Ennis Town- Share The Feeling (Christmas Video)

Carazy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBo2hvXE1oI

Insect Overlord

Paste the code from after "v=" into the [noparse]

[/noparse] tags to embed the video here.

Carazy

Thanks, wonderfully produced video above. Really makes Ennis look great.

Lady Chatterton

Carazy wrote: »

Thanks, wonderfully produced video above. Really makes Ennis look great.

I agree, well done to everyone involved, Ennis looks really great

Balagan

Lovely, smiling, kind, generous private business owners giving stuff away for free?

PR, make-believe and nonsense!

User Friendly

i have watched the video 3 times and am at a loss as to what its about? ba humbug!:D

Lady Chatterton

User Friendly wrote: »

i have watched the video 3 times and am at a loss as to what its about? ba humbug!:D

The video was created by the Chamber of Commerce to promote Ennis as "nice & friendly" place to shop this Christmas.

Balagan

The video isn't exactly teeming with racial diversity, is it?

User Friendly

MrsD007 wrote: »

The video was created by the Chamber of Commerce to promote Ennis as "nice & friendly" place to shop this Christmas.

do you think they succeeded?

a load of rubbish imo

Lady Chatterton

User Friendly wrote: »

do you think they succeeded?

a load of rubbish imo

Instead of moaning on about how tough it is right now for small businesses etc. they got off their behinds and they tried to make a short promotional video. It may not be perfect but I give them 10/10 for effort anyway.

I hope that people will try (where possible) to support small businesses this year (even it is just by purchasing one Christmas gift locally).

Le_Dieux

MrsD007 wrote: »

Instead of moaning on about how tough it is right now for small businesses etc. they got off their behinds and they tried to make a short promotional video. It may not be perfect but I give them 10/10 for effort anyway.

I hope that people will try (where possible) to support small businesses this year (even it is just by purchasing one Christmas gift locally).

Without want to sound patronising, this country needs MORE MrsD007's. Somebody mentions 'racial diversity' - I am at a loss as to where this line could come from & also WHY must race be brought into everything? I lived in South Africa for 16 years and know all about race, and believe me, the LAST thing Ireland needs to have this effing race card pulled at EVERY opportunity.

I think every county needs something to get their asses in gear. Fiver Fridays were a huge success, and now at least a CofC tries to do something positive, only to attract knockers as well - really really sad situation.

GOOD LUCK Ennis, and thanks for the encouragement MrsD.

cocochanel2011

This is a fantastic project which I believe was put together by Ennis Development Forum ( a VOLUNTARY group representing employers and employees ) with the help of the chamber of commerce . The town looks amazing and with all the shop owners giving so much of their time and also giving away vouchers on the street radio how can anyone view this in a cynical way . We all need to be reminded of what a wonderful town we have and it is beautifully captured on this video. We have one of the most gorgeous towns in the country and a town where you can get everything you need so lets all get behing this initiative and Congratulate the organisers . Its unbelievable that this video has got over 7,000 hits since Friday night on Vimeo link http://vimeo.com/m/33035402

Balagan

Le_Dieux wrote: »

Without want to sound patronising, this country needs MORE MrsD007's. Somebody mentions 'racial diversity' - I am at a loss as to where this line could come from & also WHY must race be brought into everything? I lived in South Africa for 16 years and know all about race, and believe me, the LAST thing Ireland needs to have this effing race card pulled at EVERY opportunity.

I think every county needs something to get their asses in gear. Fiver Fridays were a huge success, and now at least a CofC tries to do something positive, only to attract knockers as well - really really sad situation.

GOOD LUCK Ennis, and thanks for the encouragement MrsD.

There is a serious question to be asked about how a video has been made about the 'nice and friendly' town of Ennis, a town which has real racial diversity, without any racial diversity being shown.

Lady Chatterton

Here is an extract from an Irish Times Article which explains where the "friendliest town" concept came from;

Businesspeople in Ennis have asked a customer-care consultant to help revive commerce in the Co Clare town.

