National Hub Summit 2026 - Insights & Inspiration

People, possibilities and a few big questions about the future! 💡

We came away from the National Hub Summit with plenty to think about and ideas to bring back to our hubs in Monaghan.

Allan Mulrooney, CEO of the Western Development Commission, opened with a reminder of the role hubs play in connecting people and building communities, and how AI is giving small businesses the opportunity to do things previously reserved for much larger organisations.

Professor Stephen Kinsella of the University of Limerick followed with an energising session on the forces shaping Ireland’s future, from the wider economy to AI and productivity at work.

One takeaway that stayed with m: are we using AI as little more than a super search engine, when it could help us do so much more?

Across the day, we heard about community, integration, thoughtful design and the importance of understanding what people really need. There was plenty to learn from fellow hubs, including The Melting Pot in Scotland, a hub in Finland and Platform94 and The Hive.

Minister Dara Calleary also launched the National Hub Network Strategy, marking an important step for the future of hubs and the communities they serve.

Our biggest takeaway? Technology is changing how we work, while people, relationships and a sense of belonging remain at the heart of a successful hub.

Thank you to Connected Hubs, the Western Development Commission and everyone who shared their experience and ideas.