Audio versions of the articles from our news feed. en-gb https://beyondwords.io https://spkt.io/f/43/22/read_b83c9893b45b72c361c96d76aca88c04 https://beyondwordsneproduction.blob.core.windows.net/production/distribution_images%2Fdistribution%2F22%2FITN-Logo_RGB.jpg Irish Tech News info@irishtechnews.ie false episodic Irish Tech News Mon, 06 Apr 2026 19:07:44 +0000 40e5e0d5-5174-4bdf-ab6d-b8fc04cf1b38 There is a recent analysis on Forbes, A $6 Million Jury Verdict Ruled Social Media Is Addictive. Now What?, stating that, "On March 25, a Los Angeles jury delivered a verdict that Silicon Valley had spent years and hundreds of millions of dollars fighting to prevent."
"After more than 40 hours of deliberations spread across nine days — including live testimony from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri — the jury found that Meta and Google's YouTube had been negligent in the design of their platforms, and that this negligence was a substantial factor in harming a young woman identified in court as KGM, or "Kaley.""
New uses for Theoretical Neuroimaging?
"The jury awarded her $3 million in compensatory damages and, after concluding the companies had acted with "malice, oppression or fraud," an additional $3 million in punitive damages. Meta was assigned 70% of the responsibility; YouTube bore the remaining 30%.""
"There is also a scientific distinction. The Surgeon General's advisories acknowledge that social media has mental health benefits for some individuals — a claim cigarette manufacturers would never have been able to make. And the lack of an official clinical diagnosis for social media addiction remains a genuine legal and scientific complication."
Social Media Addiction
Lawsuits alone would not be effective against social media giants, to solve problematic internet use. It is also unlikely that regulations or legislations would be able to make much difference.
Problematic internet use is the assessment label for social media addiction or internet addiction disorder. Although it is linked to other non-social media internet use, social media is the flashpoint, especially for kids, teens and youths.
In general, legislations, regulations and lawsuits are efforts that will add what is widely called friction to social media platforms. Friction are problematic [usage] blockers, like reductions in notifications, time spent, better age verification, limited doom scrolling and much else.
Friction can be effective to certain extents. Still, there may not be enough willpower to stop, so friction can be sought to be bypassed, since possibilities sometimes exist digitally.
Friction, however, remains the main approach against problematic internet use. So, what else can be added, to bolster the reach of friction or to surpass friction as a gate?
Theoretical Neuroimaging of Mind
This is a conceptual display of the human mind, for destinations and relays, showing the targets of problematic internet use and what it avoids.
All the components of problematic internet use can be mapped on the mind, specifically with real-time contents, and dynamics that is parallel to an approximation of what is going on within.
The goal is to show the influence [of internet addiction] on the mind, and sometimes effects, especially with what is ignored [like caution and consequences], to what is used routinely [like certain memory and emotions].
The objective is to give a score, and bear visibility against the current opacity. Such that it is more relatable when friction is recommended and likelier to stick with it.
This could be developed as a separate application, but hosted within some social media platforms, so that data points, like contents, time spent, and so forth can be visualized, for the mind.
The solution can also come at a subscription, since displays will be unique to sessions, not just general. The free version can have a sample display.
Theoretical neuroimaging of mind is based on the postulation in Conceptual Biomarkers and Theoretical Biological Factors for Psychiatric and Intelligence Nosology.
The opportunity is to scale the solution across social media misuse cases, make it more expansive, towards solving problematic internet use, as the algorithms get better, and artificial intelligence dominates.
David Stephen currently does research in conce...]]> https://irishtechnews.ie/neuroimaging-solve-problematic-internet-use/ There is a recent analysis on Forbes, A $6 Million Jury Verdict Ruled Social Media Is Addictive. Now What?, stating that, "On March 25, a Los Angeles jury delivered a verdict that Silicon Valley had spent years and hundreds of millions of dollars fighting to prevent."
"After more than 40 hours of deliberations spread across nine days — including live testimony from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri — the jury found that Meta and Google's YouTube had been negligent in the design of their platforms, and that this negligence was a substantial factor in harming a young woman identified in court as KGM, or "Kaley.""