CIAN TRAYNOR

IN A SMALL cafe in the heart of Ennis the heads of the Co Clare town’s development forum are laughing. “Do you think we’re cracked?” asks Aoife Madden, the forum’s chairwoman. “You mean we didn’t get that across?” adds Shane O’Neill, its vice-chairman, as he stifles a giggle.

When they began the forum, in 2008, to stand up for shop owners, people were sceptical. Then they campaigned successfully to scrap the council’s proposed rates hike on local businesses, and locals started listening. When the area’s prospective TDs were on the campaign trail earlier this year the likes of Madden and O’Neill made them commit, on camera, to meeting the development forum every three months. It’s a promise they’ve had to keep.

Now they’re calling for a back-to-basics overhaul of customer service that could help lift Co Clare out of recession and earn Ennis a reputation as the friendliest town in the country.

Already known as the boutique capital of Ireland, Ennis is something of an anomaly in that franchises have made little encroachment here. Instead the town’s narrow streets are cramped with old-fashioned storefronts still named after the proprietors. Many of these businesses have passed through generations.

Standing in front of the James Brohan hardware shop, its postcard-worthy front decked with brushes, bins and backpacks, O’Neill explains that Ennis has always been a market town where people enjoy “the craic of haggling”. So where did it go wrong?

“We got complacent,” says O’Neill, who has been running the Art Craft Company for 17 years. “Business flowed in no matter what you did. There weren’t enough places to park. Maybe we just took it all for granted. I don’t think we’ve lost our personality, but we’ve lost our customers.”

It was a two-way disconnection, says Madden, whose family have run Madden Furniture for 30 years. “We didn’t have time to chat with our customers, but they didn’t want to talk to you either. They were getting money on their mortgage for furniture, coming in and going: ‘I want that, that and that – and I want it by Friday.’ Now it’s six to eight visits for a single purchase.”

Being fenced in by a ring road and bypassed by a motorway where signs make little reference to Ennis haven’t helped. Many feel that the town’s advantages, such as its proximity to the Burren and the Cliffs of Moher, have been forgotten. “There’s not much use in sticking our hand out to politicians, saying, ‘What can you do for us?’ We have to pull together and build on what we have: that natural ability Clare people have to interact with others,” says O’Neill.

With the help of the local chamber of commerce, Ennis Development Forum has been holding customer-care workshops that cover everything from cleanliness and clarity to bowling customers over with the wow factor and ever-present smiles.

It’s the little things: checking up on other shop owners, even if it means being brutally honest; directing customers towards competing shops, even if it means not seeing them return; collaborating with other businesses on promotional in-store events, even if it means giving away freebies and not selling a thing.

These are the teachings of Kathleen Sullivan, an American consultant experienced in customer care for multinationals like Unilever and Disney. She had worked with Ennis Chamber of Commerce before and was engaged to advise the town’s businesspeople. Sullivan, who lives between Ennis and Charleston, South Carolina (“the friendliest city in the US”), encouraged them to develop self-assessment checklists and draw up a Create the Magic charter.

“By God, there were rows over that charter,” says Madden. “But only because people are 100 per cent committed. If are going to be hung up in shops, they need to believe every word.”

O’Neill and Madden enthuse tirelessly about the campaign. To ensure that inspiration levels never dip they have promised to bring four motivational speakers to Ennis every year. At the launch of the Create the Magic charter on Tuesday, 180 people packed into the Old Ground Hotel for a talk by Bobby Kerr, the entrepreneur best known for his appearances on Dragons’ Den.

“I think what they’re doing is fantastic,” Kerr said later. “If you go into Ennis and you’re made welcome in six different shops, if they can get that common vibe going, it’ll be tremendously powerful for those who do visit.”

There is some scepticism, however. At the Irish Shop, which sold music for 28 years before branching into souvenir crafts in 2009, its owner is supportive of the idea but understands reluctance elsewhere. “I suppose there have been other initiatives in the past where people were all gung-ho and enthusiastic at the start, and it tended to dwindle fast,” says David Woodford, who is too busy to attend the customer-care workshops, which cost €75.

