Company: Eimear.ie
Sector: Communications & Media Training
Hub: The Station House, Rural Innovation Hub, Hackettstown, Carlow

About Eimear.ie

After an extensive career as a journalist and broadcaster, Eimear Ní Bhraonáin launched her own communications firm in 2023. Based in rural Carlow, Eimear.ie offers bilingual communications, media training, and consultancy. Her decision to go independent was driven by a passion for her community and a desire to create a more sustainable career model in an industry under pressure.

Why the Hackettstown Rural Innovation Hub?

Eimear initially worked from hot desks in Carlow town, but as her business grew she needed a professional setting for client meetings and online training. The newly opened Rural Innovation Hub at the Station House in Hackettstown offered the perfect solution:

• Accessibility: Just 10 minutes from home, eliminating the commute.
• Affordability: A professional base with manageable costs for a start-up.
• Facilities: Excellent broadband, private meeting rooms, and space to collaborate with contractors like videographers and PR consultants.
• Heritage with a future: The Station House gave a new lease of life to a historic building while supporting local enterprise.

“It’s lovely to see new life in an old building. For me, the hub is just 10 minutes from home, with excellent facilities and space to grow. I’m grateful that I have the opportunity to grow my business from my native county Carlow, as I have a real pride of place and this is part of my story.” – Eimear Ní Bhraonáin

Productivity, Balance & Growth

Running a consultancy requires focus and flexibility. For Eimear, the hub environment has been key to separating home and work life:

• Productivity: A distraction-free setting for full-day online training sessions with civil servants, as well as one-to-one client work.
• Professional presence: Moving client meetings from cafés to a dedicated office elevated her brand.
• Work–life balance: Proximity to home means she can still collect her child from the school bus, while maintaining a clear boundary between work and family.
• Motivation through structure: Having overheads like rent creates accountability and helps drive business growth.

“For small businesses like mine, hubs are not just about space – they’re about opportunities to grow and connect locally.”

The Power of Community & Networks

Beyond space, the hub has plugged Eimear into a supportive ecosystem:

• Local Enterprise Office (LEO): Mentoring, business advice, and access to networks like Powerhouse Women in Business.
• Events & supports: Talks, workshops, and expert mentors regularly available to hub tenants.
• Peer support: Opportunities to collaborate with other freelancers and small businesses across the Carlow enterprise network.

“There’s lots of advantages to being based in a hub. One of them is it opens doors for you. Here in Carlow we’re linked in with the LEO. You hear about events, supports, and new opportunities. And the staff are so accessible – if they don’t know the answer, they’ll find someone who does.”

Why It Matters

Eimear.ie shows how even a solo founder can thrive when given the right environment. The Station House provides structure, community, and connectivity that simply can’t be replicated working from home. It allows ambitious entrepreneurs in rural Ireland to build sustainable businesses, rooted in their communities, without compromising professionalism.

“My kind of business is very varied. No two weeks are the same. The hub facilities are fantastic for this. I might be delivering online training that has to be interruption free. I could doing in-person one-to-ones where I need a really professional space to bring my clients. Perhaps, most importantly, I have a space where I can be both creative and productive. And I can leave it all behind me when I go home to my family”

✅ Key Takeaway: For solo founders and freelancers, rural hubs provide the structure, credibility, and support network needed to turn passion into a thriving business.