New uses for Theoretical Neuroimaging?
"The jury awarded her $3 million in compensatory damages and, after concluding the companies had acted with "malice, oppression or fraud," an additional $3 million in punitive damages. Meta was assigned 70% of the responsibility; YouTube bore the remaining 30%.""
"There is also a scientific distinction. The Surgeon General's advisories acknowledge that social media has mental health benefits for some individuals — a claim cigarette manufacturers would never have been able to make. And the lack of an official clinical diagnosis for social media addiction remains a genuine legal and scientific complication."
Social Media Addiction
Lawsuits alone would not be effective against social media giants, to solve problematic internet use. It is also unlikely that regulations or legislations would be able to make much difference.
Problematic internet use is the assessment label for social media addiction or internet addiction disorder. Although it is linked to other non-social media internet use, social media is the flashpoint, especially for kids, teens and youths.
In general, legislations, regulations and lawsuits are efforts that will add what is widely called friction to social media platforms. Friction are problematic [usage] blockers, like reductions in notifications, time spent, better age verification, limited doom scrolling and much else.
Friction can be effective to certain extents. Still, there may not be enough willpower to stop, so friction can be sought to be bypassed, since possibilities sometimes exist digitally.
Friction, however, remains the main approach against problematic internet use. So, what else can be added, to bolster the reach of friction or to surpass friction as a gate?
Theoretical Neuroimaging of Mind
This is a conceptual display of the human mind, for destinations and relays, showing the targets of problematic internet use and what it avoids.
All the components of problematic internet use can be mapped on the mind, specifically with real-time contents, and dynamics that is parallel to an approximation of what is going on within.
The goal is to show the influence [of internet addiction] on the mind, and sometimes effects, especially with what is ignored [like caution and consequences], to what is used routinely [like certain memory and emotions].
The objective is to give a score, and bear visibility against the current opacity. Such that it is more relatable when friction is recommended and likelier to stick with it.
This could be developed as a separate application, but hosted within some social media platforms, so that data points, like contents, time spent, and so forth can be visualized, for the mind.
The solution can also come at a subscription, since displays will be unique to sessions, not just general. The free version can have a sample display.
Theoretical neuroimaging of mind is based on the postulation in Conceptual Biomarkers and Theoretical Biological Factors for Psychiatric and Intelligence Nosology.
The opportunity is to scale the solution across social media misuse cases, make it more expansive, towards solving problematic internet use, as the algorithms get better, and artificial intelligence dominates.
David Stephen currently does research in conce...]]> Mon, 06 Apr 2026 08:00:59 +0000 Can Theoretical Neuroimaging Solve Problematic Internet Use? There is a recent analysis on Forbes, A $6 Million Jury Verdict Ruled Social Media Is Addictive. Now What?, stating that, "On March 25, a Los Angeles jury delivered a verdict that ...]]> There is a recent analysis on Forbes, A $6 Million Jury Verdict Ruled Social Media Is Addictive. Now What?, stating that, "On March 25, a Los Angeles jury delivered a verdict that Silicon Valley had spent years and hundreds of millions of dollars fighting to prevent."
"After more than 40 hours of deliberations spread across nine days — including live testimony from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri — the jury found that Meta and Google's YouTube had been negligent in the design of their platforms, and that this negligence was a substantial factor in harming a young woman identified in court as KGM, or "Kaley.""
New uses for Theoretical Neuroimaging?
"The jury awarded her $3 million in compensatory damages and, after concluding the companies had acted with "malice, oppression or fraud," an additional $3 million in punitive damages. Meta was assigned 70% of the responsibility; YouTube bore the remaining 30%.""
"There is also a scientific distinction. The Surgeon General's advisories acknowledge that social media has mental health benefits for some individuals — a claim cigarette manufacturers would never have been able to make. And the lack of an official clinical diagnosis for social media addiction remains a genuine legal and scientific complication."
Social Media Addiction
Lawsuits alone would not be effective against social media giants, to solve problematic internet use. It is also unlikely that regulations or legislations would be able to make much difference.
