Small County Thinks Big – the Leitrim County Council and Landmark Hotel Story - Day 7 - Part II
It may be the smallest county in Connacht, the smallest by population in Ireland, with the smallest stretch of beach on the Wild Atlantic Way, but in their latest episode the Irish Stew podcasters learn that Leitrim is capitalizing on its offer of a great quality of life, relative affordability, entrepreneurial energy, appeal to a more mobile workforce, and its “slow adventure” approach experiencing its natural allure.
Arriving in Carrick-on-Shannon, the cohosts head to the offices of the Leitrim County Council, the local government organization committed to building an economically strong, creative and inclusive county, making Leitrim the best place to live, to work and visit.
Though County Council Chief Executive Joseph Gilhooly opened the doors to Leitrim for Irish Stew, for the interview he gave the floor to his able lieutenants, Director of Services David Minton and tourism officer Sinead McDermott.
You’ll hear how Leitrim’s economy is strong on small-scale entrepreneurship and growing sectors like fintech, food innovation, engineering, and renewables. They also detail the County Council’s integrated support system including the Local Enterprise Office, The Hive incubation hub, and the Carrick Campus for growing firms.
They share that tourists from across Ireland, the U.S, and Europe come for Leitrim’s authenticity, natural beauty, slower pace, farm to table food, tranquillity, and eco-tourism. They sense that climate change is subtly shifting European travel patterns northward, making Ireland a “cool” alternative to overheated southern Europe.
With Leitrim’s tourism value proposition top-of-mind, the podcasters head to the Landmark Hotel to meet with Sales and Marketing Manager Ciara Maxwell, who came to Leitrim for a one-year work experience 15 years ago and never left, which tells you everything you need to know about the pull of this place.
She tells how founders John and Ciaran Kelly envisioned a new riverside hotel that would be a real landmark looking out over “The Marina Capital of Ireland” and in the center of Carrick-on-Shannon’s lively weekend nightlife of pubs, shows, and restaurants.
There’s more tastes of Leitrim on Irish Stew next week, including the story of the Malaysian chef who’s upending the local food scene, the new woodland lodging hideaway set on 100 acres of Irish history, and the slow adventure e-bike option for traversing the Jackalope Trail to Drumshanbo, home of The Shed Distillery of P.J. Rigney.
Links
Leitrim County Council
Sinead McDermott
Landmark Hotel
Ciara Maxwell
Irish Stew Links
- Website
- Media Partner: IrishCentral
Episode Details: Season 8, Episode 3; Total Episode Count: 143
00:00 - Introduction To Leitrim
03:46 - A Business Perspective
06:51 - How the County Council supports business
07:52 - Tourism Mix
11:54 - The Shannon boating experience
13:44 - Festivals and food
17:35 - Off season travel and coolcations
20:09 - Introducing Ciara Maxwell
21:25 - The Landmark Hotel in Carrick-on-Shannon
22:46 - The visitor experience
27:02 - Cruising and the Landmark Hotel
28:34 - Nearby Carrick
32:04 - A day in Ciara's work life
33:56 - John & Martin Recap
36:30 - Credits
Director of Services at Leitrim County Council
David Minton serves as Director of Services at Leitrim County Council, where he oversees Economic Development, Regeneration, Sustainable Transport and Emergency Services. In this role, he has been instrumental in leading transformative digital and economic initiatives for County Leitrim.
Minton has been a driving force behind Leitrim's innovative Digital Placemaking Framework, Ireland's first of its kind, which aims to position the county as a national leader in smart rural living. He has described the initiative as connecting digital infrastructure investments with the county's communities, stating that it has "transformative potential" for the region.
Under his leadership, Leitrim County Council has actively promoted economic development and international investment, representing the county at key events including business missions to London and conferences on rural innovation. He works closely with Chief Executive Joseph Gilhooly and the council's senior management team to advance sustainable development, digital transformation, and economic opportunities across County Leitrim.
Minton is a regular speaker at national conferences on topics including rural development, digital innovation, and smart village initiatives, positioning Leitrim as a model for rural regeneration in Ireland.
Tourism Officer for Leitrim County Council
Sinead McDermott serves as Tourism Officer for Leitrim County Council, where she plays a leading role in promoting County Leitrim as a premier tourism destination. With extensive experience in marketing and tourism development spanning over two decades, she has been instrumental in developing innovative tourism initiatives for the county.
McDermott co-founded the national Tourism Officer Network in 2024 alongside Áine Mangan, CEO of Into Kildare. This groundbreaking initiative brings together tourism officers from every county council in Ireland to collaborate on cross-council tourism strategies and share best practices for an industry worth over €13.5 billion annually to the Irish economy.
Under her leadership, Leitrim Tourism has pioneered several innovative campaigns, including the county's Slow Adventure Tourism initiative, which positions Leitrim as a leader in immersive, environmentally conscious travel experiences. She has successfully secured significant funding for destination marketing campaigns and developed family-focused promotional efforts that showcase the county's natural landscapes, heritage sites, and outdoor activities.
McDermott has been recognized for her creative approach to tourism marketing, leveraging digital media, social platforms, and partnerships with Fáilte Ireland to capitalize on domestic and international markets. She works closely with local tourism providers and Leitrim County Council to enhance the county's tourism offering while promoting sustainable tourism development that benefits local commu…
Sales and Marketing Manager at The Landmark Hotel
Ciara Maxwell serves as Sales and Marketing Manager at The Landmark Hotel in Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim, where she plays a pivotal role in promoting one of the region's premier hospitality destinations.
In her role, Maxwell oversees all marketing and sales initiatives for the award-winning, family-owned hotel, which celebrated its position as a leading venue in Ireland's Hidden Heartlands. She has been instrumental in navigating the hotel through challenging economic times while maintaining strong occupancy rates and guest satisfaction.
Maxwell is known for her responsive guest relations management, personally addressing customer feedback and maintaining the hotel's reputation for exceptional service. She regularly engages with guests through online platforms, demonstrating a hands-on approach to customer care and brand management.
A passionate advocate for the hospitality industry, she has spoken publicly about career opportunities within the sector, emphasizing that hospitality offers diverse career paths and invaluable life experience. During the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on the industry, she worked to rebuild the sector's reputation while highlighting the unique opportunities to meet people from different hierarchies and nationalities that make hospitality careers rewarding.
Under her marketing leadership, The Landmark Hotel has successfully capitalized on the growing demand for staycations and mini breaks, positioning Leitrim as an attractive destination for domestic and international tourists seeking aut…Read More
