Ballyhoura Development Showcases Smart Village Innovation to European Partners through INSPIRE Project Visit

Ballyhoura Development CLG recently welcomed over 30 European partners to the Ballyhoura region as part of the INSPIRE Project (Innovative and Smarter Policy Instruments for Rural Europe), delivering a two-day study visit and interregional workshop focused on Smart Villages, digital connectivity, and community-led rural innovation.

Partners from Hungary, Poland, Latvia, Spain, and Italy were hosted in Mitchelstown and across the wider Ballyhoura region from May 12th–13th, 2026, experiencing first-hand the depth of community engagement and the innovative approaches shaping rural development in Ireland.

A Living Example of Connected Rural Communities

The programme highlighted Ballyhoura’s integrated approach - where people, place, and digital innovation combine to support sustainable rural living.

Delegates visited a range of community-led initiatives and enterprise supports, including:

  • Ballyhoura Food Centre, Mitchelstown, showcasing supports for local food entrepreneurs and scaling rural businesses.
  • Forrest Hall Community Hub, demonstrating local enterprise and creative experiences including artisan food production with a unique chocolate makers workshop delivered by Praline.
  • Saint George’s Arts and Heritage Centre, a fully community-run heritage space preserving local identity.
  • The Local Hub Glenbrohane, a flagship example of multi-use rural community infrastructure.
  • Kildorrery Community, illustrating Smart Village planning and social inclusion in practice.
  • Doneraile Court, highlighting heritage-led tourism, digital interpretation, and visitor experience development.

These visits demonstrated how communities across Ballyhoura are not only sustaining vital local services but actively shaping their future through volunteering, ownership, and innovation.

Digital Innovation and Smart Village Thinking

A key theme throughout the visit was how digital tools are enhancing rural development.

Through interactive workshops and site visits, partners explored:

  • The role of digital storytelling, video and audio tools in communicating rural initiatives.
  • Digital audits and destination development planning in collaboration with Fáilte Ireland.
  • The integration of AI technologies in heritage interpretation, including a practical demonstration at Saint George’s Graveyard.
  • Digital enhancements to outdoor recreation experiences, such as those demonstrated at Galtee Castle Woods.

Exploring Diaspora Tourism Opportunities

A standout element of the visit was the exploration of the Ireland Canada Homecoming initiative, showcasing how digital techniques can reconnect diaspora communities with their rural roots.

Partners examined how digital platforms and storytelling can support diaspora tourism models, enabling rural regions like Ballyhoura to engage global audiences and strengthen cultural connections across generations.

European Exchange and Shared Learning

The visit culminated in Interregional Workshop 5, where Ballyhoura Development presented best practices in:

  • Social inclusion and rural service delivery.
  • Flexible policy instruments supporting innovation.
  • Community-led economic development.
  • Smart Village implementation and collaboration models.

The exchange provided a valuable opportunity for mutual learning, with partners sharing insights from their own regions while recognising Ballyhoura as a leading example of people-centred rural policy in action.

A Strong Impression on European Partners

European delegates expressed deep admiration for the Ballyhoura model, particularly:

  • The scale and depth of community volunteering.
  • Local ownership of services and infrastructure.
  • The strong connection between development initiatives and local identity.
  • Ballyhoura Development’s ability to embed innovation within real community needs.

Reflecting on the visit, Małgorzata Steckiewicz of Projectiff, Poland, highlighted the people-centred nature of Ballyhoura's approach:

"For me, Ballyhoura Development CLG is an inspiring example of how successful projects are all about people. I was impressed by the level of organisation, cooperation and community spirit demonstrated at Saint George’s Arts & Heritage Centre and the Glenbrohane Local Hub, including the strong culture of volunteering for the common good. Such a high level of community involvement was quite unique in my experience. Finally, the Ireland Canada Homecoming is a heartfelt example of how celebrating shared roots can bring people together and strengthen a sense of belonging."

Selene Cremonesi of Poliedra – Politecnico di Milano, Italy, noted the importance of Ballyhoura's long-term vision and community-led approach:

"Ballyhoura’s systemic vision shows us how local community needs can successfully drive policy and funding. Sharing this kind of long-term expertise is incredibly valuable for our European partnership, showing how to create real, lasting change on the ground."

Gianluca Lentini of Poliedra - Politecnico di Milano, Italy added: 

"The visit to the Ballyhoura area has provided our international partnership coming from Poland, Latvia, Spain, Germany, Hungary and Italy with a very valuable experience of a unique area, characterized by a very strong community sense and very advanced and innovative practices, both digital and non-digital, of economic and cultural revitalization. Both the community spirit and the innovative practices, fostered and facilitated by the wonderful work of our Ballyhoura Development CLG colleagues, have inspired all and will stay with us for a long time."

Looking Ahead

The INSPIRE project continues to support regions across Europe in designing smarter policy instruments for rural areas, with Ballyhoura playing a key role in demonstrating how integrated, community-driven approaches can deliver lasting impact.

Nichola Grufferty, Development Officer on the project, states: "This successful visit further reinforces Ballyhoura’s position as a leader in rural innovation, and highlights the region as a model for Smart Village development, digital transition, and sustainable rural futures."

To find out more, visit the INSPIRE Project website below:

INSPIRE Project Website

For ongoing project updates, you can follow the project's social media accounts:

For any further information about the INSPIRE Project, please contact Nichola Grufferty at [email protected].

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