Problematic internet use is the assessment label for social media addiction or internet addiction disorder. Although it is linked to other non-social media internet use, social media is the flashpoint, especially for kids, teens and youths.
In general, legislations, regulations and lawsuits are efforts that will add what is widely called friction to social media platforms. Friction are problematic [usage] blockers, like reductions in notifications, time spent, better age verification, limited doom scrolling and much else.
Friction can be effective to certain extents. Still, there may not be enough willpower to stop, so friction can be sought to be bypassed, since possibilities sometimes exist digitally.
Friction, however, remains the main approach against problematic internet use. So, what else can be added, to bolster the reach of friction or to surpass friction as a gate?
Theoretical Neuroimaging of Mind
This is a conceptual display of the human mind, for destinations and relays, showing the targets of problematic internet use and what it avoids.
All the components of problematic internet use can be mapped on the mind, specifically with real-time contents, and dynamics that is parallel to an approximation of what is going on within.
The goal is to show the influence [of internet addiction] on the mind, and sometimes effects, especially with what is ignored [like caution and consequences], to what is used routinely [like certain memory and emotions].
The objective is to give a score, and bear visibility against the current opacity. Such that it is more relatable when friction is recommended and likelier to stick with it.
This could be developed as a separate application, but hosted within some social media platforms, so that data points, like contents, time spent, and so forth can be visualized, for the mind.
The solution can also come at a subscription, since displays will be unique to sessions, not just general. The free version can have a sample display.
Theoretical neuroimaging of mind is based on the postulation in Conceptual Biomarkers and Theoretical Biological Factors for Psychiatric and Intelligence Nosology.
The opportunity is to scale the solution across social media misuse cases, make it more expansive, towards solving problematic internet use, as the algorithms get better, and artificial intelligence dominates.
David Stephen currently does research in conce...]]> Simon Cocking 04:42 false full 50 10377323-239f-4d3d-a0e1-13241b475ee2 Engineering 2026 – A Barometer of the Profession in Ireland shows that lengthy recruitment times are emerging as an obstacle to housing, energy, transport and water infrastructure delivery.
The report also highlights mounting concern within the profession over the condition of Ireland's infrastructure. Just 17% of engineers rated overall infrastructure as good, while 41% described it as poor or inadequate. Housing emerged as the most acute weakness, with 47% of engineers considering housing infrastructure inadequate, the starkest negative assessment across all sectors measured.
The report warns that boosting housing supply will require not just faster construction, but enough engineering capacity to plan, design, and deliver developments, and to connect them to essential water, energy, and transport infrastructure.
Gender imbalances in perceptions of the profession were found to be a potential barrier to encouraging more women to become engineers and, thus, a barrier to growing the engineering workforce. When asked if they would consider pursuing engineering if changing career, women (40%) were twice as likely as men (21%) to disagree with the suggestion. Only about one-in-eight engineers in Ireland are women. Men were also 29% more likely than women to respond positively when asked if a career in engineering was "suitable for people like them".
Speaking about the results contained in Engineering 2026, Engineers Ireland's Director General, Damien Owens, said: "With modular homes being suggested to increase the supply of housing to the rental market, it's important to remember that these Modern Methods of Construction are not a shortcut around engineering capacity.
"To deliver homes at scale while maintaining quality, safety and sustainability, we must also invest in the engineers and infrastructure systems that underpin those developments, from water and energy networks to transport and climate resilience.
"Engineering oversight is critical to ensuring that accelerated delivery does not compromise long term performance, particularly in areas such as building safety, energy efficiency, climate adaptation and asset lifecycle management."
Engineers Ireland presents a clear message for policymakers and industry: Ireland's infrastructural ambitions are achievable, but without addressing capacity bottlenecks, the report warns that Ireland risks falling short on housing delivery and wider infrastructure goals, not for a lack of ambition, but for a lack of the people necessary to deliver it.
Engineering 2026 is available at engineersireland.ie.
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.]]> https://irishtechnews.ie/skills-shortages-risk-housing-and-infrastructure/ Engineering 2026 – A Barometer of the Profession in Ireland shows that lengthy recruitment times are emerging as an obstacle to housing, energy, transport and water infrastructure delivery.
