5 Simple Ways You Can Improve Your Personal Cybersecurity 

Being online has become an essential part of our everyday lives - messaging friends, working remotely, shopping online, streaming movies.  Whilst we understand the importance of having a presence online, we also need to be very conscious of the risks that come with being online.   October marks cybersecurity awareness month, and below are a few simple steps you can take to maximise your personal cybersecurity from wherever you are.  

1. Use a few different strong passwords

It’s important to create varying passwords for each of your online accounts (from your social media accounts such as X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, your personal/work emails, to your favourite streaming platforms like Netflix.   If you are guilty of only using the same one password across the board, you may want to rethink this. The danger with using the one password for everything is that if a hacker figures out the password to one of your accounts, they then will have access to all of your accounts. When this happens, they can see your private information, can message people pretending to be you, and they can even change your password so you can’t access your own account anymore.    To overcome this risk, create multiple different passwords (i.e., a different one for each account if you can), and to try make these passwords tricky and unique. Your passwords should contain a combination of special characters, upper and lowercase characters, and numbers to make them stronger.  

2. Implement two-factor authentication

To create that extra layer of security against hackers, it’s recommended to create a two-factor, or even multi-factor authentication. This is where, in addition to logging into your account (with the usual username and password), a code is then also sent to your email/phone for instance, to verify that the person logging into the account is really you.   Although this extra step might seem like a bit of a pain, it’s worth it for that added sense of reassurance in knowing that your accounts and information is a lot safer.  A lot of companies now allow you to create a two-factor authentication, such as Google, Instagram and Facebook for instance. 

3. Keep your devices up to date

We’ve all received the notifications which pop up on our screens, asking us to install the latest updates on our device. These notifications can be easy to ignore, but it’s wise to pay attention to these and to get updates installed as soon as possible. The upgrades that become available are there to protect your device and make it more difficult for cyber-attacks to happen to you, so why wouldn’t you want to update asap?  An easy way of getting the latest updates installed, without you having to lift a finger, would be go into the settings of your device and click the setting which allows automatic updates to occur.   In terms of what software’s to have installed, first and foremost it’s a good idea to have your device’s firewall switched on. On top of this, getting an antivirus software installed is key, as it works to block malicious viruses and hackers to gaining access to your information and data. McAfee or Nortons are popular choices of antivirus software’s you could choose from.  

4. Use a VPN (Virtual Private Network)

Have you ever been out and about and decided to use the free Wi-Fi in a shopping centre/café? You might want to think twice before doing that again. Whenever you connect to a Wi-Fi network that you aren’t familiar with, you are at risk of a security breach. For instance, someone else using the same public network as you may be able to view your data and take your personal information for their benefit.   This is why it’s advised to get a VPN (virtual private network) instead, to make sure you always have a secure network accessible to you. Many companies today ensure their employees are connected to their VPN to protect from cyber-attacks, so why not protect yourself too when at home or out and about?  

5. Think before you click

You may have heard of the term ‘phishing’ before, but if you haven’t, it’s one to get familiar with. Phishing involves a scammer posing as a legitimate company with the aims of obtaining data from an individual. Nowadays, phishing attempts have become more sophisticated than ever, making them much easier to fall for.   Here are a few things to look out for when trying to identify whether a text/email could be a scam: 

• The email address: is the email address unusual looking? Have you received emails from this individual before?  
• The phone number: is this number one you recognise? Is it the same as the company’s official phone number? 
• Is there a link included?: Never click on a link included in a text message/email without verifying from the company that it is legitimately sent by them. 
• What is the email/message saying?: Typically, scammers will send a message that seems urgent, which could say that there has been fraudulent activity/suspicious activity related to your account.  

