25 years of D’Arcy Marketing & PR – Happy New Year!
As we get ready to return to work from the Christmas break, January 2nd, marked 25 years of D’Arcy Marketing & PR and I look back……
I had somewhat fallen into a career in tourism marketing in March of 1991, following 3 glorious years of student life and craic in Letterkenny RTC now ATU Letterkenny. Starting out, there weren’t many, if any, opportunities in Marketing in Galway especially without a degree. A school friend spotted a bilingual job advert in the Connacht Tribune for a Marketing Officer with Cósta Chonamara Teo so I applied. Experience needed but so too was a command of the Irish Language as the position was based in an Spidéal, developing tourism in the South Connemara Gaeltacht region. My only Leaving Cert honour was in Irish, so I applied “as Gaeilge” and was lucky enough to get the job, the Start, I needed.
This was the start of my love affair with tourism and hospitality but above all the Irish Language and from then on, Gaeilge has been central to me as a person and to D’Arcy Marketing & PR as a bilingual PR, Communications and Marketing Agency.
Early influences and supports who remain loyal today.
Donal Standún of Standún Teo. was the chairperson of Cósta Chonamara and a hugely important mentor to me as I started out in my career. He guided me with strategic precision for close on 4 years and was beyond generous with his advice and time. He was also the driver behind my decision to become self – employed, giving me the vision and courage to take the brave step to leave fulltime employment in August of 1997.
At this point I had spent 4 fantastic years as Sales and Marketing Manager for Sinnott Hotels. Owned by renowned hotelier and business man Charles Sinnott who was an excellent marketeer, my time with him and his team, truly emersed me in the hotel and tourism industry. We all worked hard but the learnings were the equivalent of a Master’s Degree in Marketing especially the art of creativity in marketing and sales. A highly exciting time for me with lots of international travel, it culminated in the opening of Brooks Hotel in Dublin. My learnings were great, my knowledge and contacts had grown extensively across key contacts in the international and domestic tourism industry but above all I know had the experience and drive to embark on a freelance business operation. Following a couple of months break I set out to provide Marketing and Sales services to seasonal tourism and hospitality businesses in Galway and Connemara, and so D’Arcy Marketing was conceived.
2nd January 1998, the Start
From modest beginnings I set up D’Arcy Marketing which would later become D’Arcy Marketing & PR as I diversified into what is now a total solutions bilingual PR, Communications and Marketing Agency. Fortunate to be inspiring clients for 25 years now, I’m both extremely proud and grateful that many of these early clients continue to remain loyal to us today.
My family have also been a great support over this past 25 years. At the outset my mother kindly lent me her apartment in Collinamuck on the shores of Lough Corrib in Connemara to get up and running in the first three months. I also thank my sister, Cathriona and my late father, Willie who is now guiding me from above.
Over the years I’ve been fortunate to employ excellent PR and Marketing Executives who’s integral support has grown the business and from whom I’ve gained much knowledge and skills also. I thank each and everyone of them for their loyalty, support and friendship. I also thank my many friends and colleagues who’ve provided much needed guidance, honesty and welcomed support.
Gaeilge
Gaeilge, our beautiful Irish Language is at the heart of D’Arcy Marketing & PR every day. I have fond memories of winning Gaillimh Le Gaeilge’s Gradam Seosamh Uí Ógartaigh in our early years of business. Based in Galway City, a bilingual city, on the threshold of Connemara, it’s natural to us to provide our core services as Gaeilge. Our ability to service Gaeltacht and Gaeilge centred clients brings much pride to D’Arcy Marketing & PR.
In this our 25th year, I’m hoping for a cameo appearance on our much loved Ros na Rún or a date with the TG4 intern….!!!! Dreams and aspirations!
Tourism and Hospitality
The passion inspired by my early career in the tourism and hospitality sector continues to be a key driver today. D’Arcy Marketing & PR is ever grateful for the continued and loyal support of our clients in this sector hotels, tourist attractions, visitor experiences and events. The industry’s committed leaders and resilient and professional teams across marketing, PR and management always inspire us. It’s an innate passion which brings much satisfaction and we look forward to a creating more innovative campaigns with our tourism partners in 2023.
Galway Media
The support of the Galway Media to our clients has always been first class and for that we are extremely grateful. In the early years it was broadcast, Galway Bay FM and print, Galway Advertiser, Connacht & City Tribune, Tuam Herald, Galway Now. Today, we add the digital platforms of This is Galway and Galway Daily to our output. To all of you a Míle Buíochas.
Regional Media
Over the past 25 years, our client base has steadily grown across Ireland and the regional media have always been very supportive to us as we deliver our regional based clients news and we thank them for their continued support.
Gaeilge Media
Ó TG4, go Raidio na Gaeltachta, RTE – Gaeilge, Tuairisc, Raidio Rí Rá, Raidio na Life, buíochas ó chroí as ucht an tacaíocht agus caidreamh ar fad. Ní neart go chur le chéile!
National Media
To our national media colleagues across, Broadcast, Print and Digital, we thank you most sincerely for your support and for travelling to meet us in the wild and wonderful west of Ireland for many fun press events.
We’ve made many wonderful and loyal friends in the media over the past 25 years and look forward to forging more friendships in the year ahead.
25th Birthday – 2nd of January 2023
As we embark on a new year, and our 25th year at D’Arcy Marketing & PR, we look forward to working with our clients, colleagues and friends across the tourism, hospitality, food and events sector along with our loyal Irish Language and TV clients. All of whom make each day a new, exciting and interesting one.
To our colleagues across all sectors of the media, here in Galway, in Dublin, across the country and in the Irish Language Media we look forward to bringing you good news and fun press trips and events in this our 25th year.
Together we look forward to working with you all in building campaigns, innovative press events and generating good media coverage.
We will be marking our 25th milestone birthday year and look forward to sharing news of same when we all settle into this new year of 2023 so please do stay tuned.
Wishing you all health, happiness and a successful year in 2023 and again thanks for your support and loyalty over the past 25 years.
Noreen D’Arcy,
D’Arcy Marketing & PR
Photographs by Éabha O’Malley, TY Student at St Paul’s Secondary School, Oughterard, Co. Galway and Sean Lydon and Gaillimh Le Gaeilge
