5th March 2020 – Launch of Upper Shannon Erne Regional FabLab Project
Pictured at launch of Mobile FabLab in The Hive L o R Colm Keane The Hive, Joe Lowe Head of Enterprise LEO Leitrim, Aine Carr Leitrim County Council Economic Development Department, Stuart Lawn and Leo Scarff Directors FabLab MakerHub, Sarah Duffy Project Co-Ordinator USEFE, Geraldine Senior Enterprise Development Officer LEO Leitrim and Joseph Gilhooly Director of Services/Deputy Chief Executive Leitrim County Council.
The Launch of the Upper Shannon Erne Future Economy (USEFE) Region Mobile Fab Lab took place on Friday 28th February with a display of modern digital fabrication equipment in The Hive, Carrick on Shannon County Leitrim. Between now and the end of the year this equipment along with skilled product development instructors and engineers will aim to bring digital fabrication and modern design thinking to businesses, communities and schools throughout counties Leitrim, Roscommon, Cavan and Longford. This innovative project was recently awarded funding under the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Competitive fund and aims to help existing and start-up businesses by teaching skills and demonstrating the potential of modern digital equipment. Technologies such as 3d printing, laser cutting, CNC vinyl cutting will be set up in businesses, community buildings and schools and experts will be on hand to teach and assist individuals and their projects.
The facilitators of these events and workshop are FabLab MakerHub who have many years’ experience in design and engineering and will be ready with answers to any questions that come up.
The project is being led by Local Enterprise Office Leitrim in association with Upper Shannon Erne Future Economy and is partnered by Local Enterprise Offices in Roscommon, Cavan and Longford.
‘This innovative project has the potential to inspire and educate the product designers, engineers and innovators of tomorrow’, said Joe Lowe Head of Enterprise LEO Leitrim at the launch of the programme. ‘The application of new technologies is a key priority of the Future Jobs Ireland initiative and we are delighted to be part of this project’ Joe added.
Speaking about the launch Leitrim County Council Deputy Chief Executive Joseph Gilhooly said that ‘This project is evidence of the strength of collaborating with our partners in Roscommon, Longford and Cavan County Councils. By working together, we can strengthen our offering to provide first-class enterprise support services and build towards sustainable economic growth for the region. When we work together our capacity to secure investment for the region is greatly enhanced. This funding will allow us to expand the opportunities available in the region and to develop a regional enterprise community.’ This project is one of sixteen projects throughout Ireland to have received funding under the €2.5m Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Competitive Fund.
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Photos by Gerry Faughnan Photography, Carrick on Shannon
