Connemara West welcomes funding from Rural Regeneration and Development Fund
Connemara West welcomes the award on Friday November 23rd of €1.728 million for its Global Learning & Digital Hub in Tullycross village from the government’s Rural Regeneration and Development Fund. The successful application to the fund, which was led by the Western Development Commission, was one of the first 18 projects funded out of 290 applications submitted. The Connemara West award was the sixth highest.
Commenting on the news, Dr. Kevin Heanue, Chairman of Connemara West said that “this is great news for Tullycross village and the broader Renvyle peninsula”. He continued that “Connemara West is well-positioned to contribute to the government’s key strategic outcome of strengthening rural economies and communities”. “We look forward to working with our Irish partners, the Western Development Commission, Tomar Trust, Forum Connemara CLG, Galway County Council, NUIG and GMIT, together with our United States partners, the Friends of Connemara and Aquinas College from Michigan and Lourdes University from Ohio, to begin this project in 2019”.
Previously called a Residential Education Centre, the rebranded Global Learning & Digital Hub is a strategic regional project based on the Irish diaspora, heritage, culture, learning and local amenities which will attract off-peak visitors to this Wild Atlantic Way destination. The funding from the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund will help this project move to a higher level of existing activity based on four key market segments. The international study abroad market is already well established in Tullycross with six colleges basing their study abroad programmes in the village each year and many others wishing to do so. Targeting the corporate retreat and personal wellness markets is designed to leverage the location’s advantages as a peaceful rural area with high amenity value in two growing segments of the Irish tourism sector. The provision of flexible working accommodation such as hot-desks and co-working space means Connemara West will now be able to service a need they are regularly approached about.
Tomás Ó Síocháin, CEO of the Western Development Commission (WDC) said “this is an excellent example of the potential impact of the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund in building sustainable community projects. The WDC looks forward to working with Connemara West and the other partners in delivering the Global Learning and Digital Hub.”
The Global Learning and Digital Hub is part of a niche education-led tourism development model implemented by Connemara West to drive economic development for Connemara and the wider Western Region. At the centre of the project is the plan to build a new Learning Centre in Tullycross by redeveloping a building acquired by Connemara West in the village and upgrading its current stock of 9 thatched cottages on the site. The Centre will have the capacity to cater for an average of 40 people at any given time. It will contain a 50-seat auditorium; Wi-Fi-enabled learning hub/library; group study and breakout rooms; video conferencing facilities; a conference room and a coffee dock. In addition, the Centre will provide hot-desking and co-working space for businesses to a commercial standard.
Established in 1971 on foot of a local fundraising drive, Connemara West which is owned by 500 local shareholders is a locally-managed community development organisation based in Letterfrack, Co. Galway and directly employs 28 people.
Donor Benefits
We are providing our donor recognition plan. This is a great way to own a piece of history in Ireland for generations of students and visitors for years to come. Please contact us for more information or to request a personal meeting.
$50 to $100 You will receive a souvenir packet of pieces from the thatched roofs!
$200 The packet of thatch and a beautiful photo of Tullycross.
$500 You may designate your donation toward a particular item for the Cottages.
(Furniture, housewares, bedding.) Your name will be listed on a plaque inside one of the cottages.
$1,000 You may designate your donation toward a particular item for the Learning Center. (Computer, desk, chair, bookcase)
$2,500 Your donation will help defray the costs of walkways, driveways and parking. Your name will appear on a small plaque positioned
near the edges of any of those areas.
$5,000 You may designate your donation toward a room in a cottage. Your name will appear on a small plaque in the room you choose.
$10,000 You may designate your donation toward a room in the Learning Center. Your name will appear on a plaque in the room you
choose.
$50,000 Your donation will help to restore the thatched roofs. A plaque with your name will appear on the front of a cottage. You will be
invited to attend the official ground breaking ceremony in Tullycross.
$100,000 Your donation will help defray the costs of refurbishing a cottage. Your name will appear on a plaque adjacent to the front door of
a cottage. You will be invited to attend the official ground breaking ceremony in Tullycross.
$250,000 Your donation will help to stimulate the construction of the entire project. Your name will appear on a properly sized and
positioned sign on the campus. You will be contacted about arrangements for the ground breaking and/or the grand
opening ceremonies.
Donations and recognition can be made by entire families, to commemorate your Irish roots, the county your people came from or a significant person(s) in your life.
