Dundalk, Ireland
Proposal for OOoCon 2008
Key Question
In 400 words or less, answer this question: Why is your location and the date you propose the best for OOoCon 2008?
Ireland is the second largest exporter of software in the world and as such is the ideal place to host OOoCon 2008. Not only will you be assured of Ireland's famous 'Cead Mile Failte' (translates literally as 'One hundred thousand welcomes') you will also have excellent conference facilities and huge local support from both the local open source community, patrons and the Irish Government.
Louth is ideally placed to showcase the economic potential of peace and political stability on the island of Ireland as it is situated on the border with Northern Ireland. Both Northern Ireland (UK) and the Republic of Ireland are represented by this bid and if selected the conference will further help to replace past hostilities with a strong sense of community.
This bid has support from many of the Open Source Community groups on the island of Ireland (Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland) as well as the Irish Government, DKIT (University) and commercial industry in Ireland (see below).
Mandatory Information
Location (country, city, conference center/university)
Maps: Ireland (North & South); Louth, Ireland; Dundalk Institute of Technology.
Louth is located 25 mins from Dublin Airport and situated half way between Dublin-Belfast. It is serviced by some of the best Motorway, Bus, Rail and Air Transport on the Island including:
- Airports: Dublin 25 minutes, Belfast less than 90 minutes
- The main M1 Motorway connects Louth directly to Dublin and Belfast
- Louth is serviced by commuter trains and Ireland's only high speed train service (the enterprise)
- Louth is serviced by the national bus company as well as at least 4 other private bus services
Part of Ireland’s magnetic attraction as a business tourism destination is thanks to its excellent facilities. Dundalk Institute of Technology offers excellent facilities for the conference including:
- Faulkner Building - A Multi-Purpose Centre in the Faulkner Building can accommodate up to 900 persons in an audience style arrangement.
- Dr. T.K. Whitaker Lecture Theatre - This 275-seat auditorium has full audio visual capabilities
- Lecture Rooms and Side Conference Rooms of Various Sizes
- Excellent Catering Facilities
- The Bright Room is an on-campus high definition post production facility which is ideal for all the media needs of the conference
Proposed Date(s)
We can accommodate a number of dates from August - November but have suggested 2 possible dates here:
- Wed 3rd September - Saturday 6th September 2008
- Wed 29th October - Saturday 1st November
- Others Possible
Team Lead (main contact person)
Team Lead: Graham O'Rourke
Team Members
- Graham O'Rourke (Team Lead)
- Con Hennesy - OpenApp (OpenOffice Vendor and former OO Community Council Person)
- Brian Cleland, Chair OpenIsland (Open Source Community Body – an associate of OpenForum Europe)
- Paul McCormack, NETC - Software Cluster (Software Community)
- Paul Browne - First Partners / Red Hat sub contractor / Irish Java Users Group (Software Community)
- Denise Fay - OpenApp (OpenOffice Vendor, OpenOffice Contributor)
- Johnny Wallace, Chair of Open-NI (Northern Ireland Open Source Community Body)
- Irene McCausland, DKIT (University Sector)
- Glenn Strong - Irish Free Software Organisation (Free Software Community Body - an associate of FSFE)
- Peter Mee, Midas MultiMedia (Media Sector)
- Chamber of Commerce (Business Community)
Local events that are taking place in parallel (or right before/after)
No information supplied
Special visa or entry requirements, e.g. vaccinations
EU citizens do NOT normally require a visa to enter Ireland.
Also many Western Countries do not require a visa to enter Ireland these include: USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Africa and others. A full explanation of this given on the Department of Foreign Affairs Website.
Optional Information
Large local OpenOffice.org deployments (for user keynotes and success stories)
One of the Government Institutions have rolled out OpenOffice to over 600 users and may be prepared to give a Public Sector view at the conference.
Names of local OpenOffice.org developers (for developer sessions)
No information supplied
Names of local OpenOffice.org vendors/partners (potential sponsors)
Ireland is the 2nd largest exporter of software in the world and many of the world's large software corporations having a European Headquarters or significant presence in Ireland including Google, Sun Microsystems, IBM, Microsoft, Iona, PayPal, SugarCRM and others.
OOoCon 2008 Ireland would have an opportunity to call on speakers from both Government, Education and Industry sources to raise the profile of OpenOffice and promote it's use on the island of Ireland.
Names of local OpenOffice.org vendors and potential sponsors:
- IBM
- Sun
- Horizon Open Systems
- SugarCRM
- OpenApp
- MOR Solutions
- InterTradeIreland (North-South Government Body)
- Tourism Ireland (North-South Government Body)
- Irish Government (various Departments)
- Failte Ireland (Tourism and Conference Body)
- Louth Local Authorities (local Government)
Travel costs
Both Dublin and Belfast Airports are well serviced by many low cost airlines including Ryanair, Aer Lingus, BMI, German Wings, Jet2 and EasyJet among others. Note: Prices quoted below are examples only. All prices were correct as of January 2008, exclude airport charges and are for Dublin Airport.
