Kilkenny Hubs offer holiday relief for working parents

As families settle into the summer holiday season, many parents face the challenge of balancing their work life with family time. But if you need to clock in while your family chills out, Ireland’s national network of Connected Hubs is your ultimate holiday lifesaver.

This network of over 400 hubs offers more than 650 meeting and conference spaces and over 5,000 desks for hire. It makes Connected Hubs the largest network of its kind in the country. These professional, distraction-free workspaces enable parents to work remotely and stay on top of their workload, without sacrificing their family break.

Exit 4 Urlingford is one of five hubs in County Kilkenny alone and has been up and running for just over two years, says manager Michelle Browne.

“Last summer saw an increase in business in the hub, particularly in the demand for our hot desks,” says Michelle, who anticipates the same surge this summer.

As a working parent, Yaroslav Bahdai is one of those clients who really appreciates what Exit 4 has to offer. “Having a quiet and professional place to work locally makes a big difference. With a busy family environment at home, Exit 4 Urlingford is an ideal solution for me. It allows me to focus on my work, stay productive, and still remain close to home and my family.”

Conor Cleere is a regular user of Exit 4. “It's an oasis of calm and an easy place from which to get work done. This is especially so in the summer months, if your home is usually busy and lively like mine. It’s sociable too - the communal kitchen at Exit 4 is a great place to connect with other hub users and I always find free parking on the street."

Denys Riazanov works out of Exit 4 most days. “The atmosphere is relaxing and the facilities are great. It is a social place and I have met lots of people over coffee in the kitchen. It is a lovely old building with great character."

Michelle Browne says one of their clients was home from America for a few weeks and was “delighted that he could use our facilities to stay in touch with his business in the US. There were also several people on holiday who were interested in using our conference facilities.”

Michelle points out that Urlingford is strategically located halfway between Dublin and Cork, hence the name: to find it, you just leave the M8 at Exit 4. She also points to some of the hub’s unique features. It’s located in the former Bank of Ireland premises on the Main Street of Urlingford.

“We’re very proud that we created modern facilities while preserving the integrity of this historic building. The old bank safe now houses our printer.”

“We are also proud to be the only fully dedicated hub in the County developed and run by a voluntary community development group, the Urlingford Town Team.

If you are visiting, Exit 4 is easy to find on the Main Street and they’re close to the Tipperary border too. “Parking is free, tea and coffee are free, and we provide top of the range facilities, says Michelle. All of our desks have double screens. Just plug into the dock and you’re ready to go!”

Look them up or make a booking at www.connectedhubs.ie or email [email protected].

Exit 4 is one of many hubs across the country which offer a bit extra support for parents and remote workers, says Connected Hubs spokesperson, Leah Fairman. “Wherever you are this summer, it’s worth checking out the range of Connected Hubs work and innovation spaces across towns and villages in Ireland.”

“These hubs have become really important to local communities,” says Leah. “All year round, they help people work close to home and support small businesses by offering them affordable space and services.”

Connected Hubs is a government-backed programme. It aims to breathe life back into towns and villages by making remote work easier, supporting local business growth, and attracting new business. It’s part of Our Rural Future and is led by the Western Development Commission, with support from the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.