If in doubt, always double check. For instance, if you receive an unusual text from your bank, visit your local branch or call their official phone number to discuss the email with them. They can help to confirm or deny whether it was sent by them.    What broadband network you use matters too  Fibre broadband is recognised as less vulnerable to cyber-attacks relative to older networks such as copper or cable. While no network is bullet proof, if you can access fibre broadband at your home or work it makes sense to make the switch.   To find out whether SIRO’s 100% fibre broadband is available to your home 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"]

Today we are happy to announce that our full fibre network is now available in Dungarvan. Our fibre broadband roll-out in the town is bringing reliable, high-speed connectivity to over 1,900 homes and businesses in Dungarvan. Our network build works in the area commenced in March 2023, with works expected to be fully completed during Q4, 2023. Our full fibre broadband is already available to over 12,000 premises in Waterford City.   Areas in the town which will benefit from the roll out include (but are not limited to): Mitchel Street, Springmount, Shandon Street, Town Court, Emmet Street, Parnell Street, O’Connell Street, Doctor Caseyville, Saint Thomas Street, Saint Mary Street, Boreennatra, Grattan Square.   Several hundred homes and businesses within the town can already avail of our full fibre broadband; and with build ongoing the remainder of the premises will be able to access the network between now and year end. The roll-out of a full fibre broadband network in Dungarvan is part of our ongoing network expansion, targeting more than 700,000 premises in towns and cities across Ireland by 2026. To date, over 520,000 premises in 135 towns across the country can access the SIRO network. Overall, we are investing more than €1 billion in delivering high speed, future proofed broadband across Ireland.  SIRO 100% fibre broadband is available to both homes and businesses within Dungarvan, with speeds of up to two gigabits per second available for homes in the area, and up to ten 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 network is built upon the existing ESB electricity infrastructure, bringing it into the hearth of homes and businesses and ensuring stability and resilience.   We are a wholesaler broadband provider, meaning that consumers and businesses can order their full fibre broadband from one of our twenty retail partners, including Virgin Media, Vodafone, Sky, Digiweb, Viatel, Pure Telecom, Fastcom and Blacknight.  Commenting on the announcement, SIRO Chief Executive Officer, John Keaney, said: 

“Dungarvan is the latest town to benefit from SIRO’s high-speed connectivity. High quality and robust broadband connectivity allow individuals, families and communities to enjoy greater flexibility and convenience in how they live.  “Our fibre broadband allows local businesses to thrive and ensures households can keep up with their day-to-day activities through the benefits of a reliable and fast connection. As a result, SIRO powered towns and cities, like Dungarvan and Waterford city, are regarded as attractive places to live, work and invest in.  “A resilient broadband connection which homes and businesses can depend on, when they need it, is an essential part of how we now live. SIRO’s full fibre broadband provides Dungarvan and Waterford city homes and businesses with the choice and certainty they need to leverage connectivity and digital technologies in ways which work best for them,” added Mr. Keaney. 

To find out if SIRO broadband is available to you, 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"]

Today we are happy to announce that we will be bringing our full fibre broadband network to the towns of Gort and Athenry. The announcement was made as part of a presentation by senior SIRO representatives to the monthly meeting of Galway County Council this week. SIRO representatives confirmed that it will roll out its broadband network to 1,800 homes in Gort and 1,500 homes in Athenry. Build works commenced in Athenry in June, with Gort to start later this year. The first premises in these towns are expected to go live and be available for order on a rolling basis from early summer next year. Our network is already available or under construction in several county Galway towns. The network in Oranmore and Barna is complete, and our broadband services are available to order. In Ballinasloe and Loughrea, our fibre broadband network is currently under construction with some premises already available to order and the remainder to be complete by early next year. Our full investment in these six Galway towns is expected to exceed €11 million. In addition, the SIRO network is also available to over 35,000 premises in right across Galway city. SIRO is a joint venture between ESB and Vodafone, founded in 2015, with objective of rolling out Ireland’s first full fibre broadband network. Since then, we have rolled out our network to 520,000 premises – homes and businesses – in 135 towns across Ireland. We are continuing to build its network across Irish towns and is targeting more than 700,000 premises by 2026. Commenting on SIRO’s expansion to Gort and Athenry, SIRO CEO John Keaney noted:

“SIRO is pleased to be bringing its full fibre broadband network to two further County Galway towns. Resilient and reliable connectivity is critical to regional towns like Gort and Athenry. “Having high-speed, high-quality broadband is essential to how we now live and work. It allows people to work from home, stay connected online but remain living within their community. Above, it gives individuals and families convenience and flexibility to enjoy a better more sustainable work life balance. “Equally, for businesses, fast and reliable broadband is fundamental to how companies, big and small, operate day to day.  From using Cloud technologies, to hybrid working, video calls, large file transfers or using AI or VR technologies, fibre broadband is the critical component to accessing these technologies. “Once SIRO’s rollout is complete, homes and businesses in Gort and Athenry will now have access to connectivity on a par with the best available elsewhere in Ireland or Europe,” added Mr. Keaney.

Leas Cathaoirleach Cllr. Evelyn Francis Parsons commented:

“Investments to improve broadband services in County Galway are to be welcomed, as the need to access high speed broadband is fast becoming a part of everyday life for most people”.

Chief Executive Mr. Liam Conneally noted that:

“SIRO’s announcement on its future network deployment in County Galway is very much to be welcomed. Delivery of high-speed fibre networks in Athenry and Gort represents very significant investment by SIRO”. “Access to High-speed broadband is a key economic enabler for existing business, with the potential to help them increase their online presence and to trade online nationally and internationally. “This investment will have positive impacts for these Towns around growth, generating economic spin off effects, making these towns more attractive for future investment “Delivery of high-speed connectivity will increase opportunities for citizens to work locally, as remote working becomes more realistic for larger numbers of people. This should also lead to a lowering of the towns carbon footprints and provide residents with more choice on broadband service provision in the future”, added Mr. Conneally.

Director of Services Mr. Derek Pender stated:

“Ongoing commercial investment that is delivering  high speed broadband service across the county is essential to insure any digital divide in our county is reduced and that the government target of all Irish households and businesses having access to Gigabit networks no later than 2028 is meet”.

To find out if SIRO is available to your home/business search your Eircode or register your interest here where you will be automatically notified when SIRO is available at your premise. [mailchimp_modal button-text="Register Your Interest" title="Sign Up Form" position="mid"]

Today we have launched a new campaign in Sligo town ‘You’re Fibre Ready Already,’ focusing on our full fibre broadband network in the town. Our fast, reliable and trusted broadband is available to over 8,000 premises - homes and businesses – across the town. The campaign will run for five weeks from 11 September to mid-October. For Sligo residents frustrated by poor connectivity or slow broadband speeds, the campaign’s key message is you may be one of the more than 18,000 Sligo town residents who can already avail of SIRO fibre broadband. Areas in Sligo town covered by SIRO’s full fibre broadband network include (but are not limited to): Strandhill Road, Hawthorn Avenue, Ballydoogan Road, Treacy Avenue, Ard na Veigh, Clara Court, Wolfe Tone Street, John Street, Grattan Street, Market Street, Chapel Street, Abbeyville Park, Garvoge Villas, Doorly Park Road, Yeats Heights.

How to find out if your home is available to connect to SIRO.

On-the-ground campaign activations in Sligo include SIRO-branded bus shelters, advertising in local shopping centres and SIRO-branded fibre cabinets. All will display a QR code, which when scanned with your phone brings individuals to a dedicated Sligo town page. From here, residents are able to learn more about the benefits of switching to the SIRO network and search their eircode to see if SIRO is available. You will be able to access detailed information on the retailers they can order fibre broadband from, as well as their varying offers and prices. They can then choose their preferred retailer and contact them to place an order to avail of SIRO broadband. As SIRO is a wholesale broadband provider, consumers and businesses in Sligo town can order their full fibre broadband from one of SIRO’s twenty retail partners, including Virgin Media, Vodafone, Sky, Digiweb, Pure Telecom, Fastcom, Airwire and Blacknight Solutions. 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. To date nationally, SIRO’s network is available to 520,000 premises in 135 towns across Ireland, with the company on track to reach over 700,000 premises by 2026. Commenting on the Sligo campaign, SIRO Chief Commercial Officer, Ronan Whelan, said:

