News Release -
New €3 million live/work project to benefit Co. Kerry community
Tarbert in Co. Kerry is set to benefit from a new Shannon Development initiative to encourage entrepreneurs to locate in the town. Tarbert E-Town, a new €3 million live/work housing project initiated by Shannon Development, is being launched today (Monday 12th April 2010) by well known sports commentator Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh.
Launching the E-Towns project Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh said; “Being a native of County Kerry, I was delighted to have been asked to launch this pioneering new project which will bring new life back into Tarbert. As a broadcaster and author I know that Tarbert E-Town will appeal to a range of entrepreneurs as it offers not only first class living and work accommodation, but also creates the opportunity for people to enjoy a better quality of family life.”
Speaking about the significance of the project Dr. Vincent Cunnane, Chief Executive, Shannon Development said: “The E-Towns project has the potential to create new jobs and vibrant business clusters and can help create new economic activity in Tarbert. This innovative project has been planned to meet the needs of community by creating new clusters of businesses offering employment and rejuvenating community life. It meets the needs of entrepreneurs by providing a stress free work and living environment to help them achieve a perfect life/work balance. It has been tailor designed to create an environment where enterprises in the traded services sector can flourish, not just at local or national level but on a global scale.”
Tarbert E-Town is an architecturally designed scheme of eight houses with work units either attached or separate from the living quarters, all units are broadband enabled. Shannon Development is targeting people who currently have long commutes to work each day and wish to set up a business and could easily work from home. It would ideally suit micro businesses in the traded services sector, or businesses such as graphic design, consultancy, web design, publishing and professional services. It is also ideal for local people who have already set up a business from home but find their current home is no longer suitable for their growing business needs.
The Shannon Development E-Towns concept is the first of its kind in Ireland and involves a number of elements from the physical development of the E-Town, to the development of a town plan, the securing of broadband access and a community based training programme to help create an alternative enterprise culture in each community. Members of the Tarbert Community were offered a free 3-month course in web authoring which allowed them establish a new community website for the town www.tarbert.ie. This now ensures that the Community can play a real and active part in all technology aspects of the project.
Highlighting the reasons behind the development of the E-Towns concept, John Brassil, Chairman, Shannon Development said: “In developing Tarbert E-Town we were setting out to create infrastructure ahead of demand. We have developed a new model for enhancing enterprise development in the smaller communities in the Shannon Region. The primary aim of this pioneering approach is to enable people to achieve a live/work balance in tailor-made accommodation, create clusters of businesses and bring new economic activity back into local communities.”
“The attractiveness of the town, its clean environment, and its deep-rooted and distinctive tradition in education, have all had a part to play in making this area a wonderful location in which to live, work, learn and spend leisure time.
But the most important attribute of Tarbert is the warmth of its people. Any potential Tarbert E-Town’s client can be assured of a warm welcome from the local community. In particular the support of Tarbert Development Association for the E-Towns project has been outstanding and we are deeply grateful for their assistance,” added Mr. Brassil
Welcoming Tarbert E-Town development Joan Murphy, Chairperson, Tarbert Development Association said; “This is a major boost for Tarbert and we are extremely thankful to Shannon Development for selecting Tarbert for this exciting project. Tarbert E-Town will have a major positive impact for business people in the town, and will stimulate new commercial and social activity. We look forward to welcoming the new E-Town entrepreneurs and their families to the area.”
Tarbert E-Town provides a mix of eight residential detached and semi-detached homes along with individual workspace units built in a courtyard style on a 1.3 acre site on the Ferry Road in Tarbert. The work units come either attached to the house or separate. The design team for the Tarbert E-Towns project are: Architect – O’Sullivan Campbell, Tralee; Builder – R & L Walsh, Castleisland, Co. Kerry; Project Manager & Quantity Surveyor – Richard Walsh & Associates, Tralee, Co. Kerry; Consultant Engineer Malachy Walsh & Partners, Blennerville, Tralee, Co. Kerry.
The Tarbert E-Town Showhouse will be open for viewing on Sundays from 11.00 am until 3.00 pm, starting Sunday 18th April. For further information please contact: Shannon Development Tel 066-7190000 or visit www.etowns.ie
At the launch (Monday 12th April 2010) of a pioneering new €3 million E-Town development at Tarbert in Co. Kerry are (l-r); Joan Murphy from Tarbert Development Association, Dr. Vincent Cunnane CEO Shannon Development and well known sports commentator Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh, pictured getting set to talk to members of the press via the internet.
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Nandi O’Sullivan
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