Last updated: May 2026
This privacy policy explains how Rural.ie ("we", "us", "our") collects and uses personal data when you visit rural.ie ("the site"). We're based in Ireland and we comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Irish Data Protection Act 2018.
Who we are
Rural.ie
Ireland
Contact: info@rural.ie
What we collect
We only collect what we need. Specifically:
Things you give us directly
- Name and email if you fill in our contact form or subscribe to our newsletter
- Any message text you include
Things collected automatically
- Anonymised analytics data via Matomo (page views, referring site, approximate country, device type, browser). IP addresses are anonymised before storage.
- Technical data your browser sends: user agent, language, screen size.
We do not use Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, or any cross-site advertising trackers.
Why we collect it and our legal basis
| Data | Purpose | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| Contact form submissions | Replying to your enquiry | Legitimate interest — you initiated contact |
| Newsletter email | Sending the newsletter you asked for | Consent — you can unsubscribe anytime |
| Anonymised analytics | Understanding how the site is used so we can improve it | Legitimate interest (no personal identifiers stored) |
How long we keep it
- Contact form emails: 24 months, then deleted
- Newsletter subscribers: until you unsubscribe
- Analytics: 14 months rolling, then aggregated
Who sees it
Nobody outside Rural.ie sees your data unless we're legally required to share it (court order, Revenue, Gardaí). We don't sell, rent, or trade personal data.
The site runs on webworld.ie hosting (Ireland). Matomo analytics is self-hosted on our own server in Ireland.
Your rights under GDPR
You can ask us to:
- Show you what data we hold about you (subject access request)
- Correct anything that's wrong
- Delete your data ("right to be forgotten")
- Stop processing it
- Export it in a portable format
Email info@rural.ie and we'll respond within 30 days. You also have the right to complain to the Irish Data Protection Commission: www.dataprotection.ie.
Cookies
See our Cookie Notice for the full list. The short version: Matomo uses a first-party cookie to count unique visits. You can opt out in the cookie banner.
Children
The site isn't aimed at children under 16. We don't knowingly collect data from children. If you think we have, contact us and we'll delete it.
Changes
We'll update this page whenever we change how we handle data. The "Last updated" date at the top will change. Material changes will be announced in the site footer for 30 days.
Questions
Email info@rural.ie.