Kildare appoints digital brand ambassador after competition

Kildare has selected its first ever Chief Experience Officer to help promote the county online to a global audience, after a six-week competition.

After receiving over 1,000 photo entries across Instagram and Twitter, Stephen Maher from the Curragh has been chosen as the county’s new digital brand ambassador.

“I’m delighted to have been chosen as Kildare’s new chief experience officer and I can’t wait to get started,” said Stephen.

“It’s a great opportunity and I am looking forward to showing the world everything Kildare has to offer.”

Stephen will spend 2018 sampling the best that Kildare has to offer visitors, while documenting his experiences on social media for the world to see.

As Kildare’s first ever Chief Experience Officer (CEO), Stephen will be able to access a full calendar of events and a range of exclusive experiences throughout the year.

“We were blown away by the response this competition received, with over 1,000 photos tagged with #IntoKildare in just six weeks,” said County Kildare Tourism Development Manager Aine Mangan.

“The quality of the entries received not only showcases the great attractions Kildare has to offer, but also the fantastic array of talent that exists in the county.

“We hope everyone who entered the competition will continue to share pictures using #IntoKildare to help us promote their home county to the world.

“We will continue to feature the best pictures each week on our social media feed on IntoKildare.ie.”

The team at Into Kildare will now sit down with Stephen to plan a year of activities based around the wealth of attractions and experiences available under the Into Kildare tourism brand.

In his first act as CEO, Stephen will attend the opening day of the 2018 Punchestown Festival, getting exclusive VIP access to help showcase the event to a global audience.

If this initative takes off for Kildare,  how long will it be before other counties in Ireland follow suit?