The report also highlights mounting concern within the profession over the condition of Ireland's infrastructure. Just 17% of engineers rated overall infrastructure as good, while 41% described it as poor or inadequate. Housing emerged as the most acute weakness, with 47% of engineers considering housing infrastructure inadequate, the starkest negative assessment across all sectors measured.
The report warns that boosting housing supply will require not just faster construction, but enough engineering capacity to plan, design, and deliver developments, and to connect them to essential water, energy, and transport infrastructure.
Gender imbalances in perceptions of the profession were found to be a potential barrier to encouraging more women to become engineers and, thus, a barrier to growing the engineering workforce. When asked if they would consider pursuing engineering if changing career, women (40%) were twice as likely as men (21%) to disagree with the suggestion. Only about one-in-eight engineers in Ireland are women. Men were also 29% more likely than women to respond positively when asked if a career in engineering was "suitable for people like them".
Speaking about the results contained in Engineering 2026, Engineers Ireland's Director General, Damien Owens, said: "With modular homes being suggested to increase the supply of housing to the rental market, it's important to remember that these Modern Methods of Construction are not a shortcut around engineering capacity.
"To deliver homes at scale while maintaining quality, safety and sustainability, we must also invest in the engineers and infrastructure systems that underpin those developments, from water and energy networks to transport and climate resilience.
"Engineering oversight is critical to ensuring that accelerated delivery does not compromise long term performance, particularly in areas such as building safety, energy efficiency, climate adaptation and asset lifecycle management."
Engineers Ireland presents a clear message for policymakers and industry: Ireland's infrastructural ambitions are achievable, but without addressing capacity bottlenecks, the report warns that Ireland risks falling short on housing delivery and wider infrastructure goals, not for a lack of ambition, but for a lack of the people necessary to deliver it.
Engineering 2026 is available at engineersireland.ie.
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.]]> Fri, 03 Apr 2026 15:00:53 +0000 Skills shortages risk slowing housing and infrastructure delivery despite strong demand Engineering 2026 – A Barometer of the Profession in Ireland shows that lengthy recruitment times are emerging as an obstacle to housing, energy, transport and water infrastructure delivery.
The report also highlights mounting concern within the profession over the condition of Ireland's infrastructure. Just 17% of engineers rated overall infrastructure as good, while 41% described it as poor or inadequate. Housing emerged as the most acute weakness, with 47% of engineers considering housing infrastructure inadequate, the starkest negative assessment across all sectors measured.
The report warns that boosting housing supply will require not just faster construction, but enough engineering capacity to plan, design, and deliver developments, and to connect them to essential water, energy, and transport infrastructure.
Gender imbalances in perceptions of the profession were found to be a potential barrier to encouraging more women to become engineers and, thus, a barrier to growing the engineering workforce. When asked if they would consider pursuing engineering if changing career, women (40%) were twice as likely as men (21%) to disagree with the suggestion. Only about one-in-eight engineers in Ireland are women. Men were also 29% more likely than women to respond positively when asked if a career in engineering was "suitable for people like them".
Speaking about the results contained in Engineering 2026, Engineers Ireland's Director General, Damien Owens, said: "With modular homes being suggested to increase the supply of housing to the rental market, it's important to remember that these Modern Methods of Construction are not a shortcut around engineering capacity.
"To deliver homes at scale while maintaining quality, safety and sustainability, we must also invest in the engineers and infrastructure systems that underpin those developments, from water and energy networks to transport and climate resilience.
"Engineering oversight is critical to ensuring that accelerated delivery does not compromise long term performance, particularly in areas such as building safety, energy efficiency, climate adaptation and asset lifecycle management."
Engineers Ireland presents a clear message for policymakers and industry: Ireland's infrastructural ambitions are achievable, but without addressing capacity bottlenecks, the report warns that Ireland risks falling short on housing delivery and wider infrastructure goals, not for a lack of ambition, but for a lack of the people necessary to deliver it.
Engineering 2026 is available at engineersireland.ie.
