Almost 3,700 Cork Homes and Businesses Near Skibbereen Can Now Connect to High-Speed Fibre Broadband

National Broadband Ireland has announced that almost 3,700 premises in the Skibbereen deployment area can now connect to the State's new fibre broadband network, with minimum speeds of 500 megabits per second available to homes, farms and businesses across West Cork.

The rollout covers Skibbereen and its rural surrounds, including the townlands of Aghadown and Castlehaven, as part of the National Broadband Plan's €314 million investment in Cork County. Residents are being encouraged to visit nbi.ie and enter their Eircode to check if their premises is ready to connect.

Across Cork, a total of 58,687 premises can now pre-order or order high-speed fibre broadband through the network, with 17,914 connections already made. Works have been completed in the rural areas surrounding Clonakilty, Eyeries, Kinsale and Meelin, with construction ongoing near Grenagh for over 6,500 premises expected to connect by the end of 2026.

TJ Malone, Chief Executive Officer at National Broadband Ireland, said:

"We are delighted to announce that almost 3,700 Cork premises in the Skibbereen deployment area can now order high-speed broadband services through the NBI network. This will enable those who connect to experience the life-changing benefits of high-speed broadband with minimum speeds of 500 megabits per second."

The National Broadband Plan represents the biggest investment in rural Ireland since rural electrification, with 82,000 Cork premises included in the State's intervention area. Nationally, NBI has passed over 439,000 homes, farms and businesses, with over 158,000 now connected and an average take-up rate of 35 per cent.

NBI operates as a wholesale network provider, with 72 retail service providers signed up to sell services on the network and 66 currently certified to provide connections. A full list of licensed providers is available at nbi.ie.

The plan also includes Broadband Connection Points providing free public access to high-speed internet at locations including sports clubs, community centres and tourist sites. Cork venues such as Castletownkenneigh Community Centre and Ionadh Áise in Renaniree are among the 955 live connection points nationwide.