Blessington Latest Wicklow Town To Secure SIRO’s 100% Fibre Broadband

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Last year, Engineers Ireland reported that female engineers represented only 12% of the profession in Ireland. Research from the Higher Education Authority also indicated that just 23% of engineering graduates were female.  Every year, International Women in Engineering Day is held on 23 June, to provide a platform for women working in the engineering field. The day aims to educate, promote, and encourage females on having a career in this sector, highlighting the opportunities there are in choosing this as a career path.  SIRO promotes women in leadership, with 35% of leadership roles in our company being fulfilled by women. To mark International Women in Engineering Day this year, we asked some of the women in SIRO in engineering roles, what being a woman in engineering means to them.   Read below to find out their thoughts and insights.  

What does it mean to be a woman in engineering in Ireland? 

  SIRO Chief Technology Officer, Suzanne Tracy, says:  “Over the years I have realised that engineers are dealers in problems, working through a collection of challenges and finding solutions. Essentially, we are professional problem solvers! Day to day this can mean you are handed all the difficult issues to resolve. Problem-solvers have great scope to take ownership and make a difference.    Throughout my career in telecoms, I have always been in the minority gender, in that there have always been more males on my team and within my peer group. This has never held me back. I often say, ‘don’t be afraid of hard work’, giving that bit extra at work is something you will benefit from.   For me, being an engineer has given me a varied and fulfilling career.  I have worked for one of SIRO’s parent companies for 24 years, and during that time, I managed large IT operations teams, consolidated infrastructure into centralised data centres, and insourced and offshored technical teams, on a global scale.   Today I am responsible for the design, rollout, and customer connections on SIRO’s full fibre network, including all our IT Infrastructure that supports our business.  I truly enjoy the tangible nature of the role. We grow our network daily and we connect customers to our reliable, quality fibre network daily.”    SIRO Senior Commercial Engineer, Stella Walsh, says:  “Qualifying as an engineer has provided me with many job opportunities from various companies. I became an engineer primarily to make a difference. Throughout my career I have been a part of various projects which helped create a sense of teamwork, and that also been rewarding on a personal level.  My current role within SIRO, allows me to collaborate on a life changing project (for many homes and businesses nationwide) with my colleagues. Our work enables them to access high-speed, reliable fibre broadband, to help with their day-to-day activities and makes their lives that bit easier.   My work as an engineer has allowed me to be part of important projects which implement innovation and creativity to develop and design sustainable solutions. I am proud to challenge traditional views on sustainable construction. I do this every day, through the planning, design and build stages of SIRO’s fibre network.”  SIRO FMR (Fibre Make Ready) Program Manager, Ailin Suarez, says:  “In my eyes, it does not matter if you are a man or a woman. It is a privilege to be part of the engineering industry, an industry that is forever changing, always challenging and one that never stops looking at ways to innovate and make the world a better place.  Our society has evolved, and the landscape of engineering is ever changing. Not only are we seeing an increase in the use of technology, innovation, and sustainability in the industry, but we are also seeing more women entering the field.  Despite the progress that’s been made towards gender equality, this field remains heavily male-dominated. As a woman in engineering, I feel I have a responsibility to promote women in the industry, to achieve gender-balanced teams, creating a diversity of thought, which in turn leads to greater innovation. I always try to lead by example by being the best leader that I can be.  Through my role in SIRO, I get to do what I love and what makes me feel empowered. I think it’s important that females working in a similar position to me mentor other women. We have to recognise the importance of our role in our companies and society, and not shy away from stepping up and leading.”  SIRO Junior Engineer, Emily O’ Reilly, says:  “Being a woman in engineering means having the opportunity to design and reshape the world we live in for the better. It allows us to take on problems and find creative ways to solve them. It means being part of a bigger team to work together on projects that impact the future.   I believe it empowers you to constantly develop and improve your work, and to adopt a curious mindset. In my role, every day is different, and each day involves me trying to figure different things out, so I’m constantly learning new ways of doing things.”    To find out more about International Women in Engineering Day visit here   Read more about SIRO’s sustainability strategy, and our focus on gender equality here 