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.]]> Irish Tech News 03:47 false full 49 dd7f98a1-93a6-4d4d-bfbc-17be58d5aea7 The first event took place in the Aula Maxima in University College Cork (UCC), with a second event scheduled for the Kilnamanagh Family Resource Centre in Dublin on Sunday, April 12th.
The Toy Library is the country's first digital toy-sharing platform and has hosted swap and play events around the country for the past 18 months. It has successfully reduced the amount of plastic toys being disposed of, with figures recorded at the end of 2025 showing 4.78 tonnes of plastic have been saved so far.
The sensory events offer families and children with additional needs a safe and welcoming play space with structured layouts, quieter zones and access to carefully selected developmental and sensory toys. The initiative was set up in response to feedback from parents within the Toy Library community.
The Toy Library prepared social stories – simple visual guides that help children understand what to expect in new or potentially overwhelming situations – and distributed them to families before the event. This was to support families and ensure children felt comfortable and confident when attending.
Trish Cleary was at the event in Cork and said: "The Social Story was a game changer for us – being able to show my daughter exactly what to expect helped her feel safe before we even arrived. My son, who has ASD, needed to stay in his stroller for most of the event, but thanks to the calm, spacious setup, he could still take it all in. Watching him feel comfortable enough to come out and play a game of chess with me was a moment I'll really treasure."
Another parent, Geraldine Harris, added: "My child has autism, and as a parent, you are always thinking about ways to enhance your child's development. Sensory swap and play give you access to an array of toys and a new play experience for your child. It's a place to network with other parents in your local community, swap toys your child no longer plays with and find something new that sparks their curiosity, all at no additional cost."
The Toy Library has been working in partnership with ADHD Ireland and is hoping to expand the sensory swap and play events nationwide. The Toy Library is inviting other charities, local authorities and not-for-profit organisations working in the area of supporting children with additional needs to partner with them to help deliver more sensory swap and play events around the country.
Founder Giorgia Anile said, "Play is not just recreation, it is how children learn, connect, and build confidence. Parents in our community told us how transformative inclusive play environments can be for their children. One parent described it as the first time their child felt truly comfortable in a social play setting. That feedback made it clear we needed to expand this work."]]> https://irishtechnews.ie/toy-library-launches-sensory-swap-and-play-events/ The first event took place in the Aula Maxima in University College Cork (UCC), with a second event scheduled for the Kilnamanagh Family Resource Centre in Dublin on Sunday, April 12th.
The Toy Library is the country's first digital toy-sharing platform and has hosted swap and play events around the country for the past 18 months. It has successfully reduced the amount of plastic toys being disposed of, with figures recorded at the end of 2025 showing 4.78 tonnes of plastic have been saved so far.
The sensory events offer families and children with additional needs a safe and welcoming play space with structured layouts, quieter zones and access to carefully selected developmental and sensory toys. The initiative was set up in response to feedback from parents within the Toy Library community.
The Toy Library prepared social stories – simple visual guides that help children understand what to expect in new or potentially overwhelming situations – and distributed them to families before the event. This was to support families and ensure children felt comfortable and confident when attending.
Trish Cleary was at the event in Cork and said: "The Social Story was a game changer for us – being able to show my daughter exactly what to expect helped her feel safe before we even arrived. My son, who has ASD, needed to stay in his stroller for most of the event, but thanks to the calm, spacious setup, he could still take it all in. Watching him feel comfortable enough to come out and play a game of chess with me was a moment I'll really treasure."
Another parent, Geraldine Harris, added: "My child has autism, and as a parent, you are always thinking about ways to enhance your child's development. Sensory swap and play give you access to an array of toys and a new play experience for your child. It's a place to network with other parents in your local community, swap toys your child no longer plays with and find something new that sparks their curiosity, all at no additional cost."
The Toy Library has been working in partnership with ADHD Ireland and is hoping to expand the sensory swap and play events nationwide. The Toy Library is inviting other charities, local authorities and not-for-profit organisations working in the area of supporting children with additional needs to partner with them to help deliver more sensory swap and play events around the country.