- London from 50p each way with Ryanair
- Paris from 14.99 Euro each way with Ryanair
- Rome from 34.99 Euro each way with Ryanair
- Beijing from 450 Euro each way with British Airways
- Sydney from AUS$999 each way with Virgin
- New York from US$300 each way with Aer Lingus
- Hamburg from 19 Euro each way with Aerlingus
- San Francisco US$415 each way with Aer Lingus
- Cape Town US$1300 return with SA Airways
- Tokyo US$1957 return with KLM
- Dublin (Bus from 4.50 Euro and Train from 15 Euro)
- Belfast (Bus from £10 and Train from £25)
Accomodation costs (youth hostel, hotel)
- Hostel rates from 18 euro per night
- 3 Star Hotels from 35 euro pps per night including breakfast
- 4 Star Hotels from 45 euro pps per night including breakfast
Services and Accommodation: We have also secured discounts with many of the Louth Hospitality providers including hostel, Bed and Breakast and 4 star hotel accommodation.
Supplementary Information
The Call for Location states: user feedback from previous conferences suggest that the ideal location will:
- have a strong local OpenOffice.org community
- attract strong sponsor support
- have a low-cost/free conference centre with conference venues close together
- have facilities where people can pass the time, socialise, and mingle with other conference delegates close to the conference building(s)
- have a range of low-cost accomodation with easy/cheap transport to the conference location
- attract the largest number of community contributers
- facilitate the attendance of a large number of Sun's OpenOffice.org developers (who are in Hamburg, Germany)
- be accessible by cheap flight and train tickets
- be aligned with a large IT event (e.g. CeBIT, Systems, Comdex)
- provide low-cost broadband Internet access (e.g. wireless LAN in the rooms)
- allow for video and audio streaming (e.g. via the support of a company)
Government support
The Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Dermot Ahern T.D., has agreed to support the bid for OOoCon 2008 in Louth, Ireland and I have attached a letter of his willingness to proactively support the conference.
The Minister said, I am delighted to support this important event in the global open source calendar. Recent events in global markets underline the need for all types of businesses and organisations to ensure their competitiveness and the open standards and technical innovation promoted by events such as OOoCon are a key strategy in this area. I would be delighted and honoured to open this event should Ireland's bid be successful. As one of the largest software exporters in the world, it is appropriate that we share both our expertise and our famous Irish hospitality with the open source software community from around the world at this conference.
The location of the conference (Louth is on the border with Northern Ireland) is also of huge importance and support for the conference has been organised on a cross-border basis.
The Minister added, As a border county, Louth is ideally placed to showcase the economic potential of peace and political stability on our island.
Social
At the end of a long working day, clocking off comes as a welcome relief and nobody on the planet knows how to work hard and play hard like the Irish!
We have a number of once in a life time entertainment options available to OOoCon attendees:
- Conference Celebrations in Slane Castle - Depending on availability we hope to provide Slane Castle as the backdrop for an evenings entertainment to open or close the conference. This wonderful 17th century castle is where U2 famously recorded 'The Unforgettable Fire' album. U2, Thin Lizzy, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Bob Dylan and others have since played in it's historic Grounds.
- Medieval Drogheda - The town of Drogheda will provide a range of traditional music, pubs, clubs and restaurants to socialise, relax and unwind after each day of the conference
- Adventure Sports - For those of a more active nature a range of outdoor activities including sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, rock climbing and abseiling will be provided at discounted rates from http://www.carlingfordadventure.com.
For a small country, Ireland has an incredible variety of scenery. As an island on the edge of Europe we have a fascinating history that stretches back over 8,000 years. Louth (just 25 minutes from Dublin Airport) is Ireland's smallest county with some of the most amazing history and heritage including
- Medieval Drogheda
- Access to Carlingford Lough and the Mourne Mountains (an Area of Outstanding Beauty)
- The Medieval and Norman Heritage Town of Carlingford which over looks the Mourne Mountains
- The Boyne Valley that leads to Newgrange (A UNESCO World Heritage Site), Slane Castle and the Ancient Hill of Tara where past Kings of Ireland were crowned
- Tours of Belfast will also be available to ensure the hospitality of all of the island of Ireland is available to those staying a little longer
Broadband Internet access
Free WiFi / Broadband access will be available in all Campus meeting facilities, Hostels and Hotels.
Attachments
A letter of support from the Irish Government Minister for Foreign Affairs for the conference
.