Shane O’Neill admits that not everyone is clamouring to get on board. There are downtrodden businesses under pressure, and many would prefer to stick with what they know. “But that’s not working any more,” he says. “We’re putting ourselves out there, at the risk of ridicule, to show that this thing can work. Before, I would have thought I was doing my best for customers. But you’re never that good. You might not acknowledge the person as much as you should when they come in; you might just delay on the phone that little bit longer.”

So far the initiative is at the pilot stage, with 25 businesses and about 430 employees participating. The next round of workshops begins in July, and a target for tangible results has been set for October, which is when Retail Excellence Ireland will conduct “mystery shopping” tests, sending undercover assessors into shops across the town over several weeks.

“That will tell us whether we’re cracked or not,” says Madden, laughing again. “But to be successful in business you have to be a bit cracked.”

angel2o11

This was made by a few Business people in 10 days for a Competition for RTE. They have nearly 8,000 hits since Friday.It betrays the Business people in Ennis giving presents to Santa. There is 4,000 euro worth of giveaways on the streets for their customers at Christmas.I read this on facebook today and I think these people are fantastic that created it. The comments made above are crazy re:racial issues.

The people that made this are Business people not hollywood producers. The Shop owners were asked along with their staff to line the streets on the night of filming. If you look at the video clip closely their actually is a business person from a different ethnic background in it if Balagan wants to get technical.This a a fantastic project and should be supported and these people should take a bow.

Shapey Fiend

All my friends on Facebook were passing this around and laughing at it. I think they missed the mark somewhat. It's nicely shot but the quality of the writing and voice over work isn't great. It could do with being a minute and a half shorter.

How does your man pick up the phone before it's even rang?

I think this thing comes off as pretty lame but if the target audience is American tourists or old people getting sentimental about the idea of father christmas then I guess it's adequate.

Lady Chatterton

Balagan wrote: »

There is a serious question to be asked about how a video has been made about the 'nice and friendly' town of Ennis, a town which has real racial diversity, without any racial diversity being shown.

I just had a look through some of the Ennis Chamber of Commerce and Ennis Development Forum online press releases.

You are invited to attend a Forum organised by Ennis Chamber and Ennis Development Forum to launch a new initiative on Customer Service for County Clare.......

The aim of the Forum is to inspire local businesses to engage in this initiative by enhancing their customer service, which will enable Clare to become “Ireland’s Friendliest County”.........

All businesses in County Clare are welcome to attend and to bring along their staff.

Reading this, I get the impression that Ennis Chamber of Commerce and Ennis Development Forum extended an invitation to all businesses in Clare who were interested in getting involved, I'm not sure what more they could have done, they can't force people to get involved in this initiative.

Le_Dieux

God help this country and the decent people who live here and try to make it a better place to live.

But alas, we seem to also have so called people who criticise for the sake of criticising. Where this racial sh1t crap comes from only one person can answer. So please balagan, what the hell is your issue?

People have made an effort to uplift the local economy, and should be praised for doing so. But of there is always one............who knock for the sake of knocking.

I do hope you have a good festive season.

Balagan

MrsD007 wrote: »

I just had a look through some of the Ennis Chamber of Commerce and Ennis Development Forum online press releases.



Reading this, I get the impression that Ennis Chamber of Commerce and Ennis Development Forum extended an invitation to all businesses in Clare who were interested in getting involved, I'm not sure what more they could have done, they can't force people to get involved in this initiative.

As another poster has pointed out, this video was made for a competition run by RTE http://www.rte.ie/radio1/thebusiness/christmas-competition.pdf

This extract you post and the lengthy article from the Irish Times which you posted refer to a related but separate endeavour.

