*The Shannon College of Hotel Management.
ANGER HAS BEEN VOICED at University of Galway’s plans to remove the logo the Shannon College of Hotel Management.
Founded in 1951, the Shannon College of Hotel Management is the country’s only dedicated hotel management college and is held in high esteem all over the globe by those working in the hospitality industry. In 2014, the University of Galway took it under its portfolio.
As part of a rebranding, University of Galway plan to relinquish the logo. Management of the Shannon college which was for a long time the only university level college in Clare, have been told new signage and branding will replace the Shannon logo. The plans have caused “immense disquiet in hospitality circles”.
In a proposal put before Clare County Council, Cllr Pat O’Gorman (FF), Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF), Cllr PJ Ryan (IND), Cllr Michael Begley (IND) and Cllr Pat McMahon (FF) sought an intervention from the local authority to stop the removal of the logo. “As a direct result of this change, much confusion will be caused in the international market for students. Already there is evidence that international students seeking to study at Shannon are under the illusion that the hotel school is now situated in Galway”.
Generations recognise the current logo, Cllr O’Gorman said as he appealed to the University not to proceed. “We do not want to lose the logo. You see the college and the logo, we don’t want to lose something that the great Brendan O’Regan put in place”. Cllr McGettigan added, “This college is renown around the world, people do very well in the college, would hate to see us lose any recognition in it”.
Cllr Ryan admitted he was “absolutely shocked” when he first heard of the plans, “The hotel has been synonymous with the Shannon area, has been there for 70 years, I can’t believe that anyone would think to remove it”. He referenced the hotel management college’s reputation worldwide, “It’s a badge of honour for anyone in hotel management to have attended the college”.
Removal of the logo “would be a disgrace”, Cllr Begley commented. Colleges in Limerick should seek to take the Shannon College under their wing, Cllr McMahon maintained, “it is outrageous that they would consider removing the logo”. Cllr Gerry Flynn was adamant, “the logo has to remain, it has served us well, it is recognised all over the world”.
Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) is the Council’s nominee on the University’s Governing Authority. She read correspondence from Secretary for Governance and Academic Affairs. Caroline Loughnane who clarified the name of the College would not change and just the logo.
Changing a logo after seventy years was “bizarre” in the eyes of Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF). “It is absolutely scandalous that they would try to take the logo down. Under no circumstance is that name to be changed,” Cllr John Crowe (FG) warned.
Chief Executive of the Council, Pat Dowling was cautious over the use of the word ‘intervene’ in the motion. Mayor of Clare, Cllr Tony O’Brien (FF) felt the commitment from Cllr Colleran Molloy to debate the matter at the next Governing Authority was “the intervention” to which Cllr Alan O’Callaghan (FF) quipped “no pressure Clare”.
