Muireann O’Connell is encouraging the nation to support local Irish businesses.
As the country continues to recover from the Coronavirus crisis, the presenter returned to her native county Limerick over the weekend to take part in Virgin Media’s #BackingBusiness campaign.
The campaign was created to underpin the renewal and recovery of businesses in communities throughout Ireland in response to the ongoing pandemic.
The entertainment provider has launched a €1 million support fund as part of its initiative to boost Irish companies nationwide.
“We are entering unknown territory for small businesses in Ireland and this is the moment for us all to come together and support,” she revealed at the event.
“If you can spend €20 extra in a local business that kind of collective effort could be what they need to get back on track and we can all help to add €800m to the economy in Ireland.”
“People will be wary with their own money because so many people have lost their jobs and others are worried about what might happen to their jobs in the coming weeks and months and that will impact businesses that are already so badly affected.”
“That is the mentality we all need now. So many of these small businesses were there for us when we needed them at the height of the COVID-19 crisis and I really hope everyone gets behind this Virgin Media #BackingBusiness initiative and help them in their hour of need.”
The Irish broadcaster then urged the country to get “100 per cent behind” local businesses.
“To come to my home town to get this message out is an absolute delight because there are so many small businesses here that are in need of a boost and we need to give them our support,” she stated.
“Small business has been hit so hard amid this crisis, so we wanted to get out and show our support, remind them that we are aware of what has happened and to show that we are 100 per-cent behind them as they try to bounce back,” she added.
Virgin Media will provide free on-air advertising for local businesses in relevant TV programmes and social media promotion across its full schedule, which covers their range of channels.
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