15 July 1998

GETTING TO THE 'ART' OF THE LAKE DISTRICT

By Jonathan Mullin

If enthusiasm was a measurement of success, Art O'Suilleabháin would already be swimming in oceans of praise. Art took over as Manager of Lake District Enterprise on Monday morning last and despite the almost surreal workload that awaited him, he is wholly optimistic about the challenge ahead.

" It is very exciting . . . . and frightening at the same time! There is a lot of work to be done but I know, with the help of the people of the district, that we can pull it off and achieve beyond our wildest dreams."

Put simply, Lake District Enterprise is about enterprising people getting things done and has one aim: "to assist with the development of the economic potential of the Lake District region to its fullest potential". Twenty seven urban and rural communities around Loughs Carra, Mask and Corrib are participating, enveloping an approximate population of 17,000 people.

Art will use the month of July to visit each area within the lake district, a broad mass of geography stretching from Carnacon to Corr na Mona. He hopes to meet with business people in the area, assess that area's needs as well as amassing vital network contacts to help him with his task in the future.

The network idea is quite simple. Each one will work to his or her own strengths and call upon the knowledge of others when needed. Art's major strength is in the knowledge based industries, an area he sees as having great potential. One of his first tasks will be to set up a Lake District Enterprise web-site which will feature the contributors to the network - a form of advertisement and reward almost.

Art himself, was very involved in Castlebar 's push for the Information Age Town and has his fingers crossed that the benefits will slowly drip down to the Lake District region.

In the first year however, the primary goal will be to set up a brand for the Lake District Enterprise, a logo from which all its products will be recognised and respected. The area has an agricultural edge to it and has a "clean, green image" which Art is out to exploit.

But what should be the tangible result of a structure that can be of a very theoretical nature? "For example, if the National Growth Average is 3%, the Lake District should be up on 4.5 or 5% if the network principle is working."

According to Art, the problems he faces in the coming weeks and months is convincing the ordinary folk that the unit works better as a network; developing the 'product idea' and handling all issues - "being a Jack-of-all-trades". In his favour, he argues, he has on his side an amazing sense of enthusiasm in the district and an economic boom which is slowly winding its way West.

Art O'Suilleabháin can be contacted at his office on Main Street in Ballinrobe at (092) 42244.

Connaught Telegraph - News & Sport - July 1998