Innovative digital hub network is set to reinvigorate Ireland’s Gaeltacht areas
31 gteic innovation & digital hubs will provide 500 desk spaces for innovators, entrepreneurs, remote workers and businesses throughout 7 Gaeltacht Counties.
gteic network highlights
- New vibrant gigabit community for businesses, innovators, entrepreneurs and remote workers
- 7 hubs currently operational in 5 counties
- 14 hubs to be operational before year end
- 250+ desk spaces currently developed
- 500+ desk spaces in 2020
- Over €5 million in investment
gteic Gréasán Digiteach na Gaeltachta is a network of 31 innovation & digital hubs with high speed broadband being developed by Údarás na Gaeltachta in locations throughout Ireland’s Gaeltacht Area. The new gigabit enabled Gaeltacht network will be launched by Government Chief Whip and Minister of State for Gaeilge, Gaeltacht and Islands, Seán Kyne, TD, in the Italian Room in Government Buildings on Wednesday 25/9/19.
The innovation hubs are to be dotted along the majestic Wild Atlantic Way in Donegal, Mayo, Galway, Kerry and Cork in addition to Waterford and Meath in Ireland’s Ancient East. Six Gaeltacht islands also form part of this growing digital ecosystem to support the sustainability of these communities and off-shore islands.
Údarás na Gaeltachta has invested over €1.5 million in the development of the hubs, with additional funding in excess of €3.5 million from the Government’s Rural Regeneration and Development Fund by year end.
The gteic hubs, tailored to suit each unique location, will include hot desk and shared space facilities for remote workers and eworkers in addition to fully equipped office spaces and incubation units with high speed internet access to facilitate innovation and concept development.
Seven hubs have been opened to date in
Gaoth Dobhair in Co. Donegal,
Béal an Mhuirthead in Co. Mayo,
Carna, An Cheathrú Rua and Na Forbacha in Co. Galway,
Béal Átha an Ghaorthaidh in Co. Cork and the
Daingean Uí Chúis (Mol Teic/Dingle hub) in Co. Kerry.
A newly designed hub will open in An Spidéal in the coming weeks and a further seven gteic hubs are on track to be completed and welcoming customers in Baile an Sceilg (South Kerry), Cill Charthaigh (Donegal), Oileán Chléire (Cork), Acaill, An Eachléim, Gaoth Sáile and An Corrán Buí (Mayo) by the end of 2019.
The complete list of proposed hub locations is included below.
The Vision
The development of gteic Gréasán Digiteach na Gaeltachta network of innovation and digital hubs is one of 5 key initiatives included in the Údarás na Gaeltachta Strategic Plan 2018-2020.
The gteic digital hubs will provide a vibrant network of high speed broadband facilities in rural Gaeltacht areas to stimulate job creation, to assist remote working, to encourage and enable the return of Diaspóra na Gaeltachta, to facilitate concept development and new business and to develop a community of hubs where the unique Gaeltacht culture drives creativity and innovation.
The Opportunity
These developments will give the Gaeltacht community, both at home and abroad, an opportunity to return to or live in their home area by providing remote working opportunities at hot desks, co-working spaces or private offices at these hubs. This in turn will support, bolster and assist these unique language communities and help them to face the challenges of rural depopulation.
An opportunity of improved worklife balance will not be the only benefit of gteic membership! A reciprocal arrangement agreed with the Guinness Enterprise Centre in Dublin means that any member of the GEC can avail of the gteic facilities anywhere along the network and members of the gteic digital community can avail of the facilities in GEC in Dublin free of charge.
The Offering
gteic hubs include hot desk and shared space facilities for remote workers and eworkers in addition, depending on location, to fully equipped office spaces and incubation units with high speed internet access to facilitate innovation and concept development. These hubs will facilitate people who wish to develop a business concept and will provide access to Údarás na Gaeltachta’s range of mentoring and business supports also.
This growing digital ecosystem is providing an excellent opportunity for new technology companies to establish or locate themselves in the rural areas which encompass the Gaeltacht and for their employees to enjoy the excellent worklife balance that these picturesque areas can offer.
Further Information:
Páid Ó Neachtain,
Feidhmeannach Caidrimh Phoiblí,
Údarás na Gaeltachta
091 503111 / 087 3012510 / pon@udaras.ie
PHOTOGRAPHY
Photographs from the launch event will be available as follows:
James Forde, 1Image Photography
Studio: 01 493 9947
Email: hello@1image.ie
Further Information/Notes to the Editor
The Facilities and Services
The gteic network will encompass hubs of varying sizes depending on location. The facilities and services available at the primary and larger hubs will include the following and a flexibility to easily adapt to the needs of customer types. Some of the smaller hubs to be developed will focus on hot desk and coworking spaces primarily.
Facilities available at gteic hubs
| Hot desks | Conference room |
| Coworking Spaces | Video conferencing |
| Incubator units | Meeting/training Spaces |
| Private offices | Ample car parking |
| Gigabit enabled broadband | Vibrant enterprise cluster |
| High-speed Wifi | Shared refreshment & breakout facilities |
The Cost
The cost of renting hot desks, co working spaces and private offices will vary across gteic hubs depending on facilities available, geographical location, profile and demographics of the area.
In line with specific hub facilities, three primary offerings will be available with further specific packages and promotions available from individual hubs on an ongoing basis depending on application type and proposed tenure – Hot Desk Spaces, Co Working locations and Private Office Space.
The Future!
The list of proposed gteic locations includes:
| Dún na nGall / Donegal: | Ciarraí / Kerry: |
| Gaoth Dobhair (Open) | Mol Teic, An Daingean (Open) |
| Árainn Mhór | Daingean Uí Chúis |
| Toraigh | Baile an Sceilg (opening 2019) |
| An Tearmann | |
| Cill Chárthaigh | Maigh Eo / Mayo: |
| An Clochán Liath | Béal an Mhuirthead (Open) |
| Carraig Airt | Acaill (opening 2019) |
| Tuar Mhic Éadaigh | |
| Gaillimh / Galway: | An Corrán Buí (opening 2019) |
| An Cheathrú Rua (Open) | Gaoth Sáile (opening 2019) |
| Carna (Open) | An Eachléim (opening 2019) |
| An Spidéal | |
| Na Forbacha (Open) | Corcaigh / Cork: |
| Ceantar na nOileán | Béal Átha an Ghaorthaidh (Open) |
| Corr na Móna | Baile Bhúirne |
| Maigh Cuilinn | Oileán Chléire (opening 2019) |
| Inis Mór (opening 2020) | Port Láirge / Waterford: |
| Inis Meáin | An Rinn/An Seanphobal |
| Inis Oírr | An Mhí / Meath: |
| Ráth Chairn |
Information on gteic Gréasán Digiteach na Gaeltachta is available at
Individual pages for various hubs are uploaded as the hubs become operational.