Today, we are proud to announce that we have passed our 500,000^th premise with our full fibre broadband network as part of our open access broadband billion-euro network rollout. Naas-based VEI Global, a managed IT services provider, is the 500,000^th premises to have access to our fibre broadband network – a significant milestone for our roll-out programme. VEI Global provides comprehensive ICT services to a wide range of clients, domestically and internationally. VEI Global collaborates with global integration partners and works with clients such as University College Cork, Phoenix Gas, Lynas Foods, South Dublin County Council, and CIE. VEI is currently in the process of implementing a WAAS solution for the European Parliament, covering an extensive network across 27 countries and 50 sites. [caption id="attachment_8346" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Pictured at the announcement are Vodafone Ireland CEO, Amanda Nelson, VEI Global co-CEO and founder, Conor Killeen, VEI Global co-CEO and founder, Lloyd O’Rourke, ESB Deputy CEO, Marguerite Sayers and SIRO CEO, John Keaney.
Photo: Julien Behal Photography[/caption] Until now, with limited broadband alternatives available, VEI Global had been dependent on an outdated copper connection while awaiting the arrival of our fibre network in their area. However, with the company's expansion, including the establishment of a 24/7 managed services team, having reliable connectivity has become a critical requirement. By gaining access to our extensive fibre network, VEI Global has successfully resolved latency issues, enhanced productivity, and significantly improved the overall experience for their hybrid workforce. Since our establishment in 2015, we have gone onto establish an alternative telecoms infrastructure in Ireland as part of a billion-euro investment programme. We now have over twenty retailers such as Virgin Media, Vodafone and Sky offering its services to half a million homes and businesses across the country. Our unique infrastructure, which leverages the ESB electricity network, means that we have no legacy copper network at any point on its system, enabling us to offer a 100% fibre optic Fibre-to-the-Building service – recognised as the gold standard for broadband connectivity globally. This has enabled us to become the first broadband operator to make speeds of 2 Gigabits available to residential customers and the first to fully upgrade our network to allow for future speeds of up to 25 Gigabits in the years to come. [caption id="attachment_8345" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Pictured at the announcement are VEI Global co-CEO and founder Conor Killeen, SIRO CEO John Keaney, Vodafone Ireland CEO, Amanda Nelson ESB Deputy Chief Executive Marguerite Sayers and VEI Global co-CEOs and founder, Lloyd O'Rourke.
Photo: Julien Behal Photography[/caption] According to VEI Global co-CEO and founder Lloyd O’Rourke:

“The SIRO broadband connection will enhance our company's productivity and reliability, eliminating the daily frustrations of connectivity lags, dropped calls, and slow uploads. Having access to real-time statistics is crucial to our managed service offerings as it allows us to proactively address any potential, future issues.”

VEI Global co-CEO and founder Conor Killeen commented:

"Over the past 13 years, we have experienced tremendous success, and we hold even greater aspirations for the future. SIRO's involvement will play a pivotal role in expanding our business and, more importantly, in elevating the level of service we deliver to our valued customers in Ireland and across the globe."

SIRO CEO John Keaney noted:

“Since our early days as a start-up broadband operator, with big ambition and challenges rolling out a new broadband network, our purpose has always been to reach into communities across Ireland and give them access to standard of connectivity as good as anywhere else in the world. “As we reach 500,0000 premises passed with SIRO’s full fibre network, it is satisfying to see that purpose being realised. Homes and businesses up and down the country accessing our network are living and working in new and more sustainable ways. “For SIRO, today is a significant milestone. However, there are still, many towns, communities, homes and businesses where outdated copper broadband continues to hold them back. SIRO remains focused on the work still left to do – to continue our rollout to ensure more homes and businesses can access our network,” added Mr. Keaney.

Commenting, ESB Deputy Chief Executive, Marguerite Sayers, said:

“I am delighted to be at VEI Global today – a great Naas success story – for this significant milestone. It is a testament to the success of SIRO in connecting communities right across Ireland. “Half a million families and businesses can now gain access to ultra-fast fibre broadband as SIRO continues with its programme to deliver for communities into the future.” 

Vodafone Ireland CEO, Amanda Nelson said: ‘’As we celebrate 500,000 homes and businesses who can access SIRO’s network; it marks an important milestone for SIRO, our joint venture with ESB. Our goal has always been to deliver high speed connectivity to more rural communities, people and businesses across Ireland. 

