InTSEnSE Multiplier Event in Ireland

LIT had a very successful InTSEnSE Multiplier Event on Thursday 28^th November. Seamus Hoyne, Development manager, introduced the project to the attendees and outlined the project aims and objectives and critical outputs. Marie Taylor, project officer, then outlined the main outcomes of the project and the learning resources available on-line. The attendees were shown the various aspects of the website (https://www.intsense.eu/) including videos of the case-studies and a look at the support framework document.

The three guest speakers gave very interesting insights into various aspects of Social Enterprises. John Moyna from Sliabh Beagh Hotel spoke about the development of this community social enterprise. It was an inspiring talk of a community working together in a peripheral rural area and succeeding in an uncertain environment. As the hotel is located in the Republic of Ireland but near the border with Northern Ireland, the potential impact of Brexit was also spoken about.

Richard Gavin from the Department of Rural and Community Development outlined the emerging themes and policy outcomes from the recently launched National Social Enterprise Policy. Donal Traynor of Community Finance Ireland spoke on financing social enterprises and gave examples of different types of social enterprises and how they had developed. After the guest speakers, there was a very engaging question and answer time.

To finish the Multiplier Event, Seamus Hoyne summarised the other social enterprise projects that LIT is involved with including SocialB and EMwoSE and also how previous LIT projects SEDETT and SESBA helped to inform the InTSEnSE project.