Kilkenny County Council has announced the launch of free public Wi-Fi in multiple parts of County Kilkenny. The initiative is part of the WiFi4EU program, which aims to provide free Wi-Fi access in public spaces across Europe as part of the European Commission’s efforts to bring communities more closely into the Digital Single Market.
The European Commission part funded the scheme with the Department of Rural & Community Development via vouchers to be used for the installation of a public Wi-Fi network. Each voucher was worth €15,000, and Kilkenny was allocated a maximum of 4 vouchers. The funding paid for the equipment and installation, while the Local Authority pays the internet connection fees and running costs.
The initiative is part of the WiFi4EU program, which was open to all EU member countries. There were some requirements to be adhered to for the vouchers to be paid, including installation completion times and the scheme should run for a minimum of 3 years.
Free public Wi-Fi is now available in Kilkenny City, Callan, Thomastown, Castlecomer, Urlingford, and Graiguenamanagh. Users can access the service by selecting the WIFI4EU network name in the WIFI connections settings on their electronic device, with no registration or password required to use it.
Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council, Cllr. Pat Fitzpatrick, said, “Connectivity is no longer a luxury, it’s a necessity. With the launch of free WiFi across Kilkenny City and County, we’re bridging the gap and empowering our community to stay connected, informed, and inspired”.
