Junior Chamber International (JCI ) Ireland is preparing for this year’s national convention which will be hosted by JCI Mayo in Westport from today, Friday October 5 to Sunday October 7 in the Carlton Atlantic Coast Hotel.
Tonight (Friday ) two Mayo business will receive national awards at the JCI Friendly Business Awards. The Harlequin Hotel, Castlebar, is the Mayo and national winner in the eco friendly category, while BabyGro, Ballina, is the Mayo and national winner in the shop layout category. They are two of five Mayo businesses that were successful on a county level and went on to compete on a national stage.
Junior Chamber has a long history in the county of Mayo. With branches in towns throughout the county over the years this convention will be no stranger to the hundreds of past members. Junior Chamber is now a county based group in Mayo with JCI Mayo becoming officially affiliated to JCI Ireland at the start of this year. It is part of the largest personal and leadership development organisation for young people in the world.
The convention will kick off today (Friday ) with a welcome dinner and the national final of the Friendly Business Awards, while Saturday will see the Tripartite Debating Competition between JCI Ireland, JCI Scotland and JCI UK, followed by an entrepreneur Q&A session with delegates. An Taoiseach Enda Kenny will also address the convention before the prestigious gala dinner that evening, while other fun fringe events will also take place throughout the weekend.
Speaking at the launch of the national convention which was held in Ireland West Airport, JCI Mayo president Derek Reilly said: “It is a great honour to host the national convention in Co Mayo. Westport is the perfect town to showcase the county to the rest of the country, and Ireland to our international delegates who will travel from countries such as Malta, Germany and Russia to be with us for the occasion.”
He continued: “We also urge past members from the junior chambers from around Mayo to get in touch with us to reunite with other past members at the convention.”
