Donegal.ie

03/06/2026

SME Engagment Roadshow:
The SPEAR Centre SME Engagement Roadshow is a series of regional events taking place across the border region, designed to connect SMEs with fully funded innovation opportunities, emerging technologies and support available through the SPEAR Centre.

See below for upcoming locations and registration links to find an event that suits you. If you do not see a suitable date or location at this time, please check back again as additional dates to be announced.

June:
📍 The CoLab, Letterkenny – 17th June 2026.

📍 Catalyst, Derry ~ Londonderry – 18th June 2026

July:
📍 Ecos Hub, Ballymena – 6th July 2026.

📍 Inishowen Innovation Hub, Buncrana – 7th July 2026.

Register & Further Information: https://www.wisar.ie/projects/spear-centre/

22/05/2026

The following vacancies are being advertised by Donegal County Council;

- Assistant Economic Development Officer
- Tourism Officer
- Project Officer

Closing date; Monday 8th June 2026
Apply Here: https://www.donegalcoco.ie/en/recruitment/

Donegal County Council

20/05/2026

Donegal’s premier summer event, Earagail Arts Festival (10th - 25th July) has unveiled its full programme for 2026. 🎭

See full program: ://eaf.ie/

With a family-orientated, participatory and engaging programme from the Gaeltacht islands off the West Donegal coast to East Donegal and the Inishowen peninsula, and Donegal Town, Earagail Arts Festival has something for all ages and backgrounds.

The festival features an expanded programme of circus, street arts performances and workshops in Letterkenny, Gaoth Dobhair and, for the very first time, Lifford and Donegal Town. 🎭

Donegal County Council Wild Atlantic Way

14/05/2026

Huge congratulations to Shay McDevitt from St Columba’s College, Stranorlar! 🎉🏆
Shay has been named Foróige Youth Entrepreneur of the Year 2026 for his business SMD Detailing 🚗✨
Competing against seven outstanding finalists, Shay impressed judges with his professional car detailing service, specialising in high-quality interior and exterior vehicle restoration.
The NFTE Final featured 24 youth-led businesses from across Ireland — with an incredible 8 from Donegal 👏
Shay said:

“Winning this award feels surreal. What started as just an idea has become something I’m genuinely so proud of.
The NFTE journey pushed me outside my comfort zone and helped me grow in confidence.”

An amazing achievement and a bright future ahead! 🌟

Local Enterprise Office Donegal .donegal

13/05/2026

The Smart Village Network Project (SVNP), a €4.9 million cross-border initiative supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), was officially launched at the Guildhall in Derry-Londonderry. The project aims to drive digital innovation, sustainability, and social inclusion across the North West City Region.

Full details - https://www.donegalcoco.ie/en/news/2026/may/smart-village-network-project-officially-launched-at-guildhall/

11/05/2026

We want to wish the Foróige NFTE young entrepreneurs from Donegal the very best of luck at the for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) National Finals on Tuesday 12th May in Croke Park, Dublin.

A total of 24 businesses are through to the National Finals from all over Ireland with Eight of these businesses are from Donegal! This is a testament to the commitment, quality of idea and design these young entrepreneurs have. To represent one third of the National entries is a huge achievement. 👏🏼👏🏼

These young entrepreneurs will pitch their business ideas to a panel of judges in a dragons den style competition in Croke Park. The same format was used during their In-House Competition, the Regional Finals, Semi-Finals and now at our National Finals in Dublin. A huge thank you to the Foróige NFTE Certified entrepreneurship trainers (teachers) and the business mentors and judges in Donegal who commit so much time, energy and passion to supporting these young people in our County each year.

Watch this space! 💚💛

If you would like to know more about the Foróige NFTE Youth Entrepreneurship Programme please contact McLean, NFTE Programme Officer for Donegal, Monaghan, Cavan, NI & Galway ([email protected]
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06/05/2026

The Western Development Commission are hosting, 𝐏𝐥𝐮𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭 an opportunity to hear directly from the people shaping West and Northwest of bringing together founders, , investors and to showcase the energy and ambition emerging across the region.

▪️ Innovation Ecosystem
From the heart of in Market Square, Letterkenny, ALPHA is helping ambitious founders turn big challenges into globally scalable opportunities. 🚀
Our colleague Head of ALPHA Innovation, Kevin Sexton brings a practical, design-thinking approach to business growth, helping entrepreneurs, scaleups, and SMEs test ideas, embrace change, and innovate with confidence.

➡️ If you’re in based in London and curious about how to start or scale in Ireland’s North West,
Plug Into The West, are bringing together Londoners with Irish connections for an evening celebrating the West and North West of Ireland.

