Fergus Cassidy

Backbone

THE roads leading to Brendan Kehoe's house are dotted with signposts to Wexford's past. The lands around contain monuments of what remains like beacons of history.

In Brendan's back garden there is a different beacon. This one is made out of metal, extends 50 feet into the air and is anchored temporarily by guy ropes. The radio antenna is temporary because Brendan hopes to replace the pole with a more sturdy tower structure.

Inside the house at the top of stairs, the hum of the computer cooling fans is only disturbed by 'Skinny' the cat, who is dislodged from her warm perch on the back of a monitor. From the window, the countryside stretches out behind a veil of light rain, before merging gently with a small hill. Brendan has big plans for this hill.

                                    * * *

While having to endure slow connection speeds to the net in cities and towns is bad enough, there is some slim hope that the situation may improve. At least there's talk of such. In rural Ireland there isn't even talk and the people there are being left to their own devices.

Brendan Kehoe knows a lot about devices and he wants to put that knowledge to work. For himself and for anyone who wants to join in. A couple of months ago, he posted a message to IrelandOffline, an active user group set up to campaign for broadband access. He was looking to see if there was anyone else interested in setting up a wireless connection to the internet known as a Wide Area Network.

In basic terms, a WAN such as this, is where a group of people come together to form a network. One broadband connection is established to the internet and this connection is then shared out among the other nodes in the group using wireless technology. Everyone acts as a receiver and a transmitter.

The equipment can be purchased relatively easily for less than Euro500. What makes the WAN so attractive is the very fast connection speed and the end of massive telephone bills.

The response that Brendan got was big and heartening. From all parts of Ireland came 'hello' messages and enquiries about joining up. On 21 September last IrishWAN.org went live on the net. Since then fledgling WAN groups have been set up in Carlow, Cork, Dublin, Limerick, Waterford and Wexford. It's a five year strategy and the goal is to connect these communities until there is a backbone running through Ireland.

Of course it is not as simple as that and the new organisation must face uncharted waters where enthusiasm might not alone be enough. But what they have got is determination and a solid grasp of the technical problems that must be overcome. Like IrelandOffline, IrishWAN have found a collective strength in numbers and pooling of knowledge and resources. All facilitated by the emergence and growth of the world wide web.

These two groups represent the first green shoots of a new and growing movement in this country. They take the idea of eIreland to heart and are prepared to participate and fight to make that a reality. It's not without a funny side and faced with certain situations, sometimes laughter is the only option.

They are not prepared to just take whatever is given or thrown at them but would rather instead use their heads and the net to come up with solutions. 'Get stuck in, not give in' would seem to be the motto.

IrishWAN is not the generation of mass emigration and corrupt politics. They are not bogged down with big disappointments and even bigger mortgages. And they have the internet.

Brendan Kehoe is a self-taught technologist. Inspired by a visit to the Kennedy Space Centre when he was five years old, his fascination with space expanded into technology. When he was 11 he got his first computer and a year later he set up a web site in the Raheen national school. The following year he built his own computer and wired up the school network in New Ross.

He has set up networks for companies in the Wexford area including a big multinational and he also hosts over 20 web sites on servers in the United States. He is not a geek or a nerd or any other of the smug or derogatory stereotypes beloved of those who misunderstand the influence and role of technology in society.

That hill behind his house is important because he wants to put a small aerial there. Hopefully the signal will form a link in a chain out of Wexford and on to Waterford. He is keen to stress that he is not the leader or driving force behind IrishWAN. His role is to get the Wexford node up and running and he is always willing to answer technical questions if he possibly can.

He is very committed to the community concept and understands that the WAN will only work if each person connected has an equal role to play. His view is based on the technology used rather than any idealistic notion.

Brendan has recently blown the candles from his 16th birthday cake. If he has any say in the matter, his 21st will probably be a live video conference with family and friends around the world. If IrishWAN is successful he'll have a lot more of those.

                                    * * *

The night has blocked all views of aerials and hills. Peter, Brendan's father, breaks the conversation with another kind offering of tea for the journey.

Go wan, go wan, go wan.

---------------------------------------------------------------
LINKS

IrishWAN.org
Organising site and forum for linking wireless network communities in Ireland

SOURCE LIST
Broad range of information sources covering wide and local networking