Laura Ryan is working on a new brand for Limerick and wants it to be the city that can capitalise on post-Brexit opportunities.
What’s your role?
Head of marketing and communications with Limerick City and County Council.
What are your interests?
Changing the narrative around Limerick and portraying Limerick as a vibrant destination to live, work, study, invest in, visit and enjoy. On a personal level, I like to run to clear my head. With two children under five, I’m still trying to find the elusive work/life balance.
“From turning the old Dell factory into a Film Studio to the creation of a digital skills academy, Limerick’s business ecosystem is flourishing.”
What are your ambitions?
Over the next twelve months, to launch a new brand for Limerick and to continue to grow the momentum around the great renaissance that is happening in Limerick at the moment. Limerick is now the fastest-growing Irish region for foreign direct investment outside of Dublin with over 12,000 jobs created since 2013. I want it to be the best placed English speaking location to capitalise on post Brexit opportunities.
What drives you?
I’m passionate about Limerick and excited about what the future holds for the city, particularly with so many new transformative projects in the pipeline. Our website Limerick.ie has already been named as one of the world’s top 25 tourism websites, I want to continue to grow that platform, see the Limerick 2030 plan come to fruition and add a few more trophies to the mantelpiece.
“That’s why international superstars like CJ Stander and Russell Crowe fall in love with the place.”
Who do you admire in business?
Publisher Norah Casey, tech entrepreneurs the Collison Brothers and the former Kerry Group boss Denis Brosnan.
What are we doing well in Limerick?
Innovation. From turning the old Dell factory into a Film Studio to the creation of a digital skills academy, Limerick’s business ecosystem is flourishing, and the city is a beautiful location to start and grow a business. Innovate Limerick is a great platform which facilitates and encourages higher levels of innovation and engagement across the various stakeholders and sectors in Limerick and works well with the startup community, established indigenous and FDI companies to promote cross-pollination between all three. There’s also a powerful spirit of partnership evident in Limerick which is one of the city’s principal strengths.
“Limerick’s business ecosystem is flourishing, and the city is a beautiful location to start and grow a business.”
What way could the city improve?
We need to continue to work on our mid-week night time offering. The awarding of the Purple Flag means we have a well managed and thriving evening economy, particularly on the weekends, but Limerick needs to be buzzing every day of the week. I also wish our third level students in UL would spend more time in the city centre.
What makes Limerick unique?
It’s people. They are the heart and soul of the city’s personality. It’s like that Munster ‘Never give up’ attitude that links the game and its supporters to the place like an umbilical cord. That’s why international superstars like CJ Stander and Russell Crowe fall in love with the place.
