study visit to Donegal and introduction to good practices for increasing digital nomads in the region
On the 24th & 25th of June 2025, Donegal County Council welcomed the project partners from the EDIN project to County Donegal, Ireland. EDIN which is cofinanced through the Interreg Europe Programme is a pan European project with partners in Ireland (Donegal), Spain (Atlantic Axis of Peninsular Northwest & Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge), Italy (Agency for the development of the Empolese Valdelsa & Regional Government of Tuscany), Norway (Møre and Romsdal County Council), Finland (ELY Centre Kainuu), Lithuania (Lazdijai district municipality administration, Lithuania) and Bulgaria (Union of Bulgarian Black Sea Local Authorities & Regional Administration Varna).
The project’s overall objective is to encourage the uptake of remote working and increase the presence of digital nomads in each of the partner territories by 30% by 2028.
This interregional event focused on showcasing the Digital Hubs based in the county and consisted of two study visits. The first of these took the project partners to gteic @ Gaoth Dobhair where they were welcomed to Donegal by Glenties Municipal District Cathaoirleach Cllr Michael Mc Clafferty.
Speaking afterwards, Cllr Mc Clafferty said, “It was my honour to welcome delegates form the EDIN project to Donegal. This project provides us with a valuable opportunity to showcase the current digital hub infrastructure in the county and the event allowed us to provide learning exchanges and showcase good practices for many aspects that relate to the objectives of the project.”
The focus of this study visit then turned to the topic of “community digital hubs and how to influence government policy”. Mícheál Ó Duibhir of Údarás na Gaeltachta spoke on the work of Údarás and also their work with the digital hubs across the Gaeltacht region. He specifically focused on gteic @ Gaoth Dobhair which all attendees got a tour of. This was followed by a presentation from Leah Fairman from Connected Hubs who talked the project partners through the Connected Hubs Network, what they do and how they “promote & support remote work in Ireland”.
All attendees travelled to Arranmore Island for the next study visit which was at MODAM (Mol Oifig Digiteach Árainn Mhór). Here, Adrian Begley presented to the group about how and why the MODAM project came to what it is today. They focus on attracting young people back to the area to ensure the island life continues for generations to come.
The final event of the day was held in Croithlí Distillery where Donegal County Council facilitated a workshop focused on highlighted the “Most effective marketing strategies for attracting nomads”.
The event overall provided the project partners with valuable insights into how communities, national bodies and groups are working together to promote Donegal as a hub for Digital Nomads in the future.
