LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION: Sneem Digital Hub manager Aidan Murray with Mayor of Kerry Patrick O'Connor-Scarteen.

Sneem Digital Hub is now reverting attention back to the core aim of bringing people back to South Kerry to work remotely.

After an exceptionally busy summer with people co-working from the hub and having to turn people away due to COVID capacity restrictions, the hub is now ready for workers to return.

With one family having moved to the area, and a further four currently exploring the opportunity, it is evident that COVID-19 enforced remote working has led to many people realising that they can work and live wherever they would like without any negative impact to their current career or business goals.

"It's great to see the Sneem Digital Hub getting off to such a strong start, obviously COVID-19 social distancing would have limited numbers, however they have had an exceptionally busy couple of months,” manager Aidan Murray said.

I'm sure that even in the winter the Digital Hub in Sneem could be relatively, busy. It's great to see such hubs throughout Kerry giving people in rural areas options of alternative working arrangements, it also enables people to move to places like Sneem and continue their work from digital hubs. In the last few years it was great to see the Government and Kerry County Council assist the local hard working committee in helping get the digital hub up and running.”

County Mayor Patrick Connor-Scarteen paid a surprise visit to the hub last week.

“When someone moves from the likes of Dublin to somewhere like Sneem, they are eliminating traffic congestion and commutes, surrounding themselves in beautiful scenery, availing of a much healthier and safer lifestyle,” Patrick Connor-Scarteen told the Killarney Advertiser. “They become part of a vibrant and inclusive community, getting far more focused attention on their child’s education and development with lower pupil-teacher ratios. Added to that they are ensuring a lot more money in their pockets.”

Both the mayor and the hub manager believe that moving to South Kerry could have financial advantages for individuals too.
“They were paying €2,200 per month for a two-bed apartment in Dublin and could have moved to a six-bed house overlooking the sea in Sneem for €700. Together we calculated that the savings in rent would be the equivalent of a €36,000 pay rise for them, taking tax into account. The benefits of such a move are innumerable,” Mr Murray added.