Cullen Nurseries was proud to join community leaders, government ministers, and local representatives at the official opening of the Station House – Connected Hub in Hacketstown, Co. Carlow this March. The restoration and transformation of the town’s old fire station into a state-of-the-art enterprise and remote working hub is a landmark project for the region, combining heritage with modern opportunity.
The opening ceremony was led by Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, who praised the vision and collaboration that brought the project to life. Also in attendance were Minister Jennifer Murnane O’Connor TD and local TD Natasha Newsome Drennan, alongside Coilín O’Reilly, Chief Executive of Carlow County Council, and Cllr. Brian O’Donoghue, Cathaoirleach of Tullow Municipal District. Together, they celebrated the Station House Hub as a symbol of rural regeneration and enterprise.
Caitríona Cullen, Managing Director of Cullen Nurseries and a member of the Board of Directors of Carlow Community Enterprise Centres CLG, played a special role in the event. Her involvement reflects both her professional commitment to growing a family business with deep roots in the Carlow community, and her wider dedication to supporting enterprise and opportunity across the county.
Speaking at the launch, Caitríona said:
“As both a business owner and a board member of Carlow Community Enterprise Centres CLG, it was a privilege to be part of this milestone for Hacketstown. The Station House is more than a building – it’s a hub of ideas, collaboration, and new beginnings for people and businesses across our region. At Cullen Nurseries, we know how vital local support and infrastructure are, and this project shows what’s possible when community and enterprise come together.”
Adding to the sense of pride on the day, Cullen Nurseries was honoured to supply the Native Irish Holly tree that now stands proudly as the centrepiece in front of the new Station House. Known for its strength, resilience, and deep cultural symbolism, the holly is a fitting emblem of growth and renewal at the heart of this important community project.
The Station House project was delivered through a partnership between Carlow County Council and Carlow Community Enterprise Centres CLG, with funding of €246,600 provided under the Town & Village Renewal Scheme as part of Project Ireland 2040. The hub now provides flexible office space, training rooms, and high-quality digital infrastructure for local entrepreneurs, start-ups, and remote workers.
The initiative and its importance for rural Ireland were highlighted earlier this year in the Business Post, which featured the Station House as an example of how investment in hubs can reinvigorate towns, create jobs, and support sustainable growth.
For Cullen Nurseries, the event carried special meaning. Our journey from a small family-run nursery to a supplier of native Irish trees and hedging nationwide has been supported at every step by the local enterprise network. Contributing the Native Irish Holly as part of the Station House landscape was a natural extension of our values: sustainability, community, and respect for Ireland’s heritage.
The opening of Station House is not just a milestone for Hacketstown, but also for the wider Carlow region. Cullen Nurseries is proud to be part of this story — continuing to nurture both our landscapes and our communities, and looking forward to seeing the opportunities that this new hub will create for generations to come.
