WEXFORD CHAMBER’S Chief Executive Officer is looking forward to another busy year, following on from what was a strong end to 2014.
Madeleine Quirke spoke to this newspaper about the year gone by, the year to come and her hopes for the future of the county despite what are still seen as stumbling blocks nationally.
Problems facing the retail sector, empty premises and the lack of IDA interest (never mind investment) in the county were acknowledged by the CEO but she believes that all of these issues have solutions and in the case of the latter, she believes Wexford is well capable of making its own advancements, in spite of the IDA’s lack of interest.
It had, she said, been a most positive January in many places and she pointed to the strong year-end of 2014 as a factor in this with businesses faring well during last year’s Opera Festival and Christmas period.
“There is no doubt we had a successful Christmas and the activity in the town, organised by Wexford Co. Council and Lantern Productions really painted the town in a positive way.”
[Full interview in this week’s Echo special feature ‘Economy Bouncing Back’]