sense of place


  Poet Theo Dorgan launching Gombeens at the Gate. Last night, my co-author and friend Jim Kennelly and I launched our latest book Gombeens at the Gate: Renewing the Rising through Ideals, Character and Place. Gombeens at the Gate delves into the Rising and the Irish Revival that preceded and inspired it. Ireland today, although quick to pay lip service to 1916, is sadly lacking in idealism and character. We are stumbling along with […]

Book Launch ‘Gombeens at the Gate’


There is a widespread misunderstanding in Ireland that innovation and competitiveness depend on the amount of money spent on research and development (R&D) within higher education institutions.  In fact, there is no evidence of a relationship between money spent on research in universities and the prosperity of a country, city or region. Irish universities are highly adept at promoting the idea that innovation starts with scientific research. This assumption is […]

Innovation and apprenticeships



Creativity flourishes when embedded in a community that emphasises a deep sense of place. A sense of place encompasses an emotional attachment to a particular geographical and cultural space, a shared experience of history and community. Rich in tacit knowledge, it informs people’s sense of who they are, where they are, where they have come from and where they are trying to go. Erosion of a sense of place is […]

Value of heritage