Lady Chatterton

Balagan wrote: »

As another poster has pointed out, this video was made for a competition run by RTE http://www.rte.ie/radio1/thebusiness/christmas-competition.pdf

This extract you post and the lengthy article from the Irish Times which you posted refer to a related but separate endeavour.

To be fair Balagan, Ennis Chamber of Commerce and Ennis Development Forum are running numerous events as part of the "Friendliest Town" initiative. They have invited all Clare business people and their staff to get involved, anyone who wants to get involved can.

dr.fuzzenstein

Brilliant, love it!
No matter what, this town's got life left in it yet, go Ennis!
/gets pom-poms

Balagan

MrsD007 wrote: »

To be fair Balagan, Ennis Chamber of Commerce and Ennis Development Forum are running numerous events as part of the "Friendliest Town" initiative. They have invited all Clare business people and their staff to get involved, anyone who wants to get involved can.

Are you saying that all Ennis businesses and their staff were invited to be involved in the video? Even if it were limited to those businesses which are affiliated to and represented already by Ennis Chamber of Commerce and the Ennis Development Forum (and I do understand how hard they are working to keep their businesses going) I think it is indeed a pity that care was not taken to show some of the diversity of the people of Ennis and make a video that was inclusive and representative of the diversity we see on our streets and in our shops everyday. Remember that businesses are not just made up of the owners but also of the customers.

The RTE programme competition blurb http://www.rte.ie/radio1/thebusiness/christmas-competition.pdf
asked the specific question
Do you want to see your town celebrated on national TV?
and this video is a throw-back to times-gone-by when there was little or no racial diversity in the town and does not represent how the town is now and certainly is not how I want to see it 'celebrated'.

This video is indeed a PR exercise and I doubt that any of the businesses concerned are in a position to give much away for free, no strings attached, but, for all its Santa story, it does give a picture of the town of Ennis. There is a recession on which is hitting all of us hard and it is a time when divisions can easily occur in society and it is especially important that we guard against that happening.

I cannot imagine that it was anything but an oversight, albeit a sad one.

Lady Chatterton

Balagan wrote: »

Are you saying that all Ennis businesses and their staff were invited to be involved in the video? Even if it were limited to those businesses which are affiliated to and represented already by Ennis Chamber of Commerce and the Ennis Development Forum (and I do understand how hard they are working to keep their businesses going) I think it is indeed a pity that care was not taken to show some of the diversity of the people of Ennis and make a video that was inclusive and representative of the diversity we see on our streets and in our shops everyday. Remember that businesses are not just made up of the owners but also of the customers.

The RTE programme competition blurb http://www.rte.ie/radio1/thebusiness/christmas-competition.pdf
asked the specific question
Do you want to see your town celebrated on national TV?
and this video is a throw-back to times-gone-by when there was little or no racial diversity in the town and does not represent how the town is now and certainly is not how I want to see it 'celebrated'.

This video is indeed a PR exercise and I doubt that any of the businesses concerned are in a position to give much away for free, no strings attached, but, for all it's Santa story, it does give a picture of the town of Ennis. There is a recession on which is hitting all of us hard and it is a time when divisions can easily occur in society and it is especially important that we guard against that happening.

I cannot imagine that it was anything but an oversight, albeit a sad one.

Firstly, I wish to point out that I have absolutely no involvement in business in Ennis and I'm not associated with either of the groups who produced the film.

I love Ennis, I grew up there and no matter where I'm living, Ennis will always be home. It is my understanding that Ennis Development Forum have been running numerous "campaigns" in an effort to revive Ennis, they have promoted a facebook campaign, they have run customer service training events etc. all of this is open to anyone who wants to avail of/or support the initiative.

Personally, I like the video, it has an old world charm to it, yes, it is sentimental and there is an element of make believe in it, which is in keeping with the festive season. It is a three minute video which I presume has been funded by the business people involved, the video depicts many of the great Ennis Shopkeepers such as Jimmy Brohan, Mary O'Halloran and Honans. In a world that is being overtaken by Tesco, it is wonderful to see some of the small businesses surviving and adapting to difficult economic trading conditions.