Founder Giorgia Anile said, "Play is not just recreation, it is how children learn, connect, and build confidence. Parents in our community told us how transformative inclusive play environments can be for their children. One parent described it as the first time their child felt truly comfortable in a social play setting. That feedback made it clear we needed to expand this work."]]> Fri, 03 Apr 2026 13:00:17 +0000 Toy Library launches sensory swap and play events for children with additional needs The first event took place in the Aula Maxima in University College Cork (UCC), with a se...]]> The first event took place in the Aula Maxima in University College Cork (UCC), with a second event scheduled for the Kilnamanagh Family Resource Centre in Dublin on Sunday, April 12th.
The Toy Library is the country's first digital toy-sharing platform and has hosted swap and play events around the country for the past 18 months. It has successfully reduced the amount of plastic toys being disposed of, with figures recorded at the end of 2025 showing 4.78 tonnes of plastic have been saved so far.
The sensory events offer families and children with additional needs a safe and welcoming play space with structured layouts, quieter zones and access to carefully selected developmental and sensory toys. The initiative was set up in response to feedback from parents within the Toy Library community.
The Toy Library prepared social stories – simple visual guides that help children understand what to expect in new or potentially overwhelming situations – and distributed them to families before the event. This was to support families and ensure children felt comfortable and confident when attending.
Trish Cleary was at the event in Cork and said: "The Social Story was a game changer for us – being able to show my daughter exactly what to expect helped her feel safe before we even arrived. My son, who has ASD, needed to stay in his stroller for most of the event, but thanks to the calm, spacious setup, he could still take it all in. Watching him feel comfortable enough to come out and play a game of chess with me was a moment I'll really treasure."
Another parent, Geraldine Harris, added: "My child has autism, and as a parent, you are always thinking about ways to enhance your child's development. Sensory swap and play give you access to an array of toys and a new play experience for your child. It's a place to network with other parents in your local community, swap toys your child no longer plays with and find something new that sparks their curiosity, all at no additional cost."
The Toy Library has been working in partnership with ADHD Ireland and is hoping to expand the sensory swap and play events nationwide. The Toy Library is inviting other charities, local authorities and not-for-profit organisations working in the area of supporting children with additional needs to partner with them to help deliver more sensory swap and play events around the country.
Founder Giorgia Anile said, "Play is not just recreation, it is how children learn, connect, and build confidence. Parents in our community told us how transformative inclusive play environments can be for their children. One parent described it as the first time their child felt truly comfortable in a social play setting. That feedback made it clear we needed to expand this work."]]> Irish Tech News 02:59 false full 48 13688782-4f6e-4234-90db-1715fe8631bc The research, conducted with ThoughtLab, surveyed 34,000 executives, service representatives and customers globally, including 1,210 respondents in Ireland. The results reveal that poor customer service costs every Irish consumer the equivalent of 8.8 hours a year – more than a full working day – spent dealing with issues such as long wait times, repeating information or navigating slow systems. While organisations are investing in AI, outdated systems are preventing many from turning those investments into the faster, smoother experiences customers expect.
In Ireland, the real bottleneck is the systems behind the service
Service representatives, particularly those in Ireland, are constrained by their work environments and slowed by fragmented systems and processes. Ireland has one of the lowest rates of time spent on customer issues in EMEA, second only to France at 42% and equal with Sweden at 43%. That means the majority of their time is absorbed by administrative work, system-hopping, and chasing information.
In comparison to the rest of EMEA, Ireland fares worse than all other countries individually and the regional benchmark in both system use and data consistency. One in three (31%) service representatives relies on five systems to resolve a single issue, and 60% say inconsistent customer data is a major challenge — much higher than the respective EMEA averages of 20% and 43%.
Consumers are paying a hidden productivity tax
Across EMEA, the research found that customer issues take an average of three to four days to resolve — even in sectors designed for speed, such as banking (2.4 days) and telecommunications (3.0 days). In manufacturing, resolution times stretch to nearly a full working week (6.6 days). Even in the technology sector, known for being early adopters of platforms and technology, fewer than one in five (18%) customer service issues are resolved within an hour.