“Supporting communities with critical digital infrastructure is vital to enabling them to thrive now and into the future. It underpins business growth and development as well as connected education and healthcare. “It is fantastic to see businesses just like VEI Global, compete on a global stage supported by high-speed connectivity. We are looking forward to connecting more homes and businesses as we continue to bring world-class fibre broadband to towns and communities across Ireland.’

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Today we are proud to announce that homes and businesses in both Duleek and Kells can now avail of its 100% fibre broadband. Our fibre broadband network will bring high-speed, future-proofed connectivity to over 2,500 homes and businesses across Duleek and Kells. The initial build works in Kells commenced in April 2022 and in Duleek in August 2022 with works completed in both towns at the end of May.

What areas in Kells can get SIRO?

Areas in Kells which will benefit from SIRO’s roll out include (but are not limited to): Cherryhill, Headfort, Bective, Taylor Hall, Church Street and Lane, Balrath Wood, Suffolk Street, The Glebe and more.

What areas in Duleek can get SIRO?

Areas in Duleek which will benefit from SIRO’s roll out include (but are not limited to): Ashbourne Road, Main Street, Church Lane, Riverview, Ashvale Court, Larrix Street, Balsaran Close, Bathe Abbey, Cill Carban and more. SIRO is a joint venture between ESB and Vodafone delivering full fibre broadband to towns and cities across Ireland. Our network uses the existing ESB electricity network to bring connectivity to the heart of homes and businesses. Our network is available in 130 towns across Ireland and almost 500,000 premises. We are a wholesaler broadband provider which means that consumers and businesses can order their full fibre broadband from one of our twenty retail partners, including Virgin Media, Vodafone, Sky, Digiweb, Pure Telecom and Fastcom.

Where is SIRO already available in Meath?

SIRO has already connected over 20,000 premises across 11 Meath towns including: Ashbourne, Dunboyne, Enfield, Mornington, Rathoath, Trim, Bettystown, Dunshaughlin, Laytown, Navan and Stamullen. To date, almost 500,000 premises can access SIRO’s reliable network. Commenting on the announcement, SIRO Chief Executive Officer John Keaney said:

“Duleek and Kells are the latest towns in Meath to benefit from SIRO’s high-speed connectivity. As we continue rolling out our fibre broadband network across Meath towns, we have already seen the impact it has had on developing sustainable local communities. “Having access to a stable, future-proofed connection ensures homes and businesses can continue to live and work however they choose, and wherever they choose, without being dependent on larger towns and cities for opportunities. At SIRO, we aim to provide access to high-speed connectivity to both smaller and larger towns across the country, to develop digital societies and keep Ireland’s economy thriving. “We look forward to seeing the positive impact that SIRO’s full fibre broadband can have on these towns in the months and years to come, as they continue to grow, develop supported by SIRO’s network.

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This week, we are delighted to announce we are rolling out a full fibre broadband network to three towns across County Offaly in 2023. This stage of our network roll-out and significant investment in the county, was announced as part of a formal presentation on Monday, to Offaly County Councillors and Council officials at a meeting in Clara. Our build works are underway in Tullamore where 600 premises can already access SIRO fibre broadband.

Where is SIRO rolling out in Offaly?

The roll out will include 9,000 homes and businesses across Tullamore, Edenderry and Birr, as part of our full fibre broadband roll out. Build works are already commenced in Edenderry also, with network roll-out in Birr expected to start late 2023 and into 2024. The full fibre roll out in Tullamore will cover 4,500 premises, whereas Edenderry will cover 2,400 premises and Birr will cover 2,300 premises.

What areas in Tullamore will SIRO cover?

Areas within Tullamore that will be covered under our full fibre roll out include (but are not limited to): Oakfield, Limefield, Chancery Park Road, Clonminch Wood, Hophill, Charleville Road, Marian Place, Carraig Cluain, Eiscier End Road, Clontarf Road, Thornsberry Estate, O’Molloy Street.

What areas in Edenderry will SIRO cover?