“Reliable and fast broadband is now a non-negotiable part of our lives. When you enjoy seamless broadband, you quickly forget how frustrating poor connectivity can be. But when your broadband is slow, buffers or lags, it’s not just extremely frustrating; it hinders your ability to carry out essential tasks such as studying online, watch a movie seamlessly or running your business effectively. “SIRO has an extensive fibre network already available on the ground across Sligo town. So, our message for those suffering from poor broadband in Sligo town is simple – see for yourself what better broadband feels like! “Find out today on SIRO.ie  if you are one of the more than 8,000 Sligo town premises that can avail of Ireland’s most advanced broadband network. You could be just a few clicks away from ending your connectivity headaches,” added Mr. Whelan.

To find out if SIRO broadband is available to you, 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"]

On 30 August, the traditional CAO Round One kicks-off. The process is one in which those hoping for a college place eagerly wait for an offer, hopefully, for their course of choice and at their preferred college or university.  However, for these fresh-faced freshers looking forward to commencing their college journey, the thought of undertaking a second college course at some point in the future might be furthest from their minds. But, for many people who completed their education in years or decades past, returning to study is something which they are now considering.   For potential mature students, whether they had the college experience first-time around or never got the opportunity to go further after completing secondary school, undertaking further education is much more challenging. The nature of their lives has become much more demanding and complex than might have once been the case.  Family or work commitments, busy lifestyles with more demands on personal time or the financial priorities of mortgages and other day to day expenses, all make perusing college education as a mature student more difficult.   Despite this, we are seeing new routes to further education emerge in response to these challenges. There are many examples of flexible education emerging. Fully online and remote education is expanding, micro-credentials and short courses, which over time can be built into bigger degree or master's qualifications, are all growing in number and popularity.   Reliable and future proofed connectivity enabled through increasing access to fibre broadband networks across Ireland is supporting the trend toward in Ireland.   However, for many in Ireland fully remote further education can sometimes come with at least two disadvantages. Firstly, if you live in a part of Ireland where fibre broadband networks have yet to be rolled out, engaging with online education can be difficult. Or secondly, if you work and learn better in a group setting with classmates then online education can feel isolating.  

New remote studying initiative aims to make studying more accessible

Luckily, a new pilot higher education initiative is seeking to offer a solution to both of these issues for mature students. In June, Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, and Minister for Further and Higher Education, Simon Harris introduced a new initiative “‘Learning in the Hubs’”, which will allow third-level students to carry out their degrees from their local connected hub. “Learning in the Hubs” is being rolled out initially in the Midlands under a strategic partnership between Connected Hubs and the Technology University of the Shannon (TUS).   For students, this means they can attend lectures and complete course work in a group setting, from the closest connected hub to them. To start, two new courses will be offered at 13 remote working hubs. The courses are as follows: Certificate in Business in Entrepreneurship (Level 6), and Bachelor of Business (Hons) (Level 8) degree programme.  

Which hubs are participating in this initiative?

The location of the hubs offering these courses are as follows: Ballinasloe, Birr, Boyle, Edenderry, Edgeworthstown, Mountmellick, Mountrath, Mullingar, Portarlington, Portlaoise, Tullamore.  In August, Dundalk’s Creative Spark and Skibbereen’s Ludgate Hub recently announced that they too will join the initiative.   [caption id="attachment_8534" align="aligncenter" width="940"] Powered by SIRO, The Ludgate GigaBitHub in Skibereen has recently joined the Learning In The Hubs Initiative[/caption]

How does SIRO play a part?

We are committed to rolling out our fibre broadband network to towns and cities across Ireland. As this work continues and our country moves ever closer to a full fibre Ireland, we also need to focus on the use cases for our network. The delivery of public services such as eHealth or online education are two obvious areas where reliable connectivity can improve the lives of our citizens.  With a number of existing Connected Hubs already utilising our full fibre broadband network, we welcome this initiative which focuses on empowering students to receive their third-level education locally. The initiative is a pilot programme, with the opportunity to offer the programme as a larger mainstreamed initiative further down the line being explored.   Having access to reliable, future-proofed connectivity will support the development of sustainable communities in smaller towns nationwide, making these towns more attractive places to live, work and invest in.   For more information on the ‘Learning in the Hubs’ initiative read here.