I would presume that your suggestions would be given due consideration by the groups involved, so perhaps it would be more appropriate to voice your concerns directly with them.

Finally, Clareman/Insect Overlord, would you consider adding a poll to this thread so we capture what percentage of the forum like or dislike the video.

Insect Overlord

Poll added.

No need to make this a personal argument either folks! Keep it calm.

Balagan

MrsD007 wrote: »

Firstly, I wish to point out that I have absolutely no involvement in business in Ennis and I'm not associated with either of the groups who produced the film.

I love Ennis, I grew up there and no matter where I'm living, Ennis will always be home. It is my understanding that Ennis Development Forum have been running numerous "campaigns" in an effort to revive Ennis, they have promoted a facebook campaign, they have run customer service training events etc. all of this is open to anyone who wants to avail of/or support the initiative.

Personally, I like the video, it has an old world charm to it, yes, it is sentimental and there is an element of make believe in it, which is in keeping with the festive season. It is a three minute video which I presume has been funded by the business people involved, the video depicts many of the great Ennis Shopkeepers such as Jimmy Brohan, Mary O'Halloran and Honans. In a world that is being overtaken by Tesco, it is wonderful to see some of the small businesses surviving and adapting to difficult economic trading conditions.

I would presume that your suggestions would be given due consideration by the groups involved, so perhaps it would be more appropriate to voice your concerns directly with them.

Finally, Clareman/Insect Overlord, would you consider adding a poll to this thread so we capture what percentage of the forum like or dislike the video.

Why do you think it would be "more appropriate" for me to voice my concerns about the video directly with the groups involved? Am I not entirely free to raise the issue on this forum?

Lady Chatterton

Balagan wrote: »

Why do you think it would be "more appropriate" for me to voice my concerns about the video directly with the groups involved? Am I not entirely free to raise the issue on this forum?

Balagan, of course you are entitled to raise the issue here on the Clare forum or whatever other medium you feel is appropriate. However, I just thought that because you appear to be so passionate about this matter that you may want to raise it with the people involved in making the video.

angel2o11

Balagan

4,000 Euro worth of giveaways has been pledged by the Business Community with Giveaways over The Street Radio at Christmas for their Customers. So can you please tell me how it is a PR Stunt,when it is a two part initiative.First part the video and the second part the giving back through the street radio.
No Doubt you will have issues with that as well. The Business people are trying to pull the Town together and your comments are extremely insulting towards the people who organised this. I'm sure with the carry on with this forum they won't do anything for the Town again......
A poll is also extremely insulting to the people who made it when over 8,000 people have viewed it at this stage. It is fantastic to see our Town look really beautiful and my humble view is if you don't have something good to say please say nothing at all.

User Friendly

MrsD007 wrote: »

Balagan, of course you are entitled to raise the issue here on the Clare forum or whatever other medium you feel is appropriate. However, I just thought what because you appear to be so passionate about this matter that you may want to raise it the people involved in making the video.

Ahem........Im tempted to say nice recovery,but i wont:D

If Balagan appears passionate in your opinion,then your own persistence in defending this video must also be noted;)

angel2o11

Whoever started this poll should be ashamed of themselves. 4 people out of over 8000 hits. C'Mon a bit of respect towards the organizers who are trying to get our Town onto a national stage.

Insect Overlord

angel2o11 wrote: »

A poll is also extremely insulting to the people who made it when over 8,000 people have viewed it at this stage.

Excuse me? You're going to have to explain that one to me. And if you can't give a decent explanation...

angel2o11 wrote: »

my humble view is if you don't have something good to say please say nothing at all.

...then you'd be well-served to follow your own advice.

This is a discussion forum. We're not all here to agree with each other. Some people just can't deal with criticism, even if that same criticism could be helpful when planning future campaigns/events/projects.

Insect Overlord

angel2o11 wrote: »

Whoever started this poll should be ashamed of themselves. 4 people out of over 8000 hits. C'Mon a bit of respect towards the organizers who are trying to get our Town onto a national stage.

