The gTeic Digital Innovation Hub in Spiddal meant to give Connemara businesses access to state of the art digital facilities was officially opened on Friday.
Minister for Rural and Community Development Michael Ring opened the Digital Innovation Hub, the first of its kind in a network of high speed broadband facilities to support entrepreneurs in rural Gaeltacht areas.
The gTeic Spiddal hub was built by Údarás na Gaeltachta with the help of €550,000 in funding from the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.
Speaking at the opening Minister Ring said “gteic@An Spidéal will help create employment opportunities and will provide a vibrant, modern, high speed broadband facility for start-up and established enterprises.”
“The Hub will support employment in the local area both directly and indirectly and will have a particular emphasis on the creative and digital media sectors.”
The Minister added that this is exactly the sort of large scale project with the potential to drive economic progress that the €1 billion Rural Regeneration and Development Fund was set up to enable.
The Spiddal Digital Innovation hub was approved for funding under the first call for projects to receive backing from the fund which saw a total of €86 million awarded.
Galway West TD and Minister of State Seán Kyne said “This Hub will provide opportunities for local businesses and entrepreneurs while also encouraging people to consider setting up or returning to the region”.
gteic Gréasán Digiteach na Gaeltachta is a network of innovation & digital hubs with high speed broadband connectivity being developed by Údarás na Gaeltachta in locations throughout Ireland’s Gaeltacht areas.
The Spiddal hub’s facilities include 25 hot desks/coworking spaces, 10 private office spaces, two meeting rooms, video conferencing facilities, creative breakout spaces, phone booths and meeting pods.
This will enable 40 – 50 people in start ups and established enterprises to work there on modern enterprises in Galway’s Gaeltacht with a focus on digital media.
Other hubs supporting digital media entrepreneurs in rural Galway are being developed in An Ceathrú Rua and na Forbacha, with six more planned for the coming years.
“Údarás na Gaeltachta are delighted to have developed this modern, innovative and attractive landmark hub in our gteic network with the significant assistance of RRDF funding,” said MÃcheál Ó hÉanaigh, Údarás Chief Executive.
“gteic@An Spidéal is part of a growing and vibrant network of high speed broadband facilities we are developing in rural Gaeltacht areas which will stimulate job creation, assist remote working, encourage and enable the return of Diaspóra na Gaeltachta”.
