Get Involved

The regions greatest asset is the people that make up its communities. It is important that their voice guides the project and its outcomes. Over the coming months a combination of online and in-person events will be used to capture the views of residents and ensure that they are empowered in developing and implementing new solutions for the region.

Community Capacity Building Workshops

The project aims to empower local communities in shaping a smart and sustainable future for the North Kerry – West Limerick region. As such, a key element of the project is the staging of community capacity building workshops for residents in the region. These workshops will take place in the participating communities and will familiarise attendees with key concepts and practices and provide training in employing smart village technologies. The following workshops will take place across the lifetime of the project:

Community Workshop 1

Introduction to the ‘Smart Villages’ Concept and Understanding the Project Context

The aim of this workshop was to introduce attendees to the ‘Smart Village’ concept and how this concept will be applied to help support growth and address challenges in the North Kerry – West Limerick Region. The workshop provided a clear, example-based explanation of the Smart Village concept as it is emerging today and will provide an overview of the goals and structure North Kerry, West Limerick: Smart Villages, Stronger Communities so that attendees have a clear understanding of the ethos behind the project, what is being done and how local communities can participate.

Community Workshop 2

Social Research Techniques

Every community across Ireland and indeed the globe is continually changing. As such, communities need tools to track these shifts, address existing and emerging challenges, develop their resources and build on their strengths. This workshop trained participants to use data gathering tools and demonstrate how to analyse, interpret and present regional and local data. The purpose of the workshop was both to encourage more in-depth participation and ownership of the North Kerry, West Limerick: Smart Villages, Stronger Communities project and to enhance local skills in order to support future planning and development.

Community Workshop 3

Addressing the Impacts of Climate Change

This workshop explored how a smart village approach can tackle the challenges and opportunities arising from climate change. A variety of case study examples were explored, including involvement in Tidy Towns, Citizen Science and energy efficiency upgrades to larger scale initiatives such as effective climate adaptation which can minimise risks and costs, and also protect lives, homes and communities and the develop of renewable energy initiatives.

Community Workshop 4

Becoming a ‘Smart Village’ – The Role of ICT and New Technologies

Information Communication Technology (ICT) represents an opportunity to enhance existing services and introduce new services and applications into rural areas. As such, the employment of new technologies will play a significant role in fostering sustainable development and combating disadvantage in rural areas. This workshop aimed to help increase awareness and train participating communities in employing new technologies to help development efficient and cost-effective services for the region.