Worried about lack of encouragement from public and private sector
“LET Munster rugby and Thomond Park be our calling card around the world – let’s sell it the same way as Mancheter United and Old Trafford,”declares HSI boss Michael McNamara.
Not hiding the fact that he is a dedicated fan of United’s city rivals, and one who makes several trips a year to the City of Manchester Stadium, McNamara believes that the region should now tap into its rugby background.
“Well done to Pa Whelan and his team. We need more people like this who get off their cosy couches and get it done.
“Every time there is a match at Thomond on Sky, we should have a 30 second promo for our city. It’s time we became loud and proud about Limerick, we have nothing to apologise for,” stressed the college head.
“We have a stadium to compete with the best, a progressive city that is the envy of others and a people who have reawakened to what we have to offer”.
McNamara knows the value of having a super sports stadium. He often accompanies his son Conor, soccer commentator with BBC Radio Five, to football grounds throughout the UK and Europe, and has seen first hand how the local economy can benefit.
Conscious of the role that HSI can play in the current economic climate, McNamara revealed that they were prepared to support this “great city” and the Mid-West region during the current recession, From Monday December 1, and on the first Monday of each month, HSI staff will be available, at no charge, to assist those who are unemployed or at risk in preparing their CV, doing mock interviews and printing it for them.
“Secondly, thanks to the excellent support we have from Fas, we have highlighted training courses with them which will help people get back to work. Fas has funded up to 70% of a range of IT support courses including A+, Network+ Microsfort MCSA, Microsoft Project, ACCA, ECDL to Advanced level. Fas has a huge role to take in these recessionary times and are looking at training areas to assist people to get back to employment”.
HSI are increasing the number of scholarships next Autumn ‘09 under the Nora Mc Namara Bursary scheme to 15. These are administered with the help of the local newspapers, including the Limerick Post.
The school head asked: “Where are the new entrepreneurs in our city? We need to get people thinking of ideas for business and Government needs to encourage them. HSI would not be here unless our founder took the risk in 1951.
“I am worried by the lack of encouragement for initiative in both the public and private sector. In Limerick we are facing a huge challenge, look at the number of businesses and shops for sale. We should start at the Saturday market and set up proper stalls and centres for people to trade. Train people in how to start their own business”.
He considered that the Irish Government along with senior civil servants, have a moral and social responsibility to facilitate a Mid-West development strategy to include and to be led by key players from private business along with senior representatives from State bodies, including education, training, development and investment.
“Back in the dreary fifties, we had people in both the public and private sectors like Brendan O Regan who took the initiative to set up the Shannon Free Zone and Shannon Duty Free, and with it a prosperity that could never have been envisaged in those times,” he added.
In his capacity as Chair of the Northside Regeneration agency he declared: “We at HSI are continuing to support those from Limerick Regeneration areas to pursue further education. Last year, through the Nora McNamara bursary, we provided funding of 10,000 euro for students from the Regeneration areas. In 2009, we hope to increase this to 20,000 euro. Regeneration is so important for our city. All the citizens have a responsibility to buy into it. Brendan Kenny and John Fitzgerald’s Masterplan is the most important document to come out of the city,” he concluded.