Find Out More Information on the GigaBitHub Initiative

Today we are happy to announce that our full fibre broadband is currently being rolled out to homes and businesses in both Ballyshannon and Bundoran. Our fibre broadband network is bringing high-speed, future-proofed connectivity to 1,300 homes and businesses in Bundoran and 900 premises in Ballyshannon. The initial build works in the towns commenced in March 2023, with works set to be fully completed in both towns this autumn. Some premises in Bundoran are already available to order, with the remainder becoming available in by end August. The first premises in Ballyshannon will be available to order from August onwards. Areas in Ballyshannon which will benefit from the SIRO roll out include (but are not limited to): Bachelor’s Walk, Slate Row, Lawne Close, Cluain Barrow, Assaroe View, Saint Benildus View, West Port, West Rock, Townparks, Highfields, Upper Erne Dale Heights, Abbeylands, Ashbrook Drive. Areas in Bundoran which will benefit from the SIRO roll out include (but are not limited to): Ross Avenue, Ross View, West End, Ben Bulben View, Rossmore Court, Dartry Court, Dinglei Park, Shamble Lane, Marina View, Mountain View, Silverhill, Bunholvill, Sea Crest, River Walk, Celtic Cross View.   SIRO is a joint venture between ESB and Vodafone delivering full fibre broadband to towns and cities across Ireland. The company’s network uses the existing ESB electricity network to bring connectivity to the hearth of homes and businesses. To date, SIRO fibre broadband network is available to over 500,000 premises in more than 130 towns across Ireland. Our full fibre network can provide speeds of up to 2 Gigabits per second for residential customers and up to 10 Gigabits per second for business and enterprise customers. SIRO is a wholesaler broadband provider, meaning consumers and businesses can order their full fibre broadband from one of their twenty retail partners, including Virgin, Vodafone, Sky, Digiweb, Blacknight, Fastcom, Pure Telecom and more. We have already connected almost 20,000 premises across four Donegal towns including: Ballybofey, Buncrana, Letterkenny and Donegal Town. Commenting on the announcement, SIRO CEO John Keaney said:

“At SIRO, we understand the importance of having a reliable broadband connection and no more so than in Donegal. The arrival of SIRO’s fibre broadband to Bundoran and Ballyshannon will hugely benefit individuals and businesses in the two towns as it ensures reliability, stability, and the highest speeds. “We believe that having access to a future-proofed connection ensures individuals can continue to live and work however they choose, and wherever they choose, creating sustainable and prosperous local communities, much less dependent on larger towns and cities for opportunities.”

Chief Executive of Donegal County Council, John G McLaughlin said:

“Donegal County Council is delighted with the imminent availability of SIRO in the towns of Bundoran and Ballyshannon. We are expecting a high level of demand in both these towns similar to the demand that has been experienced in Letterkenny, Buncrana, Ballybofey and Donegal Town. “This extra investment in Donegal by SIRO should be applauded as the continued extension of this Fibre-to-the-Building broadband network, which is recognised as the gold standard for broadband internationally, will bring high-speed broadband to 2,200 homes and businesses in South Donegal. “This investment also further supports our strategy to make Donegal a place in which to invest, to live, to work and to visit.”

To find out if SIRO is available to your home/business search your Eircode or register your interest here where you will be automatically notified when SIRO is available at your premise. [mailchimp_modal button-text="Register Your Interest" title="Sign Up Form" position="mid"]

