Ballyhoura leads rural innovation through INSPIRE project

BALLYHOURA Development CLG is leading the way in rural innovation through its involvement in the Innovative and Smarter Policy Instruments for Rural Europe (INSPIRE) initiative.

This European project aims to strengthen social inclusion across rural areas by improving access to high-quality social services.

In Ballyhoura, the INSPIRE project is being used as a platform to promote biodiversity and environmental stewardship in the Limerick region.

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By aligning social inclusion with sustainability, Ballyhoura Development is taking a proactive approach to rural development - ensuring that local communities not only have better access to services but also thrive in a healthier, more biodiverse environment.

The project is based on a belief that digitisation and the opportunity to explore the potential of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) are essential factors enabling rural communities to become smarter — i.e., more attractive for locals, visitors, and newcomers.

INSPIRE held their third annual Regional Stakeholder Meeting, online with representatives from local government, statutory agencies, social partners, and the community and voluntary sectors from across the Ballyhoura region.

Stakeholders recognised a number of opportunities for further linkages to support smart development of the agricultural and local community sector in the Ballyhoura area.

Participants welcomed learnings to date from knowledge exchange, study visits and examples of good practice arising from interregional study visits.

The recent partners' meeting in the Cantabrian region of northern Spain provided unique and innovative digital responses within the agricultural sector.

Ballyhoura Development delegates were delighted to share the official validation of its Good Practice submission - Community Led Participative Planning - Smart Development of rural areas and its subsequent publication through Interreg Europe.

The INSPIRE project, which stands for Innovative and Smarter Policy Instruments for Europe, aims to adopt the Smart Villages rationale through digitisation to enhance policy instruments dedicated to rural areas. The project provides the opportunities to learn, adopt, and adapt innovative solutions for developing smart and digitised communities.