Wexford businesses avail of hot desking during summer months
Local coworking spaces or digital hubs provide a peaceful working environment for parents who need to focus during the summertime. Aileen said the workspace in Gorey is a real break away from the house. The hub provides private offices which are most popular, but they also provide an outdoor office pod with a roof top garden.
In addition to this, KCC workspace has many amenities including a gym and fitness classes, a coffee shop, a hairdresser and a beautician. Aileen said they're situated close to woodlands walks for those needing a breath of fresh air.
'Our village hosts several kids camps during the summer which are all in walking distance of our hub. So, it is very convenient to drop kids off and be at your desk in a few minutes,' Aileen added.
There are now more than 385 hubs in the Connected Hubs network across the island. Together, they offer over 5,000 desks and 620 meeting rooms. Together Wexford and Waterford alone have 24 of these hubs, including KCC Workspace in Kilanerin, Gorey.
Connected Hubs is a government-backed programme, which aims to make remote working easier for people in local and rural areas, whilst supporting local business growth, and attracting new business.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
08-08-2025
- Irish Independent
Wexford businesses avail of hot desking during summer months
Aileen Cooper, hub manager of the KCC Workspace in Kilanerin, Gorey said the numbers have a lot of new business during the summer months. 'In summer, parents find it more difficult to work at home or in their mobile homes at the popular holiday spots along the Wexford coast. The hub offers an attractive place to work from,' Aileen said. Local coworking spaces or digital hubs provide a peaceful working environment for parents who need to focus during the summertime. Aileen said the workspace in Gorey is a real break away from the house. The hub provides private offices which are most popular, but they also provide an outdoor office pod with a roof top garden. In addition to this, KCC workspace has many amenities including a gym and fitness classes, a coffee shop, a hairdresser and a beautician. Aileen said they're situated close to woodlands walks for those needing a breath of fresh air. 'Our village hosts several kids camps during the summer which are all in walking distance of our hub. So, it is very convenient to drop kids off and be at your desk in a few minutes,' Aileen added. There are now more than 385 hubs in the Connected Hubs network across the island. Together, they offer over 5,000 desks and 620 meeting rooms. Together Wexford and Waterford alone have 24 of these hubs, including KCC Workspace in Kilanerin, Gorey. Connected Hubs is a government-backed programme, which aims to make remote working easier for people in local and rural areas, whilst supporting local business growth, and attracting new business.
Irish Independent
25-07-2025
- Irish Independent
Kerry councillors put millions in funding at risk as they vote against Áras Phádraig redevelopment
With significant funding from the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), the redeveloped Áras Phádraig would have included a three-storey theatre, a six-storey HSE primary care centre, a public plaza and a revised entrance from Lewis Road. The site was purchased by Kerry County Council (KCC) from the Franciscan friars for €225,000 in December 2019. Interest was later sought from public bodies, to assist with its redevelopment, and the HSE was the only body to make an expression. Councillors have not been happy about the inclusion of the care centre in the proposed redevelopment, feeling it should be built on local HSE lands. They believe its creation would have led to the loss of 60 much-needed parking spaces and increased traffic congestion. Elected members were about to hear the KCC Chief Executive's Report, recommending that the redevelopment proceed despite more than 150 public submissions against it, when Killarney Mayor Martin Grady interjected. Mayor Grady told council officials that he wanted to make a proposal on behalf of all seven Killarney councillors. The Mayor proposed that KCC creates a new plan for Áras Phádraig that would include a new theatre and library facilities and also maintain the car park there. He proposed that the HSE primary care centre be built at the O'Connor Unit at the old St Finian's Hospital. In response, a council official told Mayor Grady that representatives were required to vote on the current redevelopment proposal under the Planning and Development Act. Councillors were told that if they did not vote, the redevelopment of Áras Phádraig would pass automatically. Killarney Municipal District manager, Angela McAllen, told elected members that there was risk with what they had proposed. Ms McAllen said substantial work had been done in an effort to get Áras Phádraig redeveloped. She said the redevelopment would represent a €47 million investment, ten times the council's investment of €4.4 million, and it would be worth €133 million to Killarney over 30 years. The manager said there is a risk that the URDF may not agree with the proposal. She also noted that there is no funding available for standalone theatres at the moment. Frank Hartnett, KCC director of roads & transportation, smart travel and public realm, said any change to the current proposal will more or less require a new application. And if the HSE is not on board, a new partner or stakeholder will be required to compliment the application. 