In June, Virgin Media became SIRO’s newest retail partner reselling our fibre broadband network across Ireland and joining existing retailers such as Vodafone, Sky, Digiweb, Pure Telecom and Blacknight amongst others. Virgin Media will offer speeds for residential customers of up to 2 Gigabit per seconds. Access to 2 Gigabits speeds will be welcome news for Ireland’s gaming community – over 700,000 – and particularly those who participate in multi-player gaming and e-Sports. Meanwhile, it is a tough time for the tech industry. Layoffs, organisational reshuffling, and reprioritising of funds is seen across the sector, and e-Sports is no exception. This year has seen tough layoffs and closures for eSports agencies, like The Guard, eUnited, FaZe Clan and 100 Thieves. It is a stark contrast when we reflect on the not-so-distant past of 2020. When we look back to then, for the e-Sports industry, there was an increased demand for tournaments and games throughout the pandemic. Traditional sports had to take a step back, due to restrictions on public gatherings, and e-Sports attracted new audiences like never before. From there, virtual tournaments that could be held at a distance, with large pots of cash up for grabs by the victor were in vogue. Yet, three years on, has the hype died down? Industry experts say: the jury’s still out. Recently, the final ever major Counter-Strike Global Offensive (CS: GO), a first-person shooter game event was held in Paris, France. It was viewed more than 1.5 million times on Blast.tv and was the third most viewed major CS: GO event ever. The event was held at the Accor Stadium in Paris and the stadium, which can hold over 83,000 people, was packed. Discourse within the e-sports industry is divisive as to whether e-sports can continue as it is. Some view it as a marketing machine. For First Person Shooter and Battle Royale games, reliant on sponsorships; others as a poorly managed business. What e-Sports is at its heart, however, is a means of uniting a community of gamers with a unique sporting experience with the potential to be permanent fixture for sport and gaming enthusiasts that lasts the test of time. There is opportunity with the e-Sports industry to expand on its partnership with telecoms, be it through additional sponsorships, or by providing connectivity to venues where high-stake tournament events are held. In Ireland the audio-visual sector, including games development is growing, and fibre connectivity low latency and high speeds has been instrumental in supporting its success. Irish retail telcos like Virgin Media have begun to sponsor gaming infrastructure and events. WYLDE, an e-Sports agency who collaborate with Virgin Media has established an e-Sports training academy in Cork  for budding professionals. Another international example of this is South Korea’s SK Telecom, who support SKT T1. SKT T1 are one of the most successful and highly decorated teams in the League of Legends e-Sports professional scene. The e-Sports industry is of course chasing lucrative sponsorships, as it’s critical for the industry to ensure it can establish large events for its fans to attend. For tournaments, it relies on viewership, brand deals, and ticket sales to justify the large tournament pots. For the viewer, there currently is not as much incentive to spend on e-Sports, as much of its content is free. According to a report by Deloitte in 2022 on the spending behaviours of European e-sports fans, barely 10% have made a purchase. Yet, the global e-sports industry in 2022 was worth over €1.29 billion ($1.39 billion) and is expected to grow. This means while some viewers are not spending, there is a lot of current, and future, value placed on the industry by analysts. So, what can the e-Sports industry do to future-proof itself? Some market experts argue that strategic partnerships are the way to go. While it may be obvious that collaborating with computer hardware brands, video game development companies is one route; telcos too have been placed high on the list of natural partners. With fibre connectivity, there are opportunities (network coverage pending) to host either virtual or in-person events, like e-Sport training boot camps where enthusiasts can meet the teams they look up to and improve their aim or get insider “pro-gamer” moves. There is plenty of opportunities for telcos and e-Sports to collaborate outside of just sponsoring the tournament event hall with connectivity. With the arrival of Web3 and the Metaverse, events can now be held within the Metaverse, incentivising viewers to get involved while charging a nominal fee or selling rNFTS (Redeemable Non-Fungible Tokens) for a return on investment. This is similar to Roblox and Minecraft holding concerts with big names like Ariana Grande and Lil Nas X to perform virtually. Influencer marketing and content creation are now tried and tested ways of casting a wider net to pull in larger audiences for e-Sports and gaming. While the e-Sports industry is going through a rebalancing act, there is still plenty of opportunity for growth for the sector. Fans are still interested in the competitive aspect of gaming, whether it be FPS or Battle Arena games. For telcos, particularly on the retail side, supporting and collaborating with the e-Sports industry, unlocks the opportunity to access tens of millions of active players and fans globally – something which is hugely attractive as all telcos look to grow their brand awareness and their customer base. For more information on SIRO’s network and how it can support your gaming needs, take a read here. [lookup_modal type="eircode" button-text="Search Your Eircode" position="mid" title="Input your Eircode to check whether SIRO is available at your location"]

Last year, SIRO and Viatel sponsored Esker House with free connectivity. Esker House is a domestic abuse support service based in Athlone, providing refuge and related services across the Midlands. Now, a year on, SIRO checked in with Deirdre Berry, Manager of Esker House to see how our fibre connection has benefited the refuge.  

