Waterways Ireland’s new website has been launched by Minister Deenihan and Martin Cullen, Head of Microsoft Ireland on Thursday 18th April 2013 in the Waterways Ireland Visitor Centre in Dublin’s Ringsend
The new website www.waterwaysireland.org aims to actively recruit people into waterside recreation through attractive, functional activity pages, sharing information and club & activity centre contacts on every waterway.
Waterways Ireland supports over 100 events a year on the inland waterways and these events, plus loads of others appear in a searchable events section. Additionally it also enables related businesses & event organisers to upload their information so that it can be more effectively promoted and shared with the public.
Minister Deenihan at the launch confirmed his support stating “Waterways Ireland has developed a user friendly and attractive website as part of its marketing plan and is engaging meaningfully with business and the community to maximise the opportunities available. Increasing recreational use of our waterways has a social, health and economic benefit and this website is a key tool to assist Waterways Ireland in achieving it.”
Additionally Waterways Ireland has grasped the potential of social media and begun the process of meeting the needs of the recreational waterway users, local communities and tourists through Facebook and Twitter.
Éanna Rowe, Head of Marketing & Communications, Waterways Ireland assured “Waterways Ireland is delighted to be able to provide more information and services online through this new website. Waterways Irelands aims to attract increasing numbers of people to our canals, rivers and lakes, because of the considerable economic and social impact on communities, villages and towns all across this island. In many instances the waterways are the only economic driver and a backbone of the community. The tactics used by Waterways Ireland through the new website and other marketing tools are all aimed at maximising the opportunities available for business and community.”
Waterways Ireland developed the website in conjunction with Etain Software and Microsoft Ireland.