Connemara West welcomes the award on Friday November 23rd of €1.728 million for its Global Learning & Digital Hub in Tullycross village from the government’s Rural Regeneration and Development Fund. The successful application to the fund, which was led by the Western Development Commission, was one of the first 18 projects funded out of 290 applications submitted. The Connemara West award was the sixth highest.
Commenting on the news, Dr. Kevin Heanue, Chairman of Connemara West said that “this is great news for Tullycross village and the broader Renvyle peninsula”. He continued that “Connemara West is well-positioned to contribute to the government’s key strategic outcome of strengthening rural economies and communities”. “We look forward to working with our Irish partners, the Western Development Commission, Tomar Trust, Forum Connemara CLG, Galway County Council, NUIG and GMIT, together with our United States partners, the Friends of Connemara and Aquinas College from Michigan and Lourdes University from Ohio, to begin this project in 2019”.
Previously called a Residential Education Centre, the rebranded Global Learning & Digital Hub is a strategic regional project based on the Irish diaspora, heritage, culture, learning and local amenities which will attract off-peak visitors to this Wild Atlantic Way destination. The funding from the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund will help this project move to a higher level of existing activity based on four key market segments. The international study abroad market is already well established in Tullycross with six colleges basing their study abroad programmes in the village each year and many others wishing to do so. Targeting the corporate retreat and personal wellness markets is designed to leverage the location’s advantages as a peaceful rural area with high amenity value in two growing segments of the Irish tourism sector. The provision of flexible working accommodation such as hot-desks and co-working space means Connemara West will now be able to service a need they are regularly approached about.
Tomás Ó Síocháin, CEO of the Western Development Commission (WDC) said “this is an excellent example of the potential impact of the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund in building sustainable community projects. The WDC looks forward to working with Connemara West and the other partners in delivering the Global Learning and Digital Hub.”
The Global Learning and Digital Hub is part of a niche education-led tourism development model implemented by Connemara West to drive economic development for Connemara and the wider Western Region. At the centre of the project is the plan to build a new Learning Centre in Tullycross by redeveloping a building acquired by Connemara West in the village and upgrading its current stock of 9 thatched cottages on the site. The Centre will have the capacity to cater for an average of 40 people at any given time. It will contain a 50-seat auditorium; Wi-Fi-enabled learning hub/library; group study and breakout rooms; video conferencing facilities; a conference room and a coffee dock. In addition, the Centre will provide hot-desking and co-working space for businesses to a commercial standard.
Established in 1971 on foot of a local fundraising drive, Connemara West which is owned by 500 local shareholders is a locally-managed community development organisation based in Letterfrack, Co. Galway and directly employs 28 people.
Donor Benefits
We are providing our donor recognition plan. This is a great way to own a piece of history in Ireland for generations of students and visitors for years to come. Please contact us for more information or to request a personal meeting.
$50 to $100 You will receive a souvenir packet of pieces from the thatched roofs!
$200 The packet of thatch and a beautiful photo of Tullycross.
$500 You may designate your donation toward a particular item for the Cottages.
(Furniture, housewares, bedding.) Your name will be listed on a plaque inside one of the cottages.
$1,000 You may designate your donation toward a particular item for the Learning Center. (Computer, desk, chair, bookcase)
$2,500 Your donation will help defray the costs of walkways, driveways and parking. Your name will appear on a small plaque positioned
near the edges of any of those areas.
$5,000 You may designate your donation toward a room in a cottage. Your name will appear on a small plaque in the room you choose.
$10,000 You may designate your donation toward a room in the Learning Center. Your name will appear on a plaque in the room you
choose.
$50,000 Your donation will help to restore the thatched roofs. A plaque with your name will appear on the front of a cottage. You will be
invited to attend the official ground breaking ceremony in Tullycross.
$100,000 Your donation will help defray the costs of refurbishing a cottage. Your name will appear on a plaque adjacent to the front door of
a cottage. You will be invited to attend the official ground breaking ceremony in Tullycross.
$250,000 Your donation will help to stimulate the construction of the entire project. Your name will appear on a properly sized and
positioned sign on the campus. You will be contacted about arrangements for the ground breaking and/or the grand
opening ceremonies.
Donations and recognition can be made by entire families, to commemorate your Irish roots, the county your people came from or a significant person(s) in your life.