Areas within Edenderry that will be covered under SIRO’s full fibre roll out include (but are not limited to): The Sycamores, The Park, Killane Heights, Castleview Park, Kileden Lawn, Rectory Meadows, Assumption Road, Gilroy Avenue, Woodfield, Glenn na Carraige, Carrickhall Lane, Coneyburrow.

What areas in Birr will SIRO cover?

Areas within Birr that will be covered under SIRO’s full fibre roll out include (but are not limited to): Meadowville, Meadow Brook, John’s Place, Connaught Street, Sandymount View, Compton Row, Hollypark Drive, High Street, Main Street, Demesne View, Fairview, Burke’s Hill, Woodlane. Our roll-out of a full fibre broadband network in Offaly is part of the company’s ongoing network expansion, targeting 770,000 premises in 154 towns and cities across Ireland.  To date, over 490,000 premises nationally in 130 towns and cities can access SIRO’s network. Our full fibre network offers speeds of up to 2 gigabit per second for homes, and up to 10 gigabits for enterprise connections.

Who is SIRO?

SIRO is a joint venture company between ESB and Vodafone, founded in 2015, focused on delivering full fibre broadband to Ireland’s towns and cities. SIRO’s fibre broadband network is built on the ESB electricity infrastructure, trusted for its reliability and resilience. Overall, the company is investing more than €1 billion in delivering high speed, future proofed broadband across Ireland.   Commenting on the announcement, SIRO CEO, John Keaney, said:

“SIRO’s announcement of the addition of three Offaly towns to our broadband network means that these key regional towns can now experience the transformative effect that SIRO’s full fibre broadband can have on a community. “It means that these places instantly become a more attractive place to do business, work flexibly, and live as they become more connected with a high quality, fibre broadband. “The need for reliable, high quality, fibre connectivity grows each day as businesses operate using cloud technology, employees host meetings virtually, and more businesses use contactless and card payment methods each day. Up to access to fast and reliable broadband connectivity can be a pain point for business and consumers when using the latest technologies. However, full fibre broadband reduces these pain points.”

Offaly County Council CEO Anna Marie Delaney, welcoming SIRO’s rollout in County Offaly, noted:

“Connectivity is at the heart of how we live today. High quality broadband is central to how individuals, communities and businesses now communicate, learn or work each day. Having access to SIRO’s full fibre network within the county will support economic development, investment into the county and job creation. “SIRO’s fibre broadband network will be an important addition for the county’s long-term growth and development and align with the Council broader economic growth strategy. It will sustain employment locally but also underpin the creation of the jobs of the future, particularly as digital technologies become ever more critical to so many business sectors based in Offaly”.

SIRO is a wholesaler, and its broadband service is available to order from the following retailers in Offaly: Vodafone, Sky, Airwire, Pure, Digiweb, Fastcom, and Viatel, with more becoming available as the roll-out progresses. [mailchimp_modal button-text="Register Your Interest" title="Sign Up Form" position="mid"]

This week, we have announced we are bringing our network to Thurles, Nenagh and Tipperary as part of our ongoing roll out across County Tipperary.

When will SIRO connect Tipperary?

In Thurles and Nenagh, we will connect over 7,000 premises to high quality fibre broadband. The roll out in Thurles is on track to be completed during Q4 2023, with Nenagh following thereafter. This build will also target 2,250 premises in Tipperary town for late 2023/early 2024. The addition of Thurles, Nenagh and Tipperary town to the SIRO network will add to our existing significant footprint in the county.

Is SIRO already available in Tipperary?

Our full fibre broadband network is already available in the towns of Clonmel, Cashel and Roscrea. However, additional build works will also take place in Cashel to reach further premises in the town. To date, we have invested over €20 million in bringing world-class connectivity to Tipperary towns. Once the additional towns are connected, our full fibre broadband network will be available to over 50,000 Tipperary residents. [caption id="attachment_8255" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Pictured (L-R) SIRO Director of Corporate Affairs Amanda Glancy, Tipperary County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr. Roger Kennedy, Tipperary County Council CEO Joe McGrath and SIRO Director of Build Denis Cambridge.[/caption] The announcement on Thurles, Nenagh and Tipperary town was made by senior SIRO management at a Presentation to the Elected Members of Tipperary County Council, which took place in the Civic Offices in Clonmel. The presentation was attended by Councillor Roger Kennedy, Cathaoirleach and Joe McGrath, Chief Executive of Tipperary County Council. Commenting on the announcement, SIRO CEO, John Keaney said:

“SIRO’s ongoing roll out in County Tipperary demonstrates our commitment to delivering high quality, fast, resilient and future proofed fibre broadband. Thurles is now SIRO’s fourth town in Tipperary to receive our full fibre connection, making the town a more attractive place to invest in, work, and live in. “Overall, once build works are complete SIRO’s network will be available in six Tipperary towns. Thurles, Nenagh and Tipperary town as well as all other SIRO towns in Tipperary, will have access to speeds of up 2 Gigabit for homes and up to 10 Gigabits for enterprise connections.”

[caption id="attachment_8254" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Pictured SIRO and Tipperary County Council representatives.[/caption] Welcoming SIRO, Councillor Roger Kennedy, Cathaoirleach of Tipperary County Council said,

“We are delighted to see the further expansion of SIRO’s full fibre broadband network across a number of towns in County Tipperary. As the digital economy grows, we must ensure that its opportunities and benefits are felt in every town, village and outlying rural area in our county. We need a digital infrastructure that supports business transformation and connected communities and one that provides nationwide coverage with sufficient capacity to ensure that data can flow at the volume, speed and reliability required to meet the demands of modern life.”

Welcoming SIRO’s announcement, Joe MacGrath, Chief Executive of Tipperary County Council said,

“The expansion of SIRO’s Full Fibre broadband network is welcome news for the County. We believe that, by promoting the digital agenda through a dynamic workforce and enhanced infrastructure, we can secure sustainable economic growth and prosperity into the future. “Secure, high quality, universal digital connectivity is central to realising economic, social and environmental opportunities. This includes enabling greater remote working; new job opportunities; new markets and customers for businesses; more efficient and accessible public services; more flexible working; contributing to the reinvigoration of our towns and villages. Digital technologies can also have an important role to play in reducing energy and resource use and enabling decarbonisation.”

Who can I purchase SIRO broadband from in Tipperary?

SIRO is a wholesaler full fibre broadband operator, meaning its broadband services can be ordered directly from the following retailers in County Tipperary: Sky, Vodafone, Digiweb, Blacknight, Pure Telecom, Fastcom Pure Telecom and Viatel. [mailchimp_modal button-text="Register Your Interest" title="Sign Up Form" position="mid"]

Today we are delighted to announce we will be expanding our network to Leitrim during 2023. Carrick-on-Shannon is the latest town to benefit from our full fibre network. The roll out will include over 1,800 homes and businesses in Carrick-on-Shannon as part of our full fibre broadband roll out to Leitrim. The build works commenced in April of this year, with the rollout of the area expected to complete in Q4 2023. [caption id="attachment_8218" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] SIRO representatives pictured with members of Carrick on Shannon Town Committee and Leitrim County Council officials.[/caption]

Where is SIRO rolling out to in Carrick-on-Shannon?

Areas within Carrick-on-Shannon that will be covered under our 100% fibre roll out include (but are not limited to): Oaklands Manor, Cara Court, Autumn View, Summerhill Grove, Glenpatrick, Shannon View, Shannon Lodge, Cnoc na Sí, Marina Road, Elysian Meadows, Ath na Rí, Maigh Glas. The roll-out of a full fibre broadband network in Carrick on Shannon is part of our ongoing network expansion, targeting 770,000 premises in 154 towns and cities across Ireland. To date, over 490,000 premises in 126 towns across the country can access the SIRO network. [caption id="attachment_8219" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Pictured President of Carrick on Shannon Chamber of Commerce Colm McGrath and SIRO Director of Corporate Affairs Amanda Glancy.[/caption]

Who can I order SIRO Broadband with?

