This week, the Kerry Ambassador Programme brought together its founding ambassadors, members of the Kerry diaspora, industry leaders and county representatives for a day of networking and engagement, celebrating both the successes of the programme to date and Kerry’s new unified place brand: Visit, Work, Live.

Held as a key event within the Kerry County Council’s Kerry Homecoming Festival programme, part of the Global Irish Festival Series; a joint initiative of Fáilte Ireland and the Department of Foreign Affairs, the event commenced with a networking lunch at Lakeview House and Estate, the ancestral home of Sir Maurice O'Connell.

The O'Connell family opened the doors to their beautiful home, welcoming the group and sharing the history of the house, estate, and family. The group then toured the onsite whiskey business, makers of the award-winning Liberator & Lakeview Single Estate Whiskeys.

The afternoon business session, held at the RDI Hub, featured an update on the Kerry Ambassador Programme, engaging panel discussions and a keynote speech by world record-breaking Irish Open Water Swimmer, Nuala Moore.
Moore, a Dingle native, shared her experiences as an adventurer and author. 
With its theme ‘Shaped by the landscape; Exploring The Impact Of The Kerry Character in Business from the Local to the Global’, the day celebrated the significance of place and character running through Kerry’s success stories and the innovative people who continue to drive progress, legacy and impact on a local and global stage.

“The event showcased to our Ambassadors the depth of the collaboration that exists in Kerry across all industry sectors as well as the cooperation between the public and private sectors. It highlighted the depth of innovative talent and entrepreneurship that abounds while recognising our obligation to protect our landscape and natural heritage all under the unified “Kerry Brand”, said Pat O’Leary Chair of the Kerry Tourism Industry Federation.

The Kerry Ambassador Programme, launched in October 2022, aims to drive economic growth through business events and raise Kerry's profile as a premier business hub. The programme is led by Kerry Convention Bureau, in partnership with Kerry County Council, Fáilte Ireland, Kerry Tourism Industry Federation, Tech Industry Alliance, and Prosper Kerry.