Galway Roscommon Education & Training Board

Business Objectives

The Galway Roscommon Education & Training Board needed to modernise network infrastructure across three post-primary schools on the Aran Islands, ensuring reliable connectivity to support digital learning, online collaboration and BYOD initiatives. The organisation also sought greater visibility and control over its network environment while reducing operational challenges associated with managing remote locations.

Solutions deployed

  • ‍Reliable connectivity for modern learning
    Delivered high-speed Wi-Fi and wireless bridging to provide consistent, resilient connectivity across the schools, supporting day-to-day teaching and digital learning activities.
  • Centralised cloud-based management
    Implemented Cisco Meraki Cloud Managed Networking, enabling GRETB to monitor, manage and optimise network performance remotely through a single dashboard. ‍
  • Enhanced security and network visibility
    Introduced next-generation security capabilities and detailed network analytics, providing greater control, improved access management and valuable insights for future planning

The Challenge:

For the teachers and pupils at the three post-primary, Irish-language schools on the Aran Islands, their day-to-day digital learning and access to online resources, had become virtually impossible due to the frustratingly unreliable network connections. A situation exacerbated by the creaking physical infrastructure and weather-related delays for IT support visits from the mainland. 

For our client GRETB (Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board), concern had been growing about the almost daily calls to their IT Helpdesk, not helped by the lack of data visibility and insights into the schools’ networks. eir business stepped in with a solution from Cisco, that would enable GRETB to deploy a centralised orchestration and management system, thus transforming the resilience and efficiency of their network infrastructure across the three islands’ schools.  

John O’Donnell, GRETB; 

"The Meraki Cloud solution has transformed how we manage networking across our most remote school locations. Despite the logistical challenges of the Aran Islands, we now have seamless, secure and high-performance connectivity that supports both students and teachers."   

When it came to managing their AranIslands’ schools’ networks, GRETB faced other challenges - not just the remoteness of the locations - including;

  • Infrastructure Limitations where physical cabling was not a viable option.
  • Reliable and high-speed Wi-Fi connectivity was essential for daily digital learning, online collaboration and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies. 
  • Secure Access for students, teachers and principals was key.
  • Data & Network Visibility was virtually non-existent for GRETB. 

After a comprehensive evaluation undertaken by eir business’ team of Cisco Certified Internetwork Experts, it was decided that an advanced networking solution was needed to properly manage the infrastructure for the three schools. But before the new system could be deployed, eir business engineers needed to prepare the three island sites in advance.  

The task would involve complicated logistics around transporting equipment and personnel back and forth to the three islands, factoring-in ferry and ‘plane crossings, schools’ timetables and of course, the notoriously unpredictable Atlantic weather-systems.    

The Solution:  

Sean McMahon, eir business; 

‍“The project involved a complete and comprehensive refresh of the school’s networking infrastructure — replacing all cabling, hardware housings, and related network equipment. Every piece of networking infrastructure was modernised.”   

The Meraki solution would include; 

  • ‍HD Wi-Fi coverage
  • Wirelessbridging
  • Next generation security and comprehensive data insights - the latter of particular importance to GRETB, where the Merak  iDashboard would provide granular visibility into the schools’ network and application usage, to better plan for any additional requirements that may arise.

The Result:  

For the principals, teachers and pupils on the three Aran Islands’ schools, eir evo’s implementation of the Meraki Cloud Managed Networking has been a game - changer, enhancing every aspect of their schools’ day-to-day life.   

The consistency of service means teachers are now better able to plan class-schedules, teacher-allocation and be confident in carrying out curriculum-based online events. Plus, there’s the peace-of-mind in knowing that their new network infrastructure won’t let them down when it matters most.  

Key improvements delivered for the islands’ schools 

  • Reliable & Scalable Connectivity: High-speed wireless bridging, ensuring seamless communication between school buildings
  • Enhanced Digital Learning: Secure, high-quality Wi-Fi that enables a BYOD-environment and uninterrupted online collaboration
  • Improved Security & Compliance: Advanced security features providing better access control and threat mitigation.  

Significant operational improvements for GRETB HQ in Athenry 

  • Simplified IT Management: Centralised, cloud-based management, reducing the need for on-site visits and greatly improving operational efficiency. 
  • Data-Driven Network Optimisation: Network analytics that empower GRETB to optimise resource allocation and enhance IT planning. 

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The last word:

John O’Donnell, GRETB;

“eir business were strategically placed, with their engineers and dedicated service-delivery teams, to ensure a seamless rollout. In fact, the success of the Aran Islands’ deployment has encouraged our adoption of Meraki solutions in multiple school locations across Galway and Roscommon.