Latest Laois Event: BloomHQ to host first-ever Digital First Day in Laois

BloomHQ Driving Laois’s First Ever Digital First Day 

All Are Welcome to Explore the Benefits of ‘Going Digital’ to Communities, Individuals and Businesses Across Laois

Laois’s first ever Digital First Day will take place on November 16th and all are invited to drop into BloomHQ to learn how technology and upskilling in digital know-how can help improve lives, business and communities across the county. It’s part of a nation-wide drive to help attract economic and social development and tackle the rural/urban divide through digitalisation which was launched recently by Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys.

Over 50 Connected Hubs across Ireland are hosting free seminars, chats, tutorials and workshops on the benefits of digital growth to attract investment, remote workers, home buyers and visitors to their area thus advancing sustainable regional development and quality of life. It’s a great opportunity for people to learn new things. The programme of events for BloomHQ includes: 

Workshop for parent and guardians on use of digital technologies for school – Google Classroom, Aladdin app, VSware and more 9.45am – 10.30am
Helping older adults get online and recognise scam messages and emails. Also includes an open discussion on what technologies can benefit people in the community with Rory McEvoy of Microsoft. 11am – 12pm
Lunch and Learn – networking event including: talks with expert speakers on digital growth initiatives and strategies; Helping community groups learn on how to engage new audiences and members online ;B2B Networking opportunities
Tea/coffee and refreshments will be provided at all three events

For further information on our BloomHQ website log onto www.bloomhq.ie or email Regina Dunne at digitalinnovation@bloomhq.ie. 

Attendees can book their place through Eventbrite at the following link https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/443206431367 or by emailing their interest to Regina. 

Digital First Day is driven by a new collaboration, Digital Ireland Network (www.digital-ireland.ie) devised to highlight the potential of digital growth and social enterprise in attracting economic and social development in rural areas and to help tackle the urban/rural divide. Stephen Carolan, Enterprise Hubs Project Manager at Connected Hubs commented “We believe that the hub network across the country can act as a catalyst for communities to bring about the social change at scale envisioned in ‘Our Rural Future’.” Eoin Costello, DigitalHQ and director of the Digital First Day initiative said “ Highlighting the benefits of digital will bring the community into their local Connected Hub while digitalisation will bring the impact of the hub out into the local community! It’s a win/win.”

Digital First Day is part funded through the Department of Rural & Community Development ARISE fund and sponsored by the Western Development Commission, National Broadband Ireland and the gteic network. Separately, Microsoft Ireland Hackathon teams set about creating innovative ways to unlock staff volunteerism to lend their skills to Connected Hubs on the day. It is anticipated that 50+ staff from Microsoft Ireland will give of their time to help make a success of this national event.

This initiative is being driven and promoted by the newly formed Digital Ireland Network, a network dedicated to ‘Reimagining Rural Ireland’. The founding organisations include Connected Hubs, DigitalHQ, the national domain registry .IE, National Broadband Ireland, the Heritage Council’s CTCHC Programme, DLR County Council, An Cosán, Údarás na Gaeltachta, the Western Development Commission, eTownz and Grow Remote.