Rootedness and connectedness make sound business sense!

Many local businesses were represented and after listening to Fionnbarra  all present were certainly inspired to work towards putting Irish to the forefront of their business.

Fionnbarra spoke at length on the importance of Place and  Identity and the emotional ties that instinctively draw us towards that to which we feel we belong.He spoke of the hunger that is out there among the public for real, authentic experiences and the desire to feel that the product or service we purchase carries a meaning that goes deeper than its transactional value.

Fionnbarra urged all to consider what makes us unique, different and special. These are the resources which are most valuable to us and which can be utilised by businesses to their own advantage. Our key resource which makes us stand out is our language and the evidence is there that a business which is using Irish appeals to that emotional longing among people that what they are buying means something more.

A recent survey of 1000 people showed that 59% of people like to see businesses communicate through Irish, 73% of people assume that when they see something advertised in Irish it is local, 41% of people are more likely to buy products or services that use Irish in their marketing activities  and 26% of people are prepared to pay more for a product or service when it is associated with the Irish language. This figure increases to 29% for those aged 35 – 44 and rises further to 36% for people under 35. The benefits of Irish to business are only going to increase and certainly these statistics gave much food for thought.

Take a walk around the town and you will see that there has been great growth in the number of businesses using Irish signage both inside and outside their business and that trend looks set to continue. Four businesses from the town were present at the national GRADAIM awards in Croke Park recently where they were recognised for their efforts to promote Irish whether through signage, branding or service to customers. Brian McMonagle who runs the No. 9 Market Square restaurant was awarded bronze medals under all three categories. Kieron Boyle from ‘An Táilliúir Uí Bhaoill’ received bronze awards for signage and customer service. John Quinn from Precious Moments and Brendan and Sharon McGlynn from An Bomaite Ciúin / The Quiet Moment received bronze awards for their Irish signage.

Furthermore, three businesses were recognised for their promotion of Irish at the Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce Business Awards on Friday evening last in the Silver Tassie. Brian McMonagle from No. 9 and Sarah-Marie McDevitte from Pinehill Studios were highly commended for their commitment to the language thoughout their businesses but it was Caitríona Strain and the team from ERNACT who took home the Gnó le Gaeilge award sponsored by Líonra Leitir Ceanainn. ERNACT promotes digital transformation across Europe and Atlantic Canada. They have integrated Irish into their branding by updating the logo and revising office signage. Staff participate in the Ciorcal Comhrá held at CoLab to enhance their conversational skills and build community connections. Working already in a transnational multilingual context, the  ERNACT team  recognise the importance of language and diversity and have been happy to strengthen their own commitment to Irish and benefit from richness of cultural heritage and sense of place which Fionnbarra spoke so   passionately about at the seminar.