Homes and businesses can order SIRO 100% fibre broadband from our network of retailers, including Vodafone, Airwire, Sky, Pure Telecom, Digiweb, Viatel, Blacknight, Fastcom and Telcom. SIRO 100% fibre is available to both homes and businesses within Carrick-on-Shannon, with speeds of up to 2 gigabits per second available for homes in the area, and up to 10 gigabits for enterprise connections. SIRO, founded back in 2015, is a joint venture company between ESB and Vodafone, focused on delivering full fibre broadband to Ireland’s towns and cities. SIRO’s fibre broadband network is built on the ESB electricity infrastructure, trusted for its reliability and resilience. Commenting on the announcement, SIRO CEO, John Keaney, said:

“Today’s announcement for Carrick-on-Shannon is part of SIRO’s wider efforts to bring resilient, scalable, fibre broadband to towns across Ireland. We are pleased to be expanding our network to reach Leitrim’s County town as part of our ongoing network expansion. “At SIRO, we understand both the need and huge demand for fast and high-quality broadband for homes and businesses today. Having access to reliable connectivity enables Carrick-on-Shannon to become a more attractive place to live and work.” “With SIRO’s broadband network available in Carrick-on Shannon, residents and businesses will have access to one of Europe’s most advanced and future proofed networks. It will   facilitate hybrid working for employees, reducing the need for unsustainable commutes to larger towns and cities. “For employers they can use cloud and digital technologies for the smooth running of their company networks. Local businesses will be able to thrive as faster and seamless online payments and orders, such as in the hospitality sector, can be smoothly facilitated.”

Cathaoirleach of Leitrim County Council, Councillor Ita Reynolds Flynn, stated:

“I am delighted to see this announcement today that SIRO are rolling out Fibre Broadband in Carrick on Shannon ensuring a 100% fibre connection to over 1800 homes and businesses in the area. The local authority welcome the SIRO installation as it will have significant economic benefits for the area supporting faster and seamless connectivity as well as giving confidence to businesses in their use of digital technologies and supporting their company networks and hybrid working opportunities.”

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[caption id="attachment_8159" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] (L-R, Aoife Cheung, Office Manager, Portershed, Amanda Nelson, CEO of Vodafone Ireland, Mary Rogers, CEO of PorterShed, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Simon Coveney, Amanda Glancy, Director of Corporate Affairs, SIRO, Sheila Kavanagh, Network Director, Vodafone Ireland, Anthony Shaughnessy,Community and Production, PorterShed)[/caption] The official opening coincides with the organisation's 7th birthday. Founded in 2016 the PorterShed has to date supported the creation of more than 835 high value jobs in the region. The new building, funded by the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment through Enterprise Ireland's Regional Enterprise Development Fund (REDF) initiative, will become home to an additional 200 indigenous tech startup members, offering a collaborative innovation space, access to SIRO and Vodafone’s full fibre broadband, production studio, boardroom podcast studio, rooftop garden, and conference rooms. PorterShed has already established itself as a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship under the banner of Galway City Innovation District, creating a down-town innovation community in the heart of Galway City. [caption id="attachment_8156" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] (L-R, Sheila Kavanagh, Network Director, Vodafone Ireland, Robert Marshall, Senior Public Affairs, Vodafone Ireland, Amanda Nelson, CEO Vodafone Ireland, Amanda Glancy, Corporate Affairs Director, SIRO.)[/caption] Speaking at the official opening, Minister Coveney said he continues to be impressed by the growth of the tech sector in Galway and acknowledged the impact of the PorterShed in the region since it first opened in 2016.

“I am delighted to be here today to officially open PorterShed a Dó in the heart of Galway city. This remarkable state-of-the art facility in the former iconic Connaught Tribune Building will play a central role in enabling the growth of scaling enterprises in the West and further afield. The opening of Portershed a Dó, supported by over €2.9m in funding from my Department’s Regional Enterprise Development Fund, will further cement Galway’s reputation as hub for innovation and provide high potential businesses with the space and support they need to flourish and prosper. It is an example of one of the many enterprise initiatives the Government has supported throughout the country. The West Regional Enterprise Plan is responsive to the opportunities and needs of the region and focuses on regional collaboration. PorterShed is an example of the power of that collaboration, and I hope and expect that it will inspire similar initiatives in the region. I wish the centre and all the companies and entrepreneurs that avail of the facilities on offer every success for the future.”

