Tullamore man elected president of Midland Gateway Chamber

The Midlands Gateway Chamber elected its new President Dominic Doheny this month. Dominic is from Tullamore and is Joint Managing Director of John Flanagan Developments in Tullamore. Each year the Chamber rotates its Presidency between the three towns of Athlone, Tullamore and Mullingar. This is Tullamore's first year to receive the Presidency and Dominic Doheny is looking forward to the challenge. "Since the National Spatial Strategy was implemented in 2002 it has been a slow process to get the right structure in place which will fully represent the Midlands region. The three town chambers, as part of the Midlands Gateway structure, the two County Councils and the State Agencies have also come together to form the Implementation Forum. These are great achievements and the main objective of these organisations is to re-brand the midlands and pool our strengths which are our unique demographic, tourism, infra-structure, enterprise and agencies. We are the only multiple town gateway in the country and this makes us unique and will enable us to compete with other gateways in the country," Dominic commented. Dominic continued: "One of the biggest challenges the Midlands Gateway Chamber faces is to work within the present economic climate. The Gateway Innovation Fund has been put on ice and so we must endeavour to seek alternative funding. This is one of my key objectives for the coming year. I intend to identify key personnel within the Midlands and form a sub-committee to assist the Midlands Gateway Chamber and the town and County Councils to source European funding for key projects. Now, more than ever before there is keener competition from within the island of Ireland for foreign direct investment, for indigenous investment and for State funding for key infra-structural projects. It is my belief that for Tullamore, Athlone or Mullingar to seriously compete for any one of these projects can only be made possible by being part of the gateway structure." Dominic considers that the road-map set by his two predecessors Past-President Eugene Moore and out-going President Ciarán O Catháin has been well-formed and sign-posted. "These firm foundations make future direction easier and clear." he commented. According to Dominic it is essential that the Midlands Gateway Chamber retains and enforces its relationship with the Implementation Forum and the town Chambers of Athlone, Tullamore and Mullingar. Indeed he believes that it is important to lobby all public representatives and to meet our new MEPs to inform them of our new and unique structure. "It is only by working in unison that we will deliver what has been set out by the National Spatial Strategy." he said.