Building Bridges: LOTTI Exchange Between Finland & Ireland

Exploring Social Enterprise Through the LOTTI Bilateral Exchange: Finland & Ireland

WestBIC and the Northern and Western Regional Assembly had the privilege of welcoming our Finnish partners and stakeholders from Päijät-Hämeen Liitto, for a meaningful and engaging visit as part of the LOTTI bilateral exchange. This exchange provided a fantastic opportunity to explore and share insights into the development of social enterprises in Ireland and Finland.

Day One: A Journey Through Mayo’s Social Enterprises

Our journey began in County Mayo, where we visited some of the region’s most impactful community-driven initiatives.

• Mayo Abbey Community Hub, Training Centre, and Organic Garden The team at Mayo Abbey showcased their commitment to community development through their training programs and sustainable organic farming practices, offering a model for rural innovation and education.

• Claremorris Community Radio & Digispace Digital Hub These two enterprises illustrated the power of digital inclusion and community media, with Claremorris Community Radio fostering local voices and Digispace providing state-of-the-art digital resources for entrepreneurs and remote workers.

• Lohan Park Group Home and Retirement Village, Brickens One of the highlights of the visit was Lohan Park, where we witnessed how community-led housing and care initiatives are enhancing the quality of life for elderly residents through sustainable and compassionate living environments.

Day Two: Innovation in Leitrim and Beyond

The second day took us to County Leitrim and further afield, where we explored innovative co-working spaces, food enterprise hubs, and local tourism initiatives.

• The Hive, Carrick-on-Shannon Hosted by Colm Keane and Joe Lowe from the Local Enterprise Office Leitrim, our visit to The Hive provided insight into the success and future plans of rural co-working spaces and business incubation in the region.

• The Food Hub, Drumshanbo A significant stop on our journey, this growing Food Enterprise Zone showcased the incredible work being done to support small food producers and entrepreneurs, with Fergal McPartland guiding us through the hub’s facilities and innovations.

• The Shed Distillery of PJ Rigney Our tour of this renowned distillery offered a fascinating glimpse into how local enterprises are embracing tradition and modern innovation to create high-quality, internationally recognised products.

Final Stop: Sligo Folk Park – A Heritage Tourism Initiative

Our visit concluded at Sligo Folk Park, where we saw first hand how tourism is being harnessed as a social enterprise. Through preserving cultural heritage and engaging the local community, the park serves as a valuable model for sustainable tourism development.

Looking Ahead

The LOTTI bilateral exchange proved to be an enriching experience, highlighting the strength and resilience of social enterprises in Ireland while fostering valuable cross-border collaboration with our Finnish partners.

A huge thank you to all the inspiring individuals and organisations who welcomed us and shared their knowledge. We look forward to building on this partnership and continuing to explore innovative ways to support community-driven enterprise development!