Town ‘has once in a lifetime chance’ following fleadh

Mullingar has a once in a lifetime opportunity to capitalise on the positive publicity generated by the successful staging of the Fleadh Cheoil in the last two years.

That’s according to one of the people spearheading Destination Mullingar, a new initiative by Mullingar Chamber of Commerce to attract more tourists to the town.

Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner, John Geoghegan, chamber spokesperson for economic development, investment and tourism, said that the chamber is establishing a new Destination Mullingar limited company and has applied for funding from Westmeath County Council. Once funding is secured, the plan is to appoint “a leading consultant in the leisure and hospitality space to review the entire current offering and key opportunities to form part of an industry led strategy”.

“The chamber believes that the time has now come for Mullingar to establish a clear strategy around promoting the town as an outstanding tourism destination in the coming years, particularly following on from the success of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2022 and 2023.”

The chamber recently hosted the first Destination Mullingar meeting in Bloomfield House Hotel, which was attended by representatives from leading players in the local hospitality and leisure sector, including Bloomfield House Hotel, Mullingar Park Hotel, Greville Arms Hotel, Kilbeggan Races, Oscars Restaurant, Wholesome Kitchen and Sugar Plum Sweetery.

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The meeting was also attended by Westmeath County Council’s tourism officer Una Doris.

Mr Geoghegan says the chamber wants Destination Mullingar to be a stakeholder-led initiative.

“The idea is to create a brand and a structure where Mullingar can organise its approach to tourism in a strategic manner with a clear plan for the medium and long term that brings all the stakeholders together. The big thing is that it is delivered through the industry specialists in the town.

“We got to grasp this opportunity now. The momentum that has been generated from the fleadh is unbelievable. The town has great hotels, bars and restaurants. We are only an hour from Dublin, we are on the canal and the railway line. We have Belvedere, we have the greenways, we have lakes, we have all the ingredients to make this happen.”

Mr Geoghegan says that for Destination Mullingar to succeed it is important that as many stakeholders as possible get involved.

“Bars, restaurants, hotels, retailers, anyone with a stake in the town, needs to get involved. We are going to do quarterly meetings. They will go on for an hour, an hour and a half, none of these four-hour meetings.

“We don’t anyone coming and giving out. We want constructive dialogue and constructive criticism where it’s needed. We want people to take collective responsibility for this and to drive on over the next three to five years.”

The next Destination Mullingar meeting is on September 12. For more information contact Mullingar Chamber’s office manager Aisling Coleman at aisling.coleman@mullingarchamber.ie.