Tell us about Esker House and the work that you do?

Esker House is a domestic abuse support service for Women and Children, while based in Athlone and its wider catchment area, we serve women across Ireland. We provide a refuge with 5 units for them to stay in. We have a 24-hour helpline and crisis line for people to ring into. We also a have a suite of services for people who do not wish to leave their homes, but want support in keeping safe, while we manage and identify risks for them. We also work with women who have just left abusive relationships where the risk of assault, and death, would be high. Research indicates that this is the most dangerous point. We work with children who have experienced any sort of domestic abuse, this could include recovery work and crisis work, including creating safety plans, and teaching them how to navigate abusive situations emotionally and safely. In Athlone and Roscommon, we help women learn if they reach the threshold for court using our Court Support Service. We help women identify whether they require protection orders or safety orders, or even barring orders. We provide-on-the day support within the courts and aftercare, linking them in with Gardaí or Solicitors and anything else they might need. [caption id="attachment_8468" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Pictured Deirdre Berry, Manager of Esker House Women’s Refuge, Athlone.[/caption]

“Since we got SIRO, it’s transformed the work that we have been doing”

It’s now been a year since you’ve connected to SIRO’s network. Can you tell us about how you’ve been finding the service?

Prior to the connection we received from SIRO, we struggled to get an internet connection. There seemed to be something wrong with the lines even though we were in the middle of the town. We were at a point where we got an IT consultant company system to diagnose the systems we needed. We wanted to get a new Zoom Phone system, which required broadband. We adopted ESafe, which is a client record system. We knew we were going to use two offices, so we needed to communicate between those two sites. We couldn’t have done that with the internet we had. We also wanted to provide connectivity to service users in apartments, so we needed a network in place to facilitate that. With our old connection, we couldn’t do that. Since we got SIRO, it’s transformed the work that we have been doing. Something as small as being able to provide Netflix for our service users to use at night once they have settled in; to be able to switch off or decompress is really valuable. For us to make the move from paper to digital was unknown for us, but for it to happen with ease was so important to us. The support we received from Sean Dervan in SIRO and the people in Viatel getting us over the line was great.

Is connectivity important for running a shelter? What are the keyways in which broadband is used by your service?

Since having SIRO as a sponsor for our connectivity, we’ve been able to expand our services. We want to be able to provide a wrap-a-round service to our users. So, we decided to rent a separate office as we wanted to utilise the space within the refuge as much as we could. The separate office allows us to do community training, virtual meetings etc. We’ve now been able to introduce Salesforce and use a client record tracking system (Safe Ireland), it’s a national network that’s paired with Include, who built the database. We can now create records, track safety plans, book meetings rooms. We’ve only been able to use this since we got SIRO. Our workers now have a computer each and utilise cloud technology to keep track of everything. All our calls are taken via Zoom. It’s cost effective and time effective. There’s a level of communication and visibility that we wouldn’t have been able to have before. [caption id="attachment_8467" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Pictured Deirdre Berry, Manager of Esker House Women’s Refuge, Athlone with SIRO Corporate Affairs Executive Gill Scally.[/caption]

  “We even got a second connection into our office as we were so impressed with the service. We couldn’t get it in fast enough!”

Would you recommend SIRO’s business product?

Yes absolutely. We even got a second connection into our office as we were so impressed with the service. We couldn’t get it in fast enough! Working with Viatel and SIRO was such a smooth experience. The customer service was great. We didn’t feel there was a massive delay in getting in it either, which was great.  