In Ireland, nearly half (46%) of consumers rate current customer service as average, poor or terrible. Meanwhile, 49% say they would switch to a competitor after a single poor or slow experience.
"Consumers across EMEA are losing entire working days to service experiences that should take minutes. The root cause isn't a lack of AI investment — it's that most CRM systems were built to record interactions, not resolve them. That's the shift we're driving: CRM as a system of action, not a system of record," said Shakira Talbot, Group Vice President, CRM EMEA at ServiceNow.
AI is gaining trust, but empathy remains the gap
In Ireland, nearly half (46%) of consumers say AI has improved customer service. Over a third (35%) report gains in speed, efficiency, and convenience, and almost one in two (48%) say AI has improved after-hours and 24/7 support. Yet speed alone isn't enough. One in two (50%) consumers in Ireland cite lack of empathy as a top frustration. Channel preferences play an important role in this gap: while 78% prefer phone support, 66% attempt self-service first — but 44% say current chatbots fail to understand their questions or concerns.
"Customers want to feel heard and resolved, not just routed. But that can't happen when AI and human agents operate in different systems with different views of the customer. The organisations getting this right are the ones connecting their entire operation — front office to back office — on a single platform. That's when CRM stops being a digital filing cabinet and starts being a revenue engine," added Talbot.
Irish executives are misaligned with what customers value
The research also reveals a persistent perception gap between what customers want and...]]> https://irishtechnews.ie/servicenow-research-reveals-irish-consumers-lose-284-million-hours-per-year-to-poor-customer-service/ The research, conducted with ThoughtLab, surveyed 34,000 executives, service representatives and customers globally, including 1,210 respondents in Ireland. The results reveal that poor customer service costs every Irish consumer the equivalent of 8.8 hours a year – more than a full working day – spent dealing with issues such as long wait times, repeating information or navigating slow systems. While organisations are investing in AI, outdated systems are preventing many from turning those investments into the faster, smoother experiences customers expect.
In Ireland, the real bottleneck is the systems behind the service
Service representatives, particularly those in Ireland, are constrained by their work environments and slowed by fragmented systems and processes. Ireland has one of the lowest rates of time spent on customer issues in EMEA, second only to France at 42% and equal with Sweden at 43%. That means the majority of their time is absorbed by administrative work, system-hopping, and chasing information.
In comparison to the rest of EMEA, Ireland fares worse than all other countries individually and the regional benchmark in both system use and data consistency. One in three (31%) service representatives relies on five systems to resolve a single issue, and 60% say inconsistent customer data is a major challenge — much higher than the respective EMEA averages of 20% and 43%.
Consumers are paying a hidden productivity tax
Across EMEA, the research found that customer issues take an average of three to four days to resolve — even in sectors designed for speed, such as banking (2.4 days) and telecommunications (3.0 days). In manufacturing, resolution times stretch to nearly a full working week (6.6 days). Even in the technology sector, known for being early adopters of platforms and technology, fewer than one in five (18%) customer service issues are resolved within an hour.
In Ireland, nearly half (46%) of consumers rate current customer service as average, poor or terrible. Meanwhile, 49% say they would switch to a competitor after a single poor or slow experience.
"Consumers across EMEA are losing entire working days to service experiences that should take minutes. The root cause isn't a lack of AI investment — it's that most CRM systems were built to record interactions, not resolve them. That's the shift we're driving: CRM as a system of action, not a system of record," said Shakira Talbot, Group Vice President, CRM EMEA at ServiceNow.
AI is gaining trust, but empathy remains the gap
In Ireland, nearly half (46%) of consumers say AI has improved customer service. Over a third (35%) report gains in speed, efficiency, and convenience, and almost one in two (48%) say AI has improved after-hours and 24/7 support. Yet speed alone isn't enough. One in two (50%) consumers in Ireland cite lack of empathy as a top frustration. Channel preferences play an important role in this gap: while 78% prefer phone support, 66% attempt self-service first — but 44% say current chatbots fail to understand their questions or concerns.
