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'Amazing Grace' hits bum note
22.04.11
‘AMAZING Grace Country’
may be the new marketing ploy in this part of the
world but it certainly is not doing it for the
people if an Inishowen Independent survey is
anything to go by. Eamonn MacDermott took
to the streets of Buncrana this week to find out
what people think. |
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One of the new 'Welcome to Amazing
Grace Country' signs around Buncrana. The marketing
campaign refers to the famous hymn penned in the
1700s by John Newton, a slave ship captain who had a
spiritual epiphany after finding refuge from an
Atlantic storm in Lough Swilly and later became a
Church of England clergyman. |
Camera shy Paul Doherty
was less than enthusiastic about the whole Amazing
Grace concept and quite angry about the signs
promoting it. He said: “I am absolutely disgusted
with that sign stuck up as you come out of Fahan
village. One of the most scenic parts of Inishowen
and they have this eyesore in the middle of it.
“It is a disgrace that someone thought that would be
a good idea.” |
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Mary Doherty said: “I
don’t know about the Amazing Grace thing at all. I
am proud of Inishowen and believe that we should be
promoting Inishowen as Inishowen not something that
does not make a lot of sense to most people here.” |
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A visitor to the area,
George Lambe, from Dublin, said the signs had caught
his eye but felt things should be left as they were.
He said: “I noticed the signs about Amazing Grace
Country and it did set me thinking. But I believe
things should be left as they are. “This is a
beautiful part of the world and is in such contrast
to Dublin. There is none of the hustle and bustle we
have there and that is what they should be
promoting. |
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“No matter where you go
in Inishowen it is absolutely beautiful and I don’t
think this Amazing Grace does a terrible lot to
attract visitors.” |
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Mandy McCloskey,
accompanied by her two children, Sophia aged 21
months and Kayla aged nine months, felt the whole
concept raised expectations without meeting them.
She said: “I don’t think it does a lot for the area.
It does raise expectations and would get people
asking what is the Amazing Grace thing all about. |
But then there is
nothing to meet those expectations; there is no
information about what the Amazing Grace connection
is.
“I think they should concentrate on Inishowen. I
mean why change it if it is not broken. It’s like
them changing the name of Marathon to Snickers – it
makes no sense.” |
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Carol Anne McDaid said
she was aware of the Amazing Grace campaign and at
least she felt it was some attempt to promote the
area.
She said: “I have seen the signs about the Amazing
Grace and I suppose at least someone is trying to
promote the area.
“Inishowen is not being promoted enough. We have
everything here yet it is not getting promoted the
way it should be.” |
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Marlene McLaughlin,
accompanied by her daughter Mairead, said she was
not that interested in the whole idea and felt that
there were much more serious issues around.
She said: “I think they should stick to promoting
Inishowen as Inishowen and not get sidetracked with
this sort of thing. |
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“But I find that it is
hard to take this sort of thing too seriously when
you hear on the news about that banker getting €3
million in bonuses and the like.” |
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Trevor Ball said he had
heard of the idea of Amazing Grace but it didn’t
mean an awful lot to him.
He said: “I had heard bits and pieces but the idea
of Amazing Grace Country does not mean anything to
me and I don’t think it would mean a lot to most
people.
“I think they should concentrate on promoting
Inishowen as the place it is, not start all sorts |
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of stuff that does not
mean anything to anybody.” |
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