Working group established to achieve Purple Flag for Naas. Award seen as a promotional tool to highlight superb dining and entertainment options in Naas

County Kildare Chamber is getting geared up to apply and achieve the prestigious Purple Flag Award for Naas. A working group has been formed recently and work is already underway for the submission to achieve this prestigious award for the town. The application, which has brought together a multitude of stakeholders working within and for the town, has garnered the successful collaboration and commitment of all those involved. The working group includes:

• Jennifer Forster – Head Co-Ordinator of the Purple Flag, and Membership & Events Manager at County Kildare Chamber
• Ian Lacey – Assistant Planner (Forward Planning) at Kildare County Council
• Bill Clear – Tidy Towns Naas
• Lorcan O’Rourke – One New Row
• Joanne Bradbury – Las Radas Tapas Bar
• Deborah Callaghan – The Osprey Hotel
• Celine Garvey – The Moat Theatre
• Luke Hanahoe – Hanahoe & Hanahoe Solicitors and Vice President of County Kildare Chamber
• Declan McCarthy – Superintendent Naas Garda Station
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The awarding of the Purple Flag symbolises a location that offers a well-managed, diverse, entertaining, safe and enjoyable evening and night out. The application which involves a Purple Flag Award self-assessment of Naas Town which will focus on reviewing the evening and night time offering of the town under the five themes of the award scheme. The five areas to be addressed are: Wellbeing, Movement, Appeal, Place and Policy. The final Purple Flag Award assessment which will be undertaken by an external Purple Flag assessor in November. County Kildare Chamber have been through this process already with the awarding of the purple Flag in Maynooth in 2017. Less than 30 towns and cities in Ireland have received this award and the Chamber believe Naas is well positioned to be flying the flag early next year. Jennifer Forster, Membership and Events Manager in commenting on the overall award and application process, stated the award is “likened to a ‘gold standard’ and requires a comprehensive set of standards, management processes and good practice procedures to be in place with regard to our town management and offering”. “We have a great town in Naas and there is a huge amount of effort being focused on the continued energising of the town” added Jennifer. “This award will be a further string in the bow, and will be instrumental as a marketing and promotion tool as we expand the diversity of the offering available within Naas and in doing so, further expand the appeal of the town to tourists and residents alike”. Allan Shine, CEO of the Chamber added: “Naas is a very proud town and with good reason and the hopeful future attainment of the Purple Flag award will set us apart as a must visit location. There is great enthusiasm and spirit here to continuously improve on our offering and the achievement of this award will be a testament to the ongoing efforts that are underway and the plans for the future. "Naas is awash with high quality restaurants, bars, coffee shops and Hotels.  It is rich in its arts, heritage and cultural offering. The process is a joint initiative funded by Kildare County Council and County Kildare Chamber and we are delighted to be working closely with the business community, An Gardaí Siochana, Naas Tidy Towns and local voluntary organisations with this process.”