Three members of the Webster Family in the News

Congratulations to Mick Webster from Wolfe Tone Street who is a finalist in the Google-Age Action Ireland Silver Surfer of the year award 2011. Mick will be attending the awards ceremony in Google’s European Headquarters in Dublin on the 27th of September with his family. Also in the news is Mick’s son Mike Webster who is the new CEO of Go Ireland, Ireland’s major online accommodation booking company. Since taking over the company Michael, who is a former Global Sales Manager for the financial services group Fexco, has launched an aggressive campaign to ensure that the money generated by online accommodation bookings remains within the country. According to research by GoIreland.com, “80 per cent of bookings made by Irish people for “staycations” in this country are done through international online travel agents (OTA) such as hotels.com. As a result, at least €50 million, and possibly up to €100 million, is being lost in booking fees and commissions by local accommodation providers” Mike and his team at GoIreland hope to reverse this trend and have completely revamped the GoIreland portal site. We wish Mike every success in his new venture.

Best wishes also to Mick and Madge’s daughter Jean Webster who recently retired from her post as Waterford County Librarian. During her highly  successful career with Waterford County Council Library Service,  Jean introduced many new initiatives including a County Reading Strategy and an ambitious  “Early Years Literacy Programme” to  help tackle educational disadvantage and promote reading from birth.  Jean cites her own very early exposure to reading on her grandmother’s lap in Belmont and being a member of the Cobh Library from a very early age as two of the most significant  factors in her own educational development  These opportunities she feels should be available to every child.  As head of Cultural Services for Waterford County Council, Jean was also responsible for the development of arts venues and will continue to promote Irish culture  and heritage in her new career.