Community Development; Cllr John Dolan; Cllr John Shaw, chairperson Economic Enterp

Top companies back #WeAreWestmeath campaign

Westmeath County Council have commissioned a series of “high impact videos” aimed at attracting investors to the county.

The new campaign, #WeAreWestmeath, features seven videos to be released shortly on a YouTube channel.

Each video is targeted at a different audience, including members of the diaspora looking to set up business in Westmeath, multinationals, and firms looking to establish a base in Mullingar or Athlone. There is also a video highlighting “the quality of life that Westmeath has to offer”.

The videos feature contributions from some of the leading business figures in the county including: Philip Reynolds, CEO of C&D Foods; John Hunt, managing director of Mullingar based engineering firm TEG; Aisling Nolan, general manager at Mergon International; and web entrepreneur Dean Gammell.

Speaking at the recent meeting of the Economic, Enterprise and Tourism Special Policy Committee (SPC), director of services Barry Kehoe said that series of videos was the council’s “first foray into online marketing”.

Cllr John Daly praised the new initiative, saying that it was a “step in the right direction”. He added that people should not “underestimate the power of YouTube”.

Christine Charlton, head of enterprise at Westmeath Local Enterprise Office, said that when the series has been officially launched, the videos will be available for local businesses and groups to use.