[caption id="attachment_8157" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] (L-R, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, speaking with Siren, member of PorterShed present with Mayor of Galway, Clodagh Higgins, Sheila Kavanagh, Network Director, Vodafone Ireland, Senator Sean Kyne, Government Chief Whip and Minister of State at the Department of Health, Hildegard Naughton, Mary Rogers, CEO PorterShed, Robert Marshall, Senior Public Affairs, Vodafone Ireland, and Amanda Nelson, CEO, Vodafone Ireland.)[/caption] Maurice O'Gorman, Chairperson of PorterShed, said:

"We are thrilled to be celebrating our 7th birthday by opening this new building, which will provide even more opportunities for tech startups to innovate and grow. We are grateful for the ongoing support of Enterprise Ireland who have been pivotal partners and funders for the PorterShed since 2016.”

John Keaney, CEO of SIRO, said:

 "We are pleased to be a part of the PorterShed story. Launched in 2017, the GigaBitHub Initiative has enabled digital hubs across Ireland to thrive by providing enterprise-grade symmetric, full fibre broadband. In 2022, the Portershed became the 17th hub to join the initiative, and we are proud to have played a role in supporting the growth and development of startups and innovative businesses in the Galway region. We look forward to continuing our partnership with PorterShed and supporting their mission to foster a culture of innovation in the community.”

[caption id="attachment_8158" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] (L-R, Amanda Glancy, Corporate Affairs Director, SIRO, Amanda Nelson, CEO, Vodafone Ireland)[/caption] Amanda Nelson, CEO at Vodafone Ireland said:

‘It is fantastic to see hubs just like the PorterShed continue to go from strength to strength. Today’s opening of PorterShed a Dó, demonstrates the continued value, demand and need for smart working hubs throughout the country. Through our Gigabit hub initiative our goal has always been to empower local businesses and communities through connectivity. The PorterShed is a shining example of what’s possible when we look at how connectivity can enable and enhance the work life balance of the people it serves, ultimately allowing them to pursue their careers within the area they are from, without sacrificing their quality of life or being forced to move to larger cities or abroad’’

The PorterShed is also supported by AIB, KPMG, Enterprise Ireland and The Western Development Commission. SIRO and Vodafone are currently seeking applications for the GigaBitHub initiative. For more information, please visit www.siro.ie/gigabit-hub For more information about PorterShed and its new building, please visit www.portershed.com

County Cork is about to experience a major upgrade to its broadband infrastructure as we aim to bring the SIRO 100% fibre broadband network to eight more towns across the region.

What towns are SIRO rolling out to in County Cork?

The SIRO fibre rollout across County Cork began in 2017, connecting over 1,500 homes and business across Skibbereen to Gigabit broadband for the first time. Since then, the SIRO fibre broadband network in Cork has grown significantly. Over 60,000 homes and businesses across the county can now connect to Ireland's most advanced broadband network, meaning over 162,000 people can now do life different with SIRO 100% fibre broadband. This year, alone, SIRO will be available to an additional 20,000 premises across Cork City and eight regional towns. SIRO is already available in towns such as Ballincollig, Carrigaline, Carrigtwohill, Mallow, Little Island and Skibbereen. In addition, the SIRO network will expand to six new town as part of our network expansion: Bandon, Cobh, Fermoy, Mitchelstown, Kinsale, Passage West and Youghal, representing an additional investment of €25 million, bringing SIRO's total network investment in the county to over €125 million.

SIRO Network Launch Event

On the 24th March as part a launch event and presentation made by SIRO CEO John Keaney to the Minister of Finance, Micheal McGrath T.D., Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Danny Collins, Elected Members of Cork County Council and Chief Executive, Tim Lucey, we announced that six of the eight new towns in Cork are the priority for 2023, while our rollout to the other Cork towns will continue over the coming years. Additional areas will be announced in 2024. Welcoming SIRO’s announcement, Minister for Finance, Micheal McGrath TD, said,

“This expansion of SIRO’s fibre broadband network is very welcome news for Cork County. Fibre broadband makes remote working a real possibility and it helps to breathe life back into our towns. It is also great news for businesses and farmers in particular who are now able to conduct more of their business online. Having a high-quality broadband connection provides opportunities for people to start up a new business and means that location is no longer a barrier for many start-ups. Creating a fully connected Ireland is a key priority for Government and it is only possible through partnership between public and private investment working together.”

