For many working parents, summer holidays come with a familiar dilemma – enjoy precious family time or cut the trip short to get back to work. But Ireland's national Connected Hubs network is helping families do both, allowing many to turn a two-week holiday into a month-long stay without falling behind at work.
With more than 400 hubs nationwide offering over 5,000 workspaces and 650 meeting and conference rooms, Connected Hubs provides professional, distraction-free workspaces where parents can work remotely while their families make the most of the holidays.
County Mayo has 25 of these hubs and the Clare Island Digital Hub is a great example of how they help working parents’ lives. It’s run by the Cliara Development Company, who say many families choose to stay on the island for longer because they know they have access to a professional workspace with reliable high-speed broadband.
“It allows parents to balance work commitments while enjoying quality family time on the island,” says Joanne Carroll, Community Development Coordinator with Cliara. “With reliable high-speed broadband, dedicated hot desks and meeting facilities, people can stay productive while making the most of their time on the island.”
Just a short walk away, visitors will find local coffee trailers, cafés, and other island amenities. This makes it easy to enjoy a coffee or lunch before taking a stroll along Clare Island's Blue Flag beach during a break in the working day.
“One of the biggest attractions for visitors is that they can come to Clare Island for a few days, spend quality time with family and still log on for a day’s work if they need to. It means they don’t have to choose between work and a staycation.”
She says parents appreciate that they don’t have to take annual leave for an entire trip and can stay connected if needed. “Students and remote workers also value having a quiet, professional workspace away from home where they can focus.”
Joanne says they regularly welcome people who have moved away for work and can now return home more often to visit family on the island. “Having a professional workspace with fast, reliable broadband means they can continue working without disruption while spending time back on the island.”
“What makes our hub unique is the opportunity to combine a productive working day with the lifestyle Clare Island offers. Within minutes of finishing work, people can be walking the coastline, out on the water or enjoying the island’s vibrant community, traditional music and local events.”
Joanne says that Clare Island offers an authentic work-life balance that is “difficult to replicate elsewhere. It's a place where productivity and wellbeing naturally go hand in hand.”
The Clare Island Digital Hub is one of many hubs which offer essential holiday support for working parents, says Connected Hubs spokesperson, Leah Fairman. She says you can find information and booking details for the Clare Island hub via www.connectedhubs.ie “It’s also worth checking out the full range of Connected Hubs work and innovation spaces across towns and villages in Ireland on our website.”
“These hubs have become really important to local communities,” says Leah. “All year round, they help people work close to home and support small businesses by offering them affordable space and services.”
Connected Hubs is a government-backed programme. It aims to breathe life back into towns and villages by making remote work easier, supporting local business growth, and attracting new business. It’s part of Our Rural Future and is led by the Western Development Commission, with support from the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.
