SIRO Rows In To Fibre Up Skibbereen Town Hall

The installation of a full fibre broadband connection at Skibbereen’s Town Hall, has guaranteed that both Olympic rowing events and screenings as part of the Skibbereen Arts Festival can now go ahead at the building. Bringing a full fibre service to the Town Hall came about late last week, following intense co-operation between the team at Ludgate Hub, fibre broadband operator, SIRO, and Cork County Council.

On Thursday last, SIRO stepped in, after a request for support from the team at Ludgate Hub, to bring a fibre broadband connection to Skibbereen’s Town Hall.  SIRO’s high speed, full fibre broadband connection ensures the building can now stream Olympic rowing live from Paris to the town’s residents, and visitors alike, over the coming weeks.

In addition, as a focal centre for the Skibbereen Arts Festival which kicked off on Friday last, the Town Hall will also be hosting several film screenings, as part of the wider festival programme.

These include the 2016 documentary “Pull Like a Dog” which follows Skibbereen Olympic medallists’, brothers Gary and Paul O’Donovan, as they return from the Rio Olympics and the film adaptation of John McGahern’s acclaimed novel “That They May Face the Rising Sun”.

With Skibbereen’s Annual Arts Festival taking place from Friday, 26 July to Saturday, 3 August,  festival organisers have installed large screens to live stream both the Olympic rowing events and films and documentaries at the Town Hall, which can hold over 200 people, during the festival.

However, organisers found the existing connectivity to the Town Hall did not meet what was required for the live Olympic streaming  and planned festival screenings.

Ludgate Hub, which itself is powered by SIRO Gigabit Fibre then approached the broadband operator to see what could be achieved, in the short time frame, to provide fibre broadband to meet the connectivity requirements of the Town Hall.

Notwithstanding the extremely tight deadlines, following extensive engagement and teamwork between Ludgate Hub, SIRO and Cork County Council, a fibre broadband connection was installed in the Town Hall premise late on Thursday.

Access to a full fibre broadband connection is seen as essential for the longer-term viability and continued development of the Town Hall as a centre point for Skibbereen’s artistic community. It’s hoped that fast and reliable connectivity will allow the Town Hall to expand the facility’s arts activities into the future.

Skibbereen Arts Festival Director, Declan McCarthy commented:

“The theme of the Olympics features large during this year’s festival, not least because of Skibbereen’s strong rowing representation at this year’s games.

“Being able to provide a public venue for people to come together, watch, and cheer on our rowers as they compete at the Paris Olympics was really important to us. We encourage everyone to drop into the Town Hall over the coming days.

“Having SIRO, step in at the last minute, to ensure that we have the connectivity to do that is just terrific and really appreciated. Special thanks goes to the team at Ludgate Hub and Cork County Council also for supporting us in this endeavour”.

SIRO CEO John Keaney noted:

“SIRO has a long-standing relationship with both the team at Ludgate Hub and Skibbereen. It was one of the first towns which we rolled out our full fibre broadband network to, including providing Gigabit connectivity to the Ludgate Hub.

“Now the Town Hall will enjoy high quality connectivity, on a par with what many homes and businesses in Skibbereen already enjoy.

“We are pleased to be able to provide, despite the tight timeline, the connectivity solutions required. Like everyone, we are wishing all Skibbereen’s rowers best of luck in Paris over the coming days and every success to the Arts Festival”.

Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Joe Carroll stated:

“There is a fantastic buzz around Skibbereen and the wider west Cork area, with excitement building for the Olympics and the Arts Festival.  We are delighted that Skibbereen Town Hall can now be used as a hub for the Olympic rowing events, particularly with so many local participants. 

“The addition of SIRO to the Town Hall will further enhance the facilities there.  I would like to acknowledge the work done by all involved to complete this project in such a short timeframe. 

“We in Cork County Council, wish every success to all of the Olympic athletes and continued success to the Arts Festival Committee for another fruitful festival”.

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