I know you're new here, but that's no excuse. Read the Clare Forum Charter before you post again. Next personalised remark you make about another poster/moderator gets you a short ban. You have been warned.

Lady Chatterton

User Friendly wrote: »

Ahem........Im tempted to say nice recovery,but i wont:D

If Balagan appears passionate in your opinion,then your own persistence in defending this video must also be noted;)

I'm proud of the town I grew up in, that is the only motivation for my posts to this thread UF.

User Friendly

angel2o11 wrote: »

and this forum is slatting them on ridiculous stuff such as racial equality etc. I won't be posting again.....

wrong, 1 individual,who is right imo, pointed out that no other ethnic group is represented in the video.

Balagan

MrsD007 wrote: »

Balagan, of course you are entitled to raise the issue here on the Clare forum or whatever other medium you feel is appropriate. However, I just thought that because you appear to be so passionate about this matter that you may want to raise it with the people involved in making the video.

Thank you. I might raise it directly with them but really I have faith that, given the reach of this forum in the town of Ennis and in Co. Clare, the busy and active groups involved in making the video will become aware of the points raised here by all posters, with all our varying degrees of passion!

MyKeyG

Can I say that while the idea of promoting the town is a fantastic idea the ad itself is very corny! It's very well shot but the mayor of Ennis getting a call from Santa, he comes to collect the presents etc...just found it a little bit childish personally.

I don't feel it's something a lot of people will take very seriously.

Carazy

Balagan wrote: »

The video isn't exactly teeming with racial diversity, is it?

How do you know that the people in that video are not Polish,Romanian,Italian,French,South African etc. They do not speak to claim their origions within the video.

I think the title of a new Rubberbandits song about enlisting different cultures in their gang is very apt for this member as I feel that they depict exactly at what you are trying to get at Balagan. Stiring what is a video of Ennis business people and that is that. Any ennis business people were well entitled to attend if they so wished.

CptSternn

I like the video. I think it was well done and it does make the town look very good.

If their idea was to create a video to promote Ennis, then they did a brilliant job. If they think this will have any effect on Christmas shopping, I think they will be in for a rude awakening.

This sort of thing is great to send to the states to drive in tourists, but I don't see people from Cork or Mayo driving here because they saw a video.

Anyone who lives here only has to look as far as the multiple threads here on pedestrianisation and the UDC to know locals won't be shopping here for a cadre of reasons. A well produced video won't fix that or the rent/rates (readin: prices) issue.

MyKeyG

Carazy wrote: »

Any ennis business people were well entitled to attend if they so wished.

I think that hits the nail perfectly on the head for me. If it was open then the onus was on the individual to come along if they wanted.

I for one wouldn't like to see the ad peppered with people of African origin just for the sake of racial diversity. The token black man can be just as much a discrimination as having none at all.

angelfire9

I have to say I love this video!
Its about Christmas so its supposed to be kinda corny :rolleyes:
It shows the town up beautifully IMHO

With over 8000 hits since Friday it seems to be getting well recieved by the majority who see it
I, like MrsD am Ennis born & bred, I have a lot of expat friends on facebook living abroad in Australia, America, continental Europe, the UK and further afield and they ALL love it!

The shop owners who got involved in making of this video deserve credit for doing something rather than sitting back on their asses watching the recession killing their businessess

I can't understand how anyone can say it won't do any good
The Court House looks fabulous, the shot down bank place to the COI church is gorgeous, the streets look clean and tidy...
As for the "Racism" issue I don't see it
Every business in town was invited to attend
In the video I recognise Jimmy Brohan, Tony Honan, Mary O'Sullivan, Aoife Madden (and her mother who plays Mrs Claus), yer man from Tierney's bicycle shop, Ger Sweeney, the pint of Guinness from Brogan's pub, these are all business who have been in town donkey's years.
They should be praised for getting involved
Do we REALLY need a "token" non national to be politically correct?

