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The Fumbally complex, where the Exchange initiative is based

Column 'I never forgot that feeling of being part of a team'

It’s not difficult giving small businesses a chance – and I’m helping them get started for €55 a week, writes George Boyle of the Fumbally Exchange.

FOR 15 YEARS until last April, I was a busy architect in one of Ireland’s best-known practices, doing a grown-up job, well-respected, well-rewarded. I enjoyed my work, earned my stripes, started a family, bought a house. Then everything collapsed.

When the company my husband and I worked for was liquidated in April 2010, we had two children, a complicated mortgage burden demanding a cool sum monthly and no hope of getting a job in the most devastated profession of the Irish recession. We had to act fast.

We had limited choices, as many people reading will well know. We could emigrate. We could change direction, try to find work in another sector. We could change skills, borrow money, re-educate ourselves while enduring the dragging pain of those monthly plunders. Oh, scratch that last one – we could certainly not borrow money.

When I was young, I played in an orchestra. It is something I would recommend every person should experience at least once in their lives – don a penguin suit, zip lip, empty your mind and sit. Just listen. To sit and listen to dozens of players, directed under that lightest of wands, capture the sound of a million souls soaring together. Each player is a wannabe virtuoso, capable of creating poetry with strings and tubes and metal and wood. But together, they have this capacity to set prickles rising, as hairs stand up, in the service of a common direction. This is a miraculous occurrence. I never forgot that feeling of being part of a team that had one voice, and could create such inspirational moments from nothing more than air, wood, strings and tin. Through the breath in their lungs and the sweep of their arms.

So when I founded the Fumbally Exchange off Dublin’s Clanbrassil Street in May 2010, it was that conviction – that something can be made of nothing – that inspired me.

More than just desks

At its simplest, the Exchange is an open, creative place where people can come to work, to share ideas, to test a new business or breathe life into a struggling one in a sympathetic, flexible and – critically – affordable environment. Anybody with the right ideas can rent a fully-serviced desk for just €55 a week, including utilities, security charges and rates. The space is professional in atmosphere -  an open-plan office, design-ready, sharing meeting, printing, layout, broadband and communication facilities among like-minded people in a state-of-the-art commercial building.

But FEx set out to reach beyond this simple concept of a desk in a space. To become a more inspiring vehicle for change, reinvention and revolution. To build on the evidence of tested theories, practice and precedent – and inject a real, reckonable stimulus into a flagging economy.

It was not difficult to find a community of people in similar circumstances to myself – prepared to take measured risks and make commitments to change. By clustering together, brainstorming, turning over the furrow in search of opportunity, we started a movement towards measurable, modest recovery.

A year on, more than 40 businesses participate or work from Fumbally Exchange, with many more contributing to the local so-called ‘Coombe Crucible’ area. It has registered a palpable lift on the bottom line of local business, and attracted a number of more established ventures to the area, ready to cite the Fumbally Exchange as part of the magnetism that drew them into the locality. It is driving a project to allocate this part of the city, in the heart of the Liberties, as Dublin’s Creative Quarter. It is humble, but for what we need – so far – it is enough.

From earliest times, be they Egyptian, Roman, Greek, the Renaissance or Silicon Valley, great shifts in social structure have been born in the presence of – many say because of – little hives of creative clusters, buzzing about on their own business, gathering dust and making honey. There is scientific proof of it. Urbanists, economists and social theorists – Charles Landry, Richard Florida and our own Paul Kearns – write eloquently about it. There are complex academic statistical charts to explain it.

Many optimistic opinions have been published in recent times. Some are rather low on the reality check, on suggestions, or on proven, recorded ideas for what can be done to loosen the noose that has a stranglehold on the flow of trade and ‘money momentum’. In the real cold light of day, even ‘Is Féidir Linn’ can feel hollow, a wisp, full of empty promise.

Dizzy indulgence

But in Ireland, we have been through an amazing educational period of growth and dizzy indulgence. This formed strong bonds, decanting a richness of experience and wisdom into – and these are world-acknowledged facts – our already smart, clued-in, media-savvy, socially sophisticated, opportunity-literate, innovative Irish brains. If every person took their dream, the bravest thing they ever wanted to do – start their own business, write that story, open a school, make computers from papier maché – and acted on it, we would make this country a quick and sure contender for respect, investment and potential debt forgiveness. Or debt abolition through economic growth.

It is, however, difficult to imagine doing something like this when you are on your own. So we say, come together. Together we are strong, we can support each other. Fumbally Exchange may be a humble, derivative idea, but it works. It needs only a suitable site and an enthusiastic group of positive, experienced or emerging entrepreneurs who are willing to get to work. It also requires the investment of an enlightened landlord, ready to recognise the many benefits and securities of a small outlay, a very minor effort to support the innovation.

In an environment like we have made, we can forge agreements and form lease vehicles. We can foster operations, events and programmes to underwrite even the most tentative venture with the requisite services, guidance and mentorship. We can offer flexible terms of occupancy to permit the test some space and time to grow.  If the ingredients are right, it can be a catalyst for resurgence – and be fully exportable across the nation.

As businesses here grow, it is planned that they will move forward into their own premises, giving up the easy-in/easy-out rental for more traditional lease arrangements. So far there is lots of growth – but the atmosphere is contagious, and few are ready to leave just yet. We have even had some returns. We are now commencing work on the ‘Fumbally Fledge’ to accommodate crews of up to five people, fitted out in similar fashion and ready to work on a similarly flexible principle.

Now is not the time for idle whining or for putrefying paralysis. We are not making music together right now – but there will be a time for that, and it will be soon. We are still trying to reach the shore, but we have it in our sights. Strike out! We are the future, remember that? We can do it, because we are doing it. We are making work. Together.

George Boyle founded Fumbally Exchange in 2010 along with georgeboyledesigns, an architectural practice with a penchant for strategic planning and vision building. She was associate director with Murray O’Laoire Architects for 15 years, and plays cello, piano and Irish and pedal harp. For more, see fumballyexchange.com and georgeboyledesigns.com.

Fumbally Exchange will be officially launched by Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore at 9am on Wednesday 29 June in Fumbally Square, Fumbally Lane, Dublin 8 with guest speakers Kieran Rose of Dublin City Council and Paul Rowley of Rockland GAA, New York.

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11 Comments
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    Mute P Quinn
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    Jan 17th 2019, 6:34 AM

    This is what happens when you rush reforms. Wait until Juniour Cycle is fully operational – then there will be chaos. Reform should have started with bringing an element of project work at Leaving Cert. Now we have students doing a Junior Cycle that ill-prepares them for Leaving Cert

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    Mute Bruce van der Gutschmitzer
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    Jan 17th 2019, 6:45 AM

    @P Quinn: Ricard bruton will go down as one of the worst ministers for education ever. Teachers still don’t know how to implement the new Junior cycle and the ones training them in don’t know what they’re doing either. All to fudge the numbers to look good internationally. FG are a crowd of con artists.

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    Mute minorproblem
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    Jan 17th 2019, 7:23 AM

    The points race here is the problem not necessarily the lc or jc courses.. that’s where the pressure is coming from!

    I think some small adjustments to syllabus would help but largely it’s the whole cao system that the pressure is coming from. That’s what needs looking at here

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    Mute P Quinn
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    Jan 17th 2019, 7:33 AM

    @Bruce van der Gutschmitzer: totally agree. I actually don’t think the wider public are aware of what changes have taken place at JC. There is now only higher and ordinary level options in English, Irish and maths. Everything else is a common level paper. It’s forcing all students towards the middle and then they have to go onto LC. Bruton was a disgrace as minister, all initiatives and bluster.

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    Mute Bruce van der Gutschmitzer
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    Jan 17th 2019, 8:32 AM

    @P Quinn: 100% idiot. He’s a slithery shnake that helped and is helping suck the lifeblood out of teaching. He even looks like a chameleon.

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    Mute Deborah Blacoe
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    Jan 17th 2019, 8:52 AM

    @Bruce van der Gutschmitzer: I take it that you don’t like Mr Bruton? Perhaps you should use more reasoned argument to make your point rather than resorting to such a venomous attack. (No pun intended.)

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    Mute Bruce van der Gutschmitzer
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    Jan 17th 2019, 9:03 AM

    @Deborah Blacoe: I’ve no problem calling him that. I’m sure many others would too. FG have a policy of draining resources from education and then coming up with hairbrain ideas to counteract this to appear we are performing well internationally. Like health, housing and most things, education is crumbling.

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    Mute Bruce van der Gutschmitzer
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    Jan 17th 2019, 9:10 AM

    @Deborah Blacoe: a more reasoned argument-we have the worst investment in early education in Europe. Our class sizes are the highest in Western Europe. Less than 11% of our budget goes towards it compared to 13-16%, the European average. Pay parity has not been restored and teachers are continuing to leave for better opportunities. Less ppl are taking up teaching courses. We already have a huge skills gap and can’t fill positions in secondary and this will continue to get worse if investment isn’t increased dramatically.

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    Mute Deborah Blacoe
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    Jan 17th 2019, 9:49 AM

    @Bruce van der Gutschmitzer: Excellent reasoning skills! 10/10. Go to the top of the class. Sorry for that, couldn’t help myself. I hear you loud and clear. And I don’t disagree. I wonder what happens to politicians between when they start out on their political career and when they reach the dizzy heights of government? The political life appears to be the best learning ground for subterfuge and the most unwelcome forms of compromise. Mr Bruton was the first politician I voted for over 40 years ago. Both he and George Birmingham (now Justice Birmingham) were the bright lights in our constituency. I was never a ‘party’ person. My vote has always been a considered one, but I took an interest in Mr Bruton’s career. That bright star has dimmed a little. Such is life.

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    Mute Bruce van der Gutschmitzer
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    Jan 17th 2019, 10:56 AM

    @Deborah Blacoe: there was no offence taken, don’t worry. Agree 100%. Politics is a cesspit that would turn the most righteous of ppl into the biggest of mé féiners. I’d be aligned with the Russell Brand strand of politics and just scrapping the whole system and starting again after the failure that was Anglo being allowed to fail in the manner that it did. I just don’t trust most ppl that go into politics so quick without getting a rounded scope and view of the world. He just comes across as a careerist politician. Coming out with the shcuther that Ireland will be the best education system in Europe in 10 years when he has no plans to invest properly and implementing a new syllabus that has been proven to have failed but he decides to push on anyway because it looks progressive. We now have children who are less prepared for the leaving cert and will be under more stress compared to those before them. I anticipate that there will be higher suicide rate among leaving certs next year. That’s why I despise the guy. It’s all about optics.

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    Mute Deborah Blacoe
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    Jan 17th 2019, 11:24 AM

    @Bruce van der Gutschmitzer: the biggest problems with the current education system are that 1) it is outdated and 2) it is geared for winning points. The academic subjects introduced so far back in time, when the industrial revolution was happening across Europe, are the ones which earn most credibility. This path should no longer be followed exclusively. The development of the ‘whole’ child is imperative towards maximizing skills and options. Otherwise it will be a system which will increasingly polarize goals and waste the opportunity to nurture a cross section of abilities. The level of merit awarded to academic success by society has to change. Only then can we achieve the diversity necessary in our education system in order to fuel a changing workplace.

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    Mute sean o'dhubhghaill
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    Jan 17th 2019, 2:48 PM

    @P Quinn: Do you want some really bad news? If the present ‘reforms’ are deemed to be ‘successful’ there is a further plan to have completely common papers for JC English, Maths and Irish. So, never mind Foundation, there will be no Higher or Ordinary any more.

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    Mute P Quinn
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    Jan 17th 2019, 7:39 PM

    @sean o’dhubhghaill: that’s absolutely disgraceful and completely irresponsible

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    Mute CarlAnne Greene
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    Jan 17th 2019, 8:20 AM

    It’s called ‘dumbing down’ so everyone passes. While I agree we should be encouraging our youth, it’s another example of nanny state.

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    Mute Barry Zuckerkorn
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    Jan 17th 2019, 7:46 AM

    Both Micky mouse exams when it comes down it

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    Mute Gerard McDermott
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    Jan 17th 2019, 9:47 AM

    @Barry Zuckerkorn: They might be Mickey Mouse to you, but they are very important to those students that are sitting them, and cause many of them a lot of stress.

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    Mute Jason Byrne
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    Jan 17th 2019, 12:54 PM

    It’s mainly due to the increase in points needed for most basic courses in decent universities and colleges .
    Considering the maximum amount of points you can get for an ordinary subject is 56
    Taking basically everything in higher is the only option you have if you want a decent course.

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    Mute Gerard McDermott
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    Jan 17th 2019, 1:08 PM

    @Jason Byrne: For the most part, the points required is set by the students that get offered a place. If a course has 100 places and is filled on the first round, then the student with the 100th best points score will set the points – the last student to be offered a place in round 1!

    The problem is, as subject reform occurs, subjects often get easier. This allows the more able student to get more points, and points for courses go up.

    In certain instances, the Universities can cap the points level for a course.

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