LookWest.ie, the Western Development Commission’s (WDC ) online guide to living, working, and doing business in the western region, has launched a campaign to find the ‘7 Wonders of the West'.
Members of the public are asked to nominate their favourite place or experience and the nominations that receive the most public votes will be included in the final list of seven. Nominations can be made on www.lookwest.ie and on www.facebook.com/LookWest from now until Thursday November 25. Following that date, members of the general public can then vote for their choice of the final seven from the official shortlist until December 16.
Joanne Grehan of the WDC said: “We all have our own favourite places, experiences, and treasures in the region, be they memories from childhood or more recent enjoyable experiences. With the advances in social media LookWest.ie is a great platform to host this competition, which allows the general public to tell the world about the western region’s hidden gems. There will be two phases to the campaign; a nomination stage followed by a public vote. Nominations can include any location or site in the western region, man-made or natural, ancient, medieval, or modern. People can also nominate their favourite traditions, festivals, or experiences.
“Because of the fantastic diversity and beauty of the region, we are expecting a wide range of nominations, everything from the exhilaration of climbing a mountain to the excitement of attending a festival to the quiet peace and solitude of an early morning walk on a quiet country lane, or the buzz of catching waves on some of the Atlantic’s best surfing beaches”, she said.
All entrants will be eligible to win a number of fantastic prizes including an Apple iPad, a €250 voucher from Kennys.ie, Galway's world-famous bookshop which celebrates 70 years in business this year, or return tickets to Birmingham and Manchester with bmibaby.com in association with Ireland West Airport Knock.
Speaking about their support for the initiative, Donal Healy, sales and marketing manager with Ireland West Airport said: “We are delighted to partner with the WDC on this innovative competition. We are currently working with accommodation and activity providers on a new initiative to promote the west coast of Ireland in key UK cities and this campaign will give us a unique opportunity to highlight the best of what the western region has to offer those potential tourists.”
All nominated entries must be located in any of the seven counties of the western region - Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon, Mayo, Galway, and Clare, and people can enter as often as they like.
“The campaign went live on our online platforms on November 4 and already we have received almost 500 nominations. They include stunning natural landscapes, unique local traditions, and some of the more quirky nominations feature extraordinary characters who are associated with specific towns across the region. LookWest.ie is interested in hearing about everybody’s personal favourite hidden gem or magical treasure. Where or what makes you smile, just thinking about them? When you’re having a tough day, where in the west of Ireland do you wish you were? We are encouraging people to simply log on and tell us about those special ‘Wonders of the West’. This is a great opportunity for people to celebrate and promote their favourite place or memory and possibly win a fabulous prize in the process” Ms Grehan said.
Nominations can be made on www.lookwest.ie, by email to [email protected] and on www.facebook.com/LookWest before 5.00pm on Thursday November 25.