Ennis has a big community of non nationals if they wanted to get involved they were more than welcome to do so, the fact that they didn't bother should say something should it not??

As for the poster who said they wouldn't shop in Ennis because of pedestrianisation, the UDC & the prices, by shopping local you can help to save local jobs

If an item is a €5 more expensive in Ennis than Limerick I'd rather buy it in Ennis
Parking is free now up til 12 noon every day and with the lights switched on the Christmas atmosphere is really starting up

Back on topic....
I'm flabbergasted that people are taking this video so seriously, it was supposed to be a bit of craic to show off the town & remind people to shop local, as well as promote Ennis as "The Friendliest Town In Ireland"
It is not an exercise in cultural diversity
When I was a kid growing up, when Jimmy Brohan was in Parnell Street with his wares covering the path, and John Madden (RIP) was setting up his shop on new road, cultural diversity was non existant in town, this video, with these shopkeepers harks back to that time, can we not take it as it is instead of dissecting it and thereby taking the pleasure out of it for some of us??

skerry

Totally agree with Angelfire 9's comment above. Been watching some of the negative comments on this thread since I seen it last night and I think its a sad reflection on society that when a group of local businesses get together to make a video to promote your town, the first thing that pops into some people head is to pick holes in it. The comments about the video not showing racial diversity are complete nonsense, as was mentioned earlier the invitation was open to any business in town that wanted to partake and the fact that people of other race didn't partake is hardly the organizers fault, they can't force people into taking part.

And as far as people saying it was childish and wouldn't be taken seriously, I hate to break it to ye but the whole Santa thing is a childish notion and most of us came to the realization that he was a figment of our imagination many years ago. I'm pretty sure the video wasn't supposed to be taken that seriously in the first place.

It's a great video that really shows the town we live in in a great light. Its good to see businesses getting together and making the effort to do something positive for the town. I'm sure if it was up to half the people on here who have been whinging about it we would all have curled up and died a long time ago. They got together and chipped in their own money to make the video and all some folks can do is say how it was poorly made etc. Maybe next year we can get Michael Bay to produce it and throw in a few explosions and such. We can have a collection at the Height to pay for it, I think he has some time free between the next two Transformers movies.

I'm aware people are entitled to their opinions, but whinging for the sake of it??? Come out of the fog !!!!

MyKeyG

That people are whinging for the sake of it is a matter of presumtion. This video represents every Ennis citizen and their opinion is just as important as yours. Have some respect in fairness!

skerry

MyKeyG wrote: »

That people are whinging for the sake of it is a matter of presumtion. This video represents every Ennis citizen and their opinion is just as important as yours. Have some respect in fairness!

I do have respect, and I'm most definitely not saying my opinion is more important that others. I'm just pointing out that it's a sad day when people make an effort to do something for the town and all some people can do is look for some excuse to cut it down. The racial diversity comments are way off the mark in my opinion. All I'm saying is that it's a good project done by people who are trying to better their town, and as far as I'm concerned that can only be a good thing, regardless of racial diversity or production value. But that's just my opinion !

MyKeyG

skerry wrote: »

I do have respect, and I'm most definitely not saying my opinion is more important that others. I'm just pointing out that it's a sad day when people make an effort to do something for the town and all some people can do is look for some excuse to cut it down. The racial diversity comments are way off the mark in my opinion. All I'm saying is that it's a good project done by people who are trying to better their town, and as far as I'm concerned that can only be a good thing, regardless of racial diversity or production value. But that's just my opinion !

Maybe so but the best intentions don't always result in the best projects. There are people who simply don't like the video, feel it misses the mark, doesn't reflect the true spirit of Ennis etc...and I'm one of them. Beautifully shot but that's where it ends for me. I don't believe those opinions make it a sad day by any means.

m83

Some of the comments here are just ridiculous. Ireland, the land of begrudgers and armchair critics indeed.

Fair play to those involved.

