Virgin Media presenter Muireann O’Connell has called for a collective national effort to get behind Irish business as the nation looks to take steps to emerge from the crisis that has been gripping the country in the last few months.

 

Muireann was back in her native Limerick on Saturday as she threw her support behind Virgin Media's #BackingBusiness campaign, which is designed to underpin the renewal and recovery of businesses in communities throughout Ireland in response to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

 

Ireland’s leading connected entertainment provider Virgin Media has launched a €1 Million support fund as part of its #BackingBusiness initiative to boost Irish businesses nationwide, with free on-air advertising including creative, production, profiles in relevant TV programmes and social media promotion across its full schedule covering Virgin Media Channels One, Two and Three, Virgin Media.

 

Now one of the stars of the Virgin Media family has called for the nation to unite behind their local businesses, as we look to emerge from a challenging period in all of our lives.

 

"We are entering unknown territory for small businesses in Ireland and this is the moment for us all to come together and support," said Six O’Clock Show presenter Muireann, as she met small business owners in Limerick. 

 

"If you can spend €20 extra in a local business that kind of collective effort could be what they need to get back on track and we can all help to add €800m to the economy in Ireland.

 

"People will be wary with their own money because so many people have lost their jobs and others are worried about what might happen to their jobs in the coming weeks and months and that will impact businesses that are already so badly affected. 

 

"That is the mentality we all need now. So many of these small businesses were there for us when we needed them at the height of the COVID-19 crisis and I really hope everyone gets behind this Virgin Media #BackingBusiness initiative and help them in their hour of need."

 

Virgin Media will broadcast a day of programming from Limerick on July 22nd to highlight the #BackingBusiness campaign and Muireann was delighted to be back on home turf ahead of the big day.

 

"To come to my home town to get this message out is an absolute delight because there are so many small businesses here that are in need of a boost and we need to give them our support," she added.

 

"Small business has been hit so hard amid this crisis, so we wanted to get out and show our support, remind them that we are aware of what has happened and to show that we are 100 per-cent behind them as they try to bounce back."