Liberties Digital Hub 'metamorphosis' following dissolution of campus
After facing the possibility of closure, the Digital Hub in the Liberties is looking to expand even further across the city as it pivots toward potentially becoming a new standalone legal entity.
There was major disappointment back in 2021 when it was announced that the Digital Hub Development Agency (DHDA) was due to be dissolved and handed over to the Land Development Agency for redevelopment. However, Dublin City Council stepped in to save the property’s space and assist in reinventing itself to continue operating into the future under their auspices.
In what the hub’s CEO Fiach Mac Conghail described as a “metamorphosis,” the proposed dissolution acted as an opportunity for this entrepreneurial enterprise to simultaneously support urban regeneration and the businesses and charities that use their space. “The vision in creating a sustainable quarter with housing, work space, and play space is quite a unique opportunity,” he said.
With the Lord Mayor Ray McAdam and the council’s Chief Executive Richard Shakespeare in attendance, the DHDA launched their Strategic Plan 2026-2028 today at the Digital Hub’s iD8 Studio. Having worked closely with the LDA on plans to deliver affordable and social housing in the Liberties, The Digital Hub found a way to retain their in-use buildings while the rest of its campus is due to become social and affordable housing .
“As someone who served as a city councillor for 17 years, I'm a firm believer in partnerships and in collaboration because wonderful things happen when organisations, businesses and political representatives, communities and the state work together for the greater good,” Lord Mayor McAdam said.
Lord Mayor McAdam highlighted not only the benefits of social housing at St Patrick’s Tower, but said it's important to do this while retaining the vital services the Digital Hub contributes to their goal of creating “an active city, a living city, and an engaged city.” With “community and opportunity side by side” he said the hub best represents how cities ultimately succeed by being “inclusive.”
“I want to underline one point. Dublin needs homes, but Dublin also needs complete communities. The challenge and the opportunity is to do both. To add new residents while protecting what already works here, deliver housing by retaining a strong enterprise ecosystem, to grow the quarter without losing the character and the community that give it meaning,” he said.
“That's how you build a living city. Not with isolated units, but with neighbourhoods, with services, amenities, public spaces and everyday supports people rely on.”
Mr Shakespeare spoke about the DHDA’s vision for the future which he said will “build on the transformative work” they have already carried out while also supporting “the development of much needed new homes.” He commended the hub for its regeneration of vacant buildings and improving the surrounding area as businesses succeeded and grew due to assistance of the DHDA.
"As outlined in the DHDA’s new Strategic Plan, Dublin City Council is entering a new phase of collaboration with The Digital Hub and working in partnership on the DHDA’s potential transition to a standalone legal entity under the auspices of Dublin City Council. We are excited to see the outcome of this process and believe that maintaining and expanding the DHDA’s programmes, its buildings, enterprise facilities and staff skillset could promote and drive further regeneration in Dublin 8 and perhaps in other parts of the city," Mr Shakespeare said.
"The DHDA’s know-how and experience has been developed over many years and could play a vital role in assisting Dublin City council. The council is constantly seeking to ensure key and historic parts of the city, including the Liberties, can benefit from regeneration and the development of new housing, but it is important that this activity recognises and protects existing infrastructure, facilities and enterprises such as The Digital Hub and its member businesses and organisations.”
The launch of the strategic plan concluded with a discussion moderated by Digitalisation and Creativity Evangelist Joan Mulvihill with several hub users who have benefited greatly from the services of the DHDA. These included: Eamonn Costello, Founder & CEO of patientMPower, Mary Fleming, Founder & CEO of Change Clothes, John Hurley, Founding Partner of H2 Learning and Aisling Murray, Director and Co-Founder of Beta Festival.
Liberties local and Sinn Fein Councillor Ciaran O Meachair attended the launch and spoke to Dublin Live about the “tremendously positive contribution” the hub has made to the local community. He said it has “built a strong reputation for promoting innovation and social enterprise that stretches well beyond Dublin 8.”
“The fact St Patrick's Tower is being converted into a community space shows the huge potential our heritage and historical buildings in the Liberties can still give to the people who live there. DCC and the LDA have the potential to improve the wider area now through regeneration, this I hope will also be done in partnership with residents of the nearby flat complexes who still have to deal with poor quality housing. If the area continues to move forward, it's important that everyone moves forward together and no community is left behind,” he stated.
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