MyKeyG

m83 wrote: »

Some of the comments here are just ridiculous. Ireland, the land of begrudgers and armchair critics indeed.

Fair play to those involved.

Ireland. The land of intolerance more like. Take off the Swastika FFS!!!

Nevermind_

MyKeyG wrote: »

Ireland. The land of intolerance more like. Take off the Swastika FFS!!!

Ah finally the debate degenerates to a level where Godwins law comes into play... well done MyKeyG

MyKeyG

Nevermind_ wrote: »

Ah finally the debate degenerates to a level where Godwins law comes into play... well done MyKeyG

I pay little attention to nonsense theories. The accusation of Godwins law is the rambling of someone desperate for a rebuttal yet unable to find one.;)

In any event it doesn't make the people on this thread who refuse to allow others to have an opinion without condemnation any less intolerant.

Insect Overlord

m83 wrote: »

Ireland, the land of begrudgers and armchair critics indeed.

I wish I could add that phrase (and all the others like it) to some sort of filter. It's such a cop-out response to anything vaguely negative.

Being critical of something doesn't make someone a begrudger by default, and being Irish has nothing to do with it at all. Different people have different tastes. Some like it, some don't. Trying to tar everyone who points out a problem with one snobby brush is a really cheap tactic.

I haven't even watched the video, by the way. I'm getting enough entertainment watching posters here reverting to clichéd put-downs, rather than challenging the critics with mature, reasoned responses.

m83

Insect Overlord wrote: »

I wish I could add that phrase (and all the others like it) to some sort of filter. It's such a cop-out response to anything vaguely negative.

Being critical of something doesn't make someone a begrudger by default, and being Irish has nothing to do with it at all. Different people have different tastes. Some like it, some don't. Trying to tar everyone who points out a problem with one snobby brush is a really cheap tactic.

I haven't even watched the video, by the way. I'm getting enough entertainment watching posters here reverting to clichéd put-downs, rather than challenging the critics with mature, reasoned responses.

Being critical and being a begrudger aren't mutually exclusive either. I've lived in several different countries and have never met more begrudgers than here in Ireland. That shouldn't be news to you though, it's pretty much common knowledge I would have thought.

Pretty cheap of you to weigh in too by the way without having seen the video. Watch it then contribute some constructive please.

MyKeyG

m83 wrote: »

Being critical and being a begrudger aren't mutually exclusive either. I've lived in several different countries and have never met more begrudgers than here in Ireland. That shouldn't be news to you though, it's pretty much common knowledge I would have thought.

Pretty cheap of you to weigh in too by the way without having seen the video. Watch it then contribute some constructive please.

Whatever you seem to think about your own race why do you think it applies here? People are voicing their opinions and getting run down. It has nothing to do with begrudgery. In fact the mere accusation doesn't even make sense, how are we begrudging exactly?

Insect Overlord

m83 wrote: »

Pretty cheap of you to weigh in too by the way without having seen the video. Watch it then contribute some constructive please.

As you wish. This post from earlier in the thread sums up most of what I feel about the video.

MyKeyG wrote: »

Can I say that while the idea of promoting the town is a fantastic idea the ad itself is very corny! It's very well shot but the mayor of Ennis getting a call from Santa, he comes to collect the presents etc...just found it a little bit childish personally.

I don't feel it's something a lot of people will take very seriously.

It's "lovely" for the kids and the grandparents, and the images of the town are fantastic, but it's not very well acted. The mayor only says a line or two and even still he doesn't sound convincing. And could they not have found one man in all of Ennis with a real beard to play Santa?

I know they weren't hoping for Academy Awards, but there are some little flaws in the video. If it was part of a series of 2 or 3 aimed at different audiences then it would be a great piece in the puzzle, but on its own it's far from perfect. Even if it is jolly and romantic.

m83 wrote: »

have never met more begrudgers than here in Ireland. That shouldn't be news to you though, it's pretty much common knowledge I would have thought.

That is, like I said, not "common knowledge", but a cop-out and a jaded stereotype.