Tipperary groups were among the winners at annual Digital Town Awards

Clonmel was announced as the overall winner at the .IE Digital Town Awards, which were presented at a gala event at the Hodson Bay Hotel in Athlone.

Clonmel also won the Agri-tech category for its Smart Skills for Farming Communities pilot project with the IFA, Teagasc and ICMSA.

This programme was developed to help farmers use new technologies to make their work easier and save time and money, as well as improving the sustainability and profitability of their farm.

Sixty per cent of farmers report that there are barriers to digital training and supports. This project addresses that problem by providing very practical digital training in areas such as soil fertility technology; grassland management technology; tech for time and labour saving; and farm management systems and useful apps.

This project addresses the digital skills gap amongst farmers and helps them access digital technologies that hold the key for a smarter, more competitive and resource-efficient agricultural sector.

Another Tipperary group, Rossmore Scratchers BCP Computing Club, were the winners in the Community Digital category, sponsored by Western Development Commission.

The installation of a broadband connection point (BCP) was a game changer for Rossmore. It enabled Rossmore Scratchers, a coding club, to provide a space for digital projects through STEAM for children and adults alike.

It is volunteer-led, has diverse community involvement and a clear understanding of community needs, all of which is managed on a limited budget. It’s a great example of a community being given the digital tools, and taking it from there.

Boher BCP Community Group represented Tipperary well in the Newcomer and Digital Rising Star categories and were announced as the county winner in the National Lottery’s Community Award.

The group now goes on to represent Tipperary at the National awards.

The .IE Digital Town Awards highlight the benefits and possibilities of digital, and celebrate the digital achievements of towns and communities across Ireland.