An innovative tech incubator space, called the Hatch Lab, has opened its doors in Gorey, Co. Wexford. Here we talk to its manager, John O’Connor.
The Hatch Lab’s aim is to act as a beacon, to attract and anchor some of the talented ICT and financial professionals who commute daily to Dublin, in large numbers. It’s a joint venture backed by Wexford County Council, Bank of Ireland and Redmond Builders – with experienced enterprise manager John O’Connor, at the helm.
O’Connor’s role is as a catalyst, sharing his experience, knowledge and facilitating the background culture, required to best assist new and prospective tech start-ups, for the socio-economic benefit of north Wexford. Here he outlines what he has learned along the way; from growing up in rural Cork; to development work in Africa; and his on-going enterprise work with both the Enniscorthy Enterprise and Technology Centre in Enniscorthy – and the Hatch Lab in Gorey.
The early years
I grew up just outside Mallow where my Dad was a very successful greyhound breeder and trainer. He is recorded in the ‘Guinness Book of Records’ for winning the English Derby twice, along with the Welsh and Scottish Derby. At school, I had an aptitude for maths, which proved useful at the greyhound track, when calculating the odds on doubles, accumulators and cross-doubles. I could also see very quickly how gambling didn’t work and that the ‘house’ never loses. I subsequently developed an interest in shares and investments, and I can remember selling oil shares on the Friday just before ‘Black Monday’, back in 1987.
“We have a purpose-built 36,000 sq. ft. building with 54 desks spaces.”
What intrigued me most about shares was that, they had the potential to grow and if not, allowed the possibility to get your money back. This interest and passion encouraged me to
