By Business & Finance 
An initiative which aims to create an entrepreneurial ecosystem in south-west, create 500 jobs in five years has been announced.
Ludgate@Skibbereen was officially launched at an event in the recently opened local Arts Centre, Uilinn. The 10,000 sq. ft hub is the first of its kind in a non-urban area in Ireland and offers a range of supports and services for its occupants.
Ludgate@Skibbereen was pioneered by a group of entrepreneurs, digital ambassadors and local business owners, which were brought together by west Cork resident and Glen Dimplex CEO, Seán O’Driscoll.
The group operates as a non-profit company and have worked on a pro-bono basis over the last 12 months. With their networks reaching into global companies and organisations, their aim is to provide start-ups with the environment and mentoring support required to research and commercialise opportunities to compete on a global scale.
The initiative will also work to attract the wider Irish diaspora to bring their ideas and talent to Skibbereen.
Vodafone Ireland will be the telecoms partner to the project and SIRO, the ESB and Vodafone fibre broadband joint venture company, will provide the infrastructure to support 1000 Mbps speeds of high-quality fibre broadband connectivity.
Ludgate@Skibbereen will host Ireland’s first ever National Digital Week in November 2015 to coincide with its official opening. This will showcase high profile international and national speakers and will host a multitude of seminars, workshops and activities.