How can people support Esker House or find out more information?

We have Facebook, Instagram, and a website: www.eskerhouse.ie We also have a 24-hour helpline, it’s 09064 74122. If anyone wants to support us, fundraising is fantastic but to promote the service and what it does apart of their fundraising events can transform and save women’s lives. If more people could spread the information of what we can do would be invaluable.

With summer well under way, people are jetting off on holidays and taking that awaited trip away. Or even if you are just back, it’s likely you are thinking of the next one. Whatever your ideal trip - beach holiday, city-break or camping trip - researching and booking it online usually guarantees the best deals.   Researching and planning a holiday can be a time-consuming task, however, there are a range of sites and services which can take the headache out of the task. Outlined below are a list of online resources to help narrow down your options and choose the perfect holiday for you. 

How to choose the right destination

To start, you need to choose your ideal destination: 

• If you are looking for some inspiration, checking out some online blogs dedicated to travel can be a good starting point. Bloggers such as thetravelexpert.ie or www.stephmylifetravel.com provide their experiences of travel – the best destinations to go, travel tips for tourists and so on.  

• If you like seeing visuals of places before deciding, then TikTok or YouTube could be your best bet. Just search a preferred destination on either app and watch short/long videos for inspiration.

• If you would like to pick a destination based on popularity, a study by Statista in 2022, revealed that Ljubljana, Slovenia was voted as the best travel destination in Europe. The second favourite destination voted was Marbella in Spain, followed by Amiens, France.  

“Researching a holiday requires time, and having a steady broadband connection can make all the difference. Having a reliable, high-speed fibre optic connection enables you to have multiple tabs open at once, to book things quickly and efficiently, and overall to ensure the process is smooth and easy.”

How to get the best flight deals

Once you have chosen a desired location, your next step is to research flights to this area.  

• If you want to compare flight prices to ensure you get the best deal for you, you can check out websites/apps like Skyscanner or Kayak These websites are designed to help you compare both indirect and direct flights to destinations worldwide, based on your requirements and budget. 

“73% of all airline tickets are purchased on a desktop. To be able to view results quickly and purchase your flights with ease from home, it’s important to be connected to a steady, high-speed Wi-Fi, such as SIRO’s 100% FTTH broadband.”

Where to stay?

Destination check. Flights check. Now onto accommodation…  

• If hotels/hostels are your go-to, then head on over to sites like Trivago or Booking.com. Trivago compares hotel prices and offers. Booking.com offers a similar approach, showing a variety of options ranging from B&Bs and apartments to hotels and resorts.  

• If you want the home away from home feel, or are travelling with a larger group, then you should have a look on Airbnb. Hosts rent out their homes/properties for you to stay in during your holiday.  

“Booking.com was the most visited travel and tourism website globally in March 2023, recording around 555 million visits to their site.”

Sight-seeing made easy 

Now that you’ve sorted the location, flights, and accommodation, you can relax and put the feet up, the hardest part is over!  Closer to the time of your trip, you can investigate all the touristy things to do in your chosen location, and research some nice places to eat and drink.  

• When looking to book tickets to popular attractions, websites such as Viator or GetYourGuide are handy to use. These websites are centred around providing deals on tickets for various attractions by location.  

• A great resource for looking at reviews of restaurants and bars is TripAdvisor a website many would already be familiar with. With 169 million visits to the site recorded in March, this popular site offers trusted reviews of all restaurants, cafes and bars worldwide.  
• If you would like to book a table at a nice restaurant or cafe, have a look on OpenTable  or The Fork These websites let you have visibility over available times and dates at various restaurants in your location. 

  Now that you are powered with the knowledge of how to get the most out of your research when booking a holiday, what are you waiting for? Book your ideal holiday today before the summer is out, and ensure you have a steady internet connection to allow you to do so.  If you would like to find out whether SIRO’s 100% broadband is available to your home, visit https://siro.ie/   [lookup_modal type="eircode" button-text="Search Your Eircode" position="mid" title="Input your Eircode to check whether SIRO is available at your location"]

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