'There is a significant risk that it would not be funded,' Mr Hartnett said. Independent councillor Niall 'Botty' O'Callaghan said that if elected members had the support of KCC management, they would be confident of keeping the URDF funding. Kerry Independent Alliance councillor John O'Donoghue said members had knowledge of what they could lose but are still going through with it. Cllr O'Donoghue said he hopes this gives an indication to how much thought had gone into their proposal. 'It's not something we are doing flippantly,' he said. 'We know very much what is involved.' Independent councillor Brendan Cronin said he accepted that KCC management are disappointed with the councillors' proposal, and acknowledged the 'huge amount' of work gone into the proposed redevelopment project. Cllr Cronin said the turning point for him was Killarney representatives' briefing with the HSE. He said a HSE representative was asked why the Áras Phádraig site was chosen for a primary care centre, and the health official replied that 'It was done before his time'. He said the HSE representative also outlined that the old St Finian's hospital site was being seen as a 'fallback position'. Labour councillor Marie Moloney said the public did not want the centre at Áras Phádraig. 'We came up with a proposal that we hope satisfies the URDF and the executive,' Cllr Moloney said. Fianna Fáil councillor Niall Kelleher suggested that the representatives' new proposal could be enhanced in order to secure funding with the help of KCC. 'We endeavour to work together with management to make this a reality,' he said. 'We really, not for one minute, take for granted the difficult position that this decision makes.' Independent councillor Maura Healy-Rae acknowledged the hard work of the council in preparing the proposal. She said, however, that councillors had to make a decision. Cllr Healy-Rae claimed 'misinformation' and 'inaccuracies' had circulated about the proposed redevelopment project. She said that it was clear from the meeting with the HSE official that the health service, which has landholdings around Killarney, was 'hedging their bets' by seeking to get a centre built as part of the Áras Phádraig redevelopment. 'We have taken a massive risk. We are hoping we will be able to maintain URDF funding,' the councillor said. MD manager Ms McAllen reassured councillors that she and her colleagues would do their best to keep the funding, and that they are committed to the redevelopment of Áras Phádraig. This was applauded by elected members, who officially put forward their joint proposal to the council. Councillors were then asked to make the required vote on the existing redevelopment proposal, inclusive of the HSE primary care centre. They were reminded that if they did not vote then the redevelopment project it would automatically get planning permission. All seven councillors voted against it. The councillors had voted earlier in the meeting to rescind the decision they made to approve planning permission for the redevelopment of Áras Phádraig in February.
Irish Independent
25-07-2025
- Irish Independent
Kerry ‘needs to sell itself' to Ryder Cup market
With individual homeowners in Kerry already advertising accommodation to golf tourists ahead of the event, the call for Kerry County Council (KCC) to start putting Kerry on the map as a destination was made by Fine Gael Councillor Angie Baily at a recent Tralee MD meeting. The view is being spearheaded by Kerry's close proximity to the Adare Manor in County Limerick where the competition between the USA and Europe takes place in September 2027. So far, close to 110,000 people have registered their interest in attending the event. It's estimated the Ryder Cup will result in a €100 million boost to the Irish economy, while government is likely to spend over €60 million as part of preparatory work for the golf classic. Cllr Baily asked KCC for updates on the marketing campaign for the Ryder Cup, and what the expected footfall in Kerry is likely to be. She further asked what plans are in place so Tralee – as the county capital – can effectively capitalise on the event. 'With Kerry, we're pushing well above our weight. I think this is something we can hugely benefit from. But there will be a massive shortfall in accommodation,' she said. 'I just feel we need to start plugging ourselves and selling ourselves to the market of those people who will be coming here and to get a nice slice of the in excess of a quarter of a billion economic boost for Kerry, and the long term benefits for building tourist relations,' Cllr Baily added. KCC said its tourism unit is working with Tourism Ireland's golf division to ensure Kerry is well positioned as a premier golf and holiday destination, particularly in the US, UK, and European markets. The council's tourism unit confirmed advertising within the Spirit of Ireland – a North American travel magazine with a distribution of 100,000 and 2,500 tour operators. Its autumn 2025 edition will feature a dedicated focus on golf, helping to raise awareness of Kerry's world-class courses and associated offerings. 'Discussions are ongoing with local groups including Kerry Tourism Industry Federation, the Irish Hotels Federation, and Fáilte Ireland to ensure the county is well prepared to maximise opportunities arising from the Ryder Cup,' said KCC management. 'This collaboration aims to ensure that tourism providers across Kerry are ready to welcome and accommodate the increased demand and will include discussion with Tralee Chamber Alliance.' The Ryder Cup is one of the sport's premier competitions that has not taken place in Ireland since 2006.
