Internet model is food for thought for Valentia

OVER a century ago, a man from Skibbereen had a moment of brilliance. Percy Ludgate designed an analytical engine – a precursor to modern computing as we know it. It just goes to shows how a moment has the potential to change the world. The Ludgate Hub of his hometown now offers businesses the chance for their moment to shine. And now SIRO’s broadband brings instant connectivity to regional Ireland with speeds of one Gigabit per second, transforming regional Ireland’s ability to communicate and compete with urban hubs.

A beacon of innovation for rural Ireland, Skibbereen can inspire the country as an extraordinary example of a town that leads the way for digital development. Pioneering a digital revolution in Skibbereen, Ludgate @Skibbereen is a new digital initiative that launched in August 2015. Spearheaded by a group of forward thinking entrepreneurs, digital ambassadors and local business owners all with connections to West Cork, the Ludgate hub initiative is the first of its kind in rural Ireland.

Bringing to life the future of digital technology, the SIRO powered Ludgate Hub is leading the way for rural connectivity. Powered by light, SIRO’s unrivalled speed of 1 Gigabit connectivity will give the people of Skibbereen the opportunity to make many more momentous discoveries just like Percy Ludgate. The Ludgate Hub in Skibbereen, Co. Cork is located in the periphery of the South West of Ireland.

The Ludgate Board is determined to achieve all ambitious goals, ultimately resulting in a return of the diaspora, creating an ecosystem of creativity and innovation, and progressing the facilitation of job growth via digital technology. The long term vision is to make Skibbereen a hot spot for technology start-ups and multinationals to locate and prosper at a global level.

The Skibbereen voluntary and innovative model must surely give food for thought to the broadband and business people of Iveragh.

It is also very much driven by the British film producer and educator David Puttnam, who has been residing there for a number of years. Ar scáth a cheile a mhaireann na daoine.