First rural digital hub under the spotlight for National Digital Week

Ireland's first rural digital hub is the focus of attention for nearly 2,000 entrepreneurs and tech-enthusiasts who are heading to Cork for National Digital Week.

The two day festival is the first of it's kind - and it highlights an ambitious plan to turn Skibbereen into a digital role model for rural Ireland.

Gráinne Dwyer is the CEO of the Ludgate Hub - which has just been shortlisted by the EU as 'Europe's Best 1GB Project'.

She says rural Ireland has a very bright digital future: Really not even making a level playing field but putting rural areas on a pedestal that they haven't been before.

"Opportunities are really now global for areas that have this type of connectivity and services that can be treated online and local retailers that can ship internationally, can now do so from the comfort of their home.

"That is going to make a massive difference to the economy, socialy and also environmentally in terms of rural and urban congestion."