Joseph Mangan of Mangans Tours was elected as Chamber President at the Annual General Meeting on 9th December 2008.

New Chamber President will keep the pressure on Government to deliver for Letterkenny

Letterkenny Chamber has elected Joseph Mangan as its new President.   It follows the Chamber’s AGM on 9th December 2008 at which a new Chamber Council was also elected. Outgoing President Jason Black wished his successor well in his term of office describing the Chamber as a strong progressive organisation even more crucial during these challenging times to the success of Letterkenny.

During his first address as President of Letterkenny Chamber, Mr.Mangan said he was “delighted and honoured” to represent the business community in Letterkenny in 2009.  “My predecessor Jason Black has done a wonderful job serving as President, during what was, a tough trading year. I view this role as a wonderful opportunity to work on behalf of Letterkenny businesses to ensure that we all get a better deal from the decision makers.”

Joe continued, “On behalf of the Chamber I will challenge those in authority to ensure that the business community is served well, whether at local or national level through our elected representatives, local authority staff and other key stakeholders.  We have built a good relationship with the local council and will continue to challenge them in this election year and our local TDs to really deliver for Letterkenny.

“We have assurances from Minister Dempsey that the Auchnacloy road will go ahead as planned but we need to see more investment and public spending if we are to get through this recession. Letterkenny and Donegal has never felt the full thrust of the Celtic tiger but we need to experience some positive discrimination for the North West if we ever want to see the evidence of balanced regional development here in Letterkenny.  I will do all I can to urge the government and the banking sector to support our small businesses, to find immediate methods to re-start the property market and to renew consumer confidence.

Joe also stated that “at present we have heard only bad news however in the coming year Letterkenny plays host to the INTO Conference, Special Olympics Ulster Regional Games, An tOireachtas and Ulster Dancing Championships.  These events will attract large numbers of visitors to the town, will fill our hotels and moreover enable us to showcase Letterkenny.  This is really positive news for Lettterkenny and together we will be able to give out the message that Letterkenny is open for business”.  

Apart from a new President the Chamber has a new Council.   The Chamber Council is made up of 16 members, from a wide variety of business sectors, who meet on a monthly basis and who are responsible for steering the policies and projects of the Chamber.  2 new Chamber Council members were elected for the 2009 period.

According to Mr. Mangan, “Chamber Membership is the engine that drives the Chamber and we will aim to increase our membership this year.  The more members we represent, the louder our voice will be when lobbying on behalf of all our members at local and national level. 

“As business owners ourselves we acknowledge that 2009 will be one of our toughest years but we will continue to work for the business community in Letterkenny and I would like to take this opportunity to reach out to members and non-members and remind them that the door of the Chamber is always open for advice and indeed new ideas of ways to move forward.  The Chamber is forward strong, energetic and proactive and will always act in the best interests of Letterkenny and its members” said Mr. Mangan.

Chamber Council 2009 – President -Joe Mangan (Mangan Tours); Jason Black (J & S Black Ltd.); Paul Byrne,(Radisson SAS Hotel); Eamonn Stevenson (Kennedy Stevenson Financial Eervices Ltd.); Brian Mc McCormick (Brian McCormick Sports); Gerard Mc McCormick (Magees Pharmacy); Bernard Dillon (Honorary Member); Anne Marie Bonner (Joe Bonner Metalcraft); Garry Clarke (Garry Clarke Solicitors); Hugh Downey (Sharp Design); Paddy Delap (Clarkes Newsagents);); Michael Gallagher (Michael Gallagher Menswear); Patrick McGinley (McGinley Sofas);Michael Boyd (Boyd Associates); Lisa Loughrey, John F Loughrey & Associates.; Seamus Browne, Browne Printers