📅 May 13th
📍London Irish Centre
🕕 Networking & nibbles from 6pm
✍️Register: https://loom.ly/CUHRSZw

24/04/2026

Donegal County Council is proud to support this year’s Bikes to Africa initiative, delivered in partnership with the Letterkenny Rotary Club and Bryson Recycling. The scheme invites households across Donegal to donate good quality bicycles that can be refurbished and sent to communities in Africa where access to reliable transport can transform opportunities in education, healthcare and employment.
Full details - https://www.donegalcoco.ie/.../from-donegal-to-the.../



Tá bród orainn i gComhairle Contae Dhún na nGall tacú leis an tionscnamh Rothair don Afraic i mbliana, atá á chur i gcrích i gcomhpháirt le Cumann Rotary Leitir Ceanainn agus Bryson Recycling. Faoin scéim, iarrtar ar theaghlaigh agus ar líonta tí ar fud Dhún na nGall rothair ar chaighdeán maith a bhronnadh, rothair ar féidir iad a athchóiriú agus a sheoladh chuig pobail san Afraic mar a dtig le rochtain ar iompar iontaofa athrú ó bhonn a dhéanamh maidir le deiseanna oideachais, cúraim sláinte agus fostaíochta.
Tuilleadh eolais - https://www.donegalcoco.ie/.../from-donegal-to-the.../

Donegal County Council is proud to support this year’s Bikes to Africa initiative, delivered in partnership with the Letterkenny Rotary Club and Bryson Recycling. The scheme invites households across Donegal to donate good quality bicycles that can be refurbished and sent to communities in Africa where access to reliable transport can transform opportunities in education, healthcare and employment.

Full details - https://www.donegalcoco.ie/en/news/2026/april/from-donegal-to-the-gambia-community-donations-driving-education-and-sustainability/



Tá bród orainn i gComhairle Contae Dhún na nGall tacú leis an tionscnamh Rothair don Afraic i mbliana, atá á chur i gcrích i gcomhpháirt le Cumann Rotary Leitir Ceanainn agus Bryson Recycling. Faoin scéim, iarrtar ar theaghlaigh agus ar líonta tí ar fud Dhún na nGall rothair ar chaighdeán maith a bhronnadh, rothair ar féidir iad a athchóiriú agus a sheoladh chuig pobail san Afraic mar a dtig le rochtain ar iompar iontaofa athrú ó bhonn a dhéanamh maidir le deiseanna oideachais, cúraim sláinte agus fostaíochta.

Tuilleadh eolais - https://www.donegalcoco.ie/ga/nuacht/2026/april/from-donegal-to-the-gambia-community-donations-driving-education-and-sustainability/

21/04/2026

Free! Transforming Agri & Seafood Supply Chains 🐟 🐄
Act now if you operate anywhere along the Agri or Seafood supply chain and work with a product or derivative

Are you operating anywhere in the Seafood or Agri sector?
Is there a Product of an Animal Origin (POAO) derivative or ingredient in your supply chain?
Are you faced with a mountain of competing priorities?
Are your operations under pressure?

Donegal 2040 & ALPHA Innovation have a once in a lifetime opportunity that will give your SME the competitive edge …at no cost to you.

Introducing TRACE - a cross-border initiative - who understand your pressures and will work with you to tackle them.



Seafood & Agri Supply Chain businesses are facing increasing operational pressure
Traceability and Compliance requirements are increasing
Waste and Spoilage reduce margins
Operational Issues are often identified too late
Supply chains are Complex and difficult to Monitor
Many SMEs lack the time or technical capacity to explore new technologies

TRACE will help Transform your organisation’s offering, operations, performance, and reduce waste with off-the-shelf tech and quick-win innovations that will give your enterprise an additional competitive edge



Free! 100% funded* support
Hands-on Workshops
Practical guidance on embedding off-the-shelf tech and innovation tools
Focus on measurable return-on-investment
Prioritises low-effort high-impact fixes
‘Sherpa’ visits to your site to support deployment of actions
Builds your own innovation champions equipped with quick-win know-how
Enables you to Improve your offering & growth
Unlocks your ability to deploy and measure impact

Visit: www.Ulster.ac.uk/TRACE
Closes last week in April.
More information: see the Expression of Interest form
Watch the Lunch & Learn video on YouTube
Onboarding Sessions kick off on the 2nd week of June 2026

05/04/2026

Happy EASTER - Wishing you a Joyful and Peaceful Easter. 🐇🐇