Welcoming SIRO, Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Danny Collins said,

“We are delighted to see the further expansion of the SIRO fibre broadband network in Cork County. Access to reliable high-quality broadband is essential for our business community as well as our residents. It will unlock further opportunities for economic development in Cork towns and will support remote working for those wishing to reduce their commute.”

Commenting on the announcement, SIRO CEO John Keaney noted:

“Today’s announcement is good news for towns across Cork many of whom have had to endure poor connectivity until now. The arrival of SIRO’s full fibre broadband to towns across Cork will bring them new opportunities and safeguard their future. Having access to SIRO’s reliable and resilient broadband, with speeds of up to 2 Gigabits for homes and up to 10 Gigabit for businesses, ensure people and communities can live and work locally, run their businesses and stay connected with ease. Demand for high quality broadband across Cork remains very strong. SIRO is responding to that demand with more 60,000 premises across Cork city and towns who can already avail of our broadband network. SIRO’s work in 2023 will expand our footprint in Cork this year even further. And beyond that, we are already looking ahead to more areas in Cork”.

SIRO 100% fibre broadband is already available to over 60,000 homes and businesses across County Cork from leading services providers such as Digiweb, Sky, Viatel and Vodafone. As SIRO is a Fibre-to-the-Home network, deployed across the ESB's existing infrastructure, you are ensured a fast, reliable and sustainable network. To find out if your home or business can connect to SIRO, search your Eircode today. [lookup_modal type="eircode" button-text="Search Your Eircode" position="mid" title="Input your Eircode to check whether SIRO is available at your location"]

We are delighted to announced our sponsorship of a new schools’ biodiversity project which aims to raise awareness amongst primary school children of the importance of protecting Ireland’s pollinators and their natural habitats. The project was officially launched by Minister of State for Communications and the Circular Economy, Ossian Smyth TD at Gaelscoil Shliabh Rua, Ballyogan, Dublin. The launch was also attended by SIRO CEO John Keaney, Principal of Gaelscoil Shliabh Rua Ruth Mhic Adaim and teachers and pupils from the school. This sponsorship will allow 100 schools across Ireland to participate in a biodiversity project, focused on protecting native pollinators. The project will include school workshops with biodiversity experts; pollinator packs for each school, with resources to make their school grounds more pollinator-friendly, and additional free online materials for pupils. The company is aiming to become Ireland’s most sustainable broadband provider, whilst enabling the communities it serves to live more sustainably. Recent environmental initiatives by SIRO include converting its fleet to electric vehicles and becoming a signatory of the UN Global Compact.   Biodiversity in Schools is a national organisation which has been providing education on biodiversity to schools for the last 10 years. They aim to address Ireland’s biodiversity crisis by improving pupil’s eco-literacy and understanding of their natural environment. The overall goal for the project is to build a ‘nature-positive’ future for Ireland and for future generations to come. Minister Ossian Smyth noted:

“Young people will be our leaders in restoring nature in Ireland.  This project means that students from 100 schools nationwide will work with experts and their teachers and communities to make their schools more pollinator-friendly, planting native species and contributing to a better, more biodiverse future for us all.  Well done to SIRO for supporting this important work.”

SIRO’s CEO John Keaney noted:

“SIRO is an Irish company rolling out our fibre to the home broadband network to communities across Ireland. As we do so, we see first-hand the importance of biodiversity in enhancing the lives and wellbeing of those communities. “Our hope from this project is to foster young biodiversity champions in communities across Ireland encouraging them to protect and preserve our native habitats and biodiversity. “Our sponsorship of this school pollinator project makes a small contribution to this task. We are pleased to be able to contribute to the valuable work which Biodiversity in Schools have been undertaking in this area for the last ten years,” added Mr. Keaney.

Commenting on the partnership, Mark Nolan, Director of Biodiversity in Schools noted:

“We are pleased to have SIRO onboard as a sponsor for the pollinator project. Increasing young people's awareness of the important contribution biodiversity makes to our health and wellbeing is critical." “It’s also important for Irish companies to be aware of the biodiversity crisis we are experiencing, and to help by joining us to tackle this issue together. This initiative provides the resources needed to empower pupils with the knowledge and skills on how to help save and nurture our environment.”

Schools who wish to participate in the project can register their details at www.biodiversityinschools.com/pollinator-project.