Work officially began today on the construction of a Digital Innovation Hub being built to help the people of Connemara develop digital businesses.
Minister of State for the Gaeltacht and Galway West TD Seán Kyne broke ground today on the Digital Innovation Hub in Spiddal.
The hub, which is part of Gréasán Digiteach na Gaeltachta, will be a modern, high speed broadband facility for start-up and established enterprises.
It is being designed with 25 hot desks/coworking spaces, 10 private office spaces, two meeting rooms, video conferencing facilities, creative breakout spaces, phone booths and meeting pods.
When completed the hub will be able to cater for between 40 – 50 people developing modern enterprises in Galway’s Gaeltacht with a ficus on digital media.
It’s hoped that the Digital Innovation Hub will be open for business by this Autumn.
Deputy Kyne said the hub, “will help encourage and enable enterprise and innovation in South Connemara.”
“It will provide opportunities for local businesses and entrepreneurs while also encouraging people to consider setting up or returning to the region.”
He added that the modern digital facilities at the hub will help businesses expand and support jobs throughout the region.
It will have a “particular emphasis on the creative and digital media sectors and, as such, builds on the strong creative sector that has developed due, in no small way, to TG4 and Raidió na Gaeltachta.”
The Digital Hub in Spiddal is one of 30 innovation and digital hubs being developed in rural Gaeltacht areas across counties Donegal, Mayo, Galway, Kerry, Cork, Waterford and Meath.
Nine hubs of various sizes will be built throughout Galway in the coming years as part of Údarás na Gaeltachta’s GTEIC initiative.
Following the opening of the hub in An Cheathrú Rua last year it is expected that works on the hubs in Carna and Na Forbacha will be completed in the coming weeks.
Údarás na Gaeltachta CEO Micheál Ó hÉanaigh said, “This development will give the Gaeltacht Diaspora the option of returning home and working remotely, or starting their own businesses, in a state of the art facility created to enable and foster innovative employment opportunities.
“It’s location in Conamara where digital media and the creative sector are thriving will be a support to independent and freelance workers who contribute greatly to this industry.”
