Spraoi shines spotlight on digital at Carndonagh and Clonmany shows

Award-winning social enterprise Spraoi agus Spórt has been shining the spotlight on digital skills at the Carndonagh and Clonmany agricultural shows.

"These shows provide us with a brilliant opportunity to showcase everything that our Digital Creative Lab has to offer, courtesy of Inishowen Co-Op,” said Áine Kelly, the operations lead at the lab who came along to the show with her Lab colleague Paul McCay. 

Áine says they were able to display items like personalised cups, stickers, and engraved items, at the show, which had been produced in the digital creative lab. 

“It's fantastic to have conversations with people while also giving them a firsthand experience of our products and services. All the profits generated by the digital creative lab go back into supporting Spraoi. In particular, they fund special needs assistants for children with additional needs in our camps and classes. It's great to see how the money is being used to support and benefit the local community.

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“We also run digital education programmes at the lab, which give local young people and schools the opportunity to learn creative and digital skills. However, we rely on funders to keep the lab open. So, we’re very thankful to our main local sponsor and community partner, Inishowen Co-op, for their invaluable support.”

Áine says the Co-Op gave them the opportunity to showcase the digital creative lab at both the Carndonagh and Clonmany shows. In fact, you can still visit their stand in the Inishowen Co-Op tent at the Clonmany Show until Wednesday, August 9. 

Co-Op general manager, Gareth Whitmore, said Spraoi’s programmes are innovative and creative and available to everybody.  

“They bring digital education to this rural community which not only enhances future prospects for young people but builds the skills base for local employers too.”

Also, in attendance at the shows from Spraoi agus Spórt was Lorraine Casey, project lead with their Circular Economy Hub, which promotes recycling and sustainability. "We are delighted with the response to our appeal for donations of furniture. But if you didn’t catch us at the show, don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any unused or unwanted pieces of furniture.”

At the show, Spraoi agus Spórt presented a prize of their own - a laser engraved slate for ‘The Best Beast on Show 2023’. The winner was Tommy McNamee for his Champion Calf.