Local Updates, Launches & Volunteering Opportunities discussed at Future Kinsale's recent Community Town Hall meeting

At the end of November, Future Kinsale held its Startup22 Enterprise Awards, followed by a Town Hall Meeting in the Trident Hotel in Kinsale.

An illustrious panel of local business experts were in action on the night, judging the latest graduates of the Startup22 enterprise programme which has now hatched over 20 new businesses in the town. Rachel Collins, founder of Wellworks Holistic, was the winner on the night.

Following the enterprise awards, the Town Hall meeting took place. The purpose of the meeting was to provide an update & progress reports to the community on various projects that Future Kinsale & others are working on on an ongoing basis. These included:

- The results of the public consultation on the preferred ‘mini-Greenway’ route in the region were launched, as well as a detailed feasibility study by consultants Fehily Timoney on the community’s preferred route, the ‘Clontead Way’. Details and maps of the proposed “Clontead Way” which connects Riverstick, Belgooly, Kinsale & Sandycove were presented for the first time in public (see our projects page for more information).

- The results of a post covid survey of 400+ P17 residents were then presented by board member Adrian Wistreich, highlighting what local people see as priorities for building a healthy sustainable community. Better traffic management & facilities for young people, pedestrianization, development of cycleways & footpaths, as well as a business hub for the new generation of “workers from home”, corporate visitors, and digital nomads were all high on the list.

- Various updates on work to build the local enterprise community were presented including: the second successful round of our Startup Enterprise Programme, training & support for TY students in Kinsale Community School who are setting up & running ‘Mini Companies’ this year, as well as efforts to establish a local business hub/shared workspace in Kinsale.

Sam Hunt and Arlene Vithaldis gave updates on recent site visits to other business hubs in various County Cork towns, in the quest to bring a business hub to the town. Something councillor Kevin Murphy has claimed is “badly” needed.

Chairperson of Future Kinsale, Alan Clayton, thanked everyone who has volunteered with and supported Future Kinsale this year, including many business people who have donated their time & expertise to Startup Enterprise programme.

He highlighted however, that there is always a need for more volunteers to help progress the various projects including the Kinsale business hub & the Kinsale Trails Greenway project.

Calling on people to get in touch and volunteer if they are interested, Alan said,

“Future Kinsale welcomes all P17 residents as members and volunteers, to play a real part in shaping its future.

So if you are interested in volunteering, or would just like to find out more without making a specific commitment right now, please email us at: info@futurekinsale.ie anytime. We would be delighted to talk to you!