"Customers want to feel heard and resolved, not just routed. But that can't happen when AI and human agents operate in different systems with different views of the customer. The organisations getting this right are the ones connecting their entire operation — front office to back office — on a single platform. That's when CRM stops being a digital filing cabinet and starts being a revenue engine," added Talbot.
Irish executives are misaligned with what customers value
The research also reveals a persistent perception gap between what customers want and...]]> Fri, 03 Apr 2026 12:00:48 +0000 ServiceNow research reveals Irish consumers lose 284 million hours per year to poor customer service The research, conducted with ThoughtLab, surveyed 34,000 executives, service representatives and customers globally, including 1,210 respondents in Ireland. The results reveal that poor customer service costs every Irish consumer the equivalent of 8.8 hours a year – more than a full working day – spent dealing with issues such as long wait times, repeating information or navigating slow systems. While organisations are investing in AI, outdated systems are preventing many from turning those investments into the faster, smoother experiences customers expect.
In Ireland, the real bottleneck is the systems behind the service
Service representatives, particularly those in Ireland, are constrained by their work environments and slowed by fragmented systems and processes. Ireland has one of the lowest rates of time spent on customer issues in EMEA, second only to France at 42% and equal with Sweden at 43%. That means the majority of their time is absorbed by administrative work, system-hopping, and chasing information.
In comparison to the rest of EMEA, Ireland fares worse than all other countries individually and the regional benchmark in both system use and data consistency. One in three (31%) service representatives relies on five systems to resolve a single issue, and 60% say inconsistent customer data is a major challenge — much higher than the respective EMEA averages of 20% and 43%.
Consumers are paying a hidden productivity tax
Across EMEA, the research found that customer issues take an average of three to four days to resolve — even in sectors designed for speed, such as banking (2.4 days) and telecommunications (3.0 days). In manufacturing, resolution times stretch to nearly a full working week (6.6 days). Even in the technology sector, known for being early adopters of platforms and technology, fewer than one in five (18%) customer service issues are resolved within an hour.
In Ireland, nearly half (46%) of consumers rate current customer service as average, poor or terrible. Meanwhile, 49% say they would switch to a competitor after a single poor or slow experience.
"Consumers across EMEA are losing entire working days to service experiences that should take minutes. The root cause isn't a lack of AI investment — it's that most CRM systems were built to record interactions, not resolve them. That's the shift we're driving: CRM as a system of action, not a system of record," said Shakira Talbot, Group Vice President, CRM EMEA at ServiceNow.
AI is gaining trust, but empathy remains the gap
In Ireland, nearly half (46%) of consumers say AI has improved customer service. Over a third (35%) report gains in speed, efficiency, and convenience, and almost one in two (48%) say AI has improved after-hours and 24/7 support. Yet speed alone isn't enough. One in two (50%) consumers in Ireland cite lack of empathy as a top frustration. Channel preferences play an important role in this gap: while 78% prefer phone support, 66% attempt self-service first — but 44% say current chatbots fail to understand their questions or concerns.
"Customers want to feel heard and resolved, not just routed. But that can't happen when AI and human agents operate in different systems with different views of the customer. The organisations getting this right are the ones connecting their entire operation — front office to back office — on a single platform. That's when CRM stops being a digital filing cabinet and starts being a revenue engine," added Talbot.
Irish executives are misaligned with what customers value
The research also reveals a persistent perception gap between what customers want and...]]> Ronan Leonard 07:12 false full 47 d236e6b6-52c5-446d-a676-716c90d169ca The current wave of scams involves fraudsters pretending to be a family member with a damaged or lost phone, asking for the recipient to pay for something urgently.
The message typically begins with a seemingly innocent message such as 'Hi Mam / Hi Dad, this is my new number….' followed by a request asking for help to pay for something. In some cases, the fraudster will ask for a payment to be made to a specific bank account or, in other cases, ask for a card number and then set it up on a digital wallet, e.g. Apple Pay or Google Pay (and ask Mam for the code that the bank just sent).
Fraudsters are also sending texts that closely mimic legitimate Bank of Ireland fraud?alert messages, particularly those asking customers to confirm whether they recognise a recent card transaction. These scam texts are designed to look authentic, using similar wording and formats to real security messages. While Bank of