Efforts are under way to try encourage more people to live, work and learn in the Midlands.
Encompassing the counties of Laois, Offaly, Longford and Westmeath, it is one of Ireland's youngest and fastest growing regions with a population of over 320,000 people.
'Midlands Ireland' which works to promote development in the region, has organised a showcase in Athlone today, bringing together the region's businesses, educators, communities and innovators.
Midlands-based companies including Abbott Ireland, Ericsson, Mersus Technologies and TAPiTAG will be at the event while local enterprise offices will be on site to supply information on supports available for start-ups and existing businesses in the region.
The study showcase area will allow attendees engage with third-level colleges such as Technological University of the Shannon, Athlone.
The Midlands regions’ Education and Training Boards will be showcasing apprenticeship upskilling and reskilling opportunities for all ages, along with ESB, ReSHAPE and Midlands Skills.
There will also be a specialised demo area with STEM officers and Microsoft on hand.
Panel discussions on topics such as Just Transition, Investing in the Midlands, STEM Education, Expanding into Tourism, Supporting Business, Creating Clusters and Collectives, Re-skilling, Sustainability, Organic Food, and Regenerative Tourism will also take place.
The Showcase will also draw attention to the arts, heritage and must-see attractions in the region.
The Midlands is also home to some of Ireland's biggest events including Electric Picnic and the Ploughing Championships.
From the minute we arrived, we felt welcome - chef
For Sam Moody, re-locating to the Midlands has been "a good decision". Having worked in several Michelin star restaurants and earning one in his own right, the British-born chef now runs Bramley restaurant in Abbeyleix with his wife Emily.
"So Emily and I moved to the Midlands in 2017. There was an opportunity to be head chef at Ballyfin Demense and we just got married, and it was time for an adventure," he said.
Mr Moody is one of over 320,000 people who call the Midlands home. It's one of the fastest growing regions in the country, and also the youngest, with 50% of people under 35.
"I love it here. You know the cliche, the people make it but they are really lovely.
"From the minute we arrived, we were made to feel really welcome and part of the community," he said.
Originally from south London, Mr Moody spent a lot of time living in places across the UK, before re-locating to Ireland.
"I spent a lot of a long time in the southwest of England where the community was stronger, maybe than in the southeast and so I felt quite at home quite quickly," he added.
Since moving here eight years ago, life has changed. The couple now have three children and Mr Moody has left Ballyfin Demense and opened up a restaurant in Abbeyleix called Bramley.
"You have the space to both be commercially successful and independent," he said.
"We're not tied to this restaurant. We don't have to work 70 or 80 hours a week to make it work, so there's a better work-life balance," he said.
Reflecting on life in the Midlands, he said the pace of life is slower: "It's very relaxed and slow, which is a nice change."
"There are challenges in finding childcare but everybody's in the same boat, so there's a community around that and finding someone to help has been quite easy," he explained.
Would he encourage people to look at setting up a business in the Midlands?
"Yes. I think there's loads of opportunities. It's exciting. I mean, just look at the amount of restaurants that are opening here. There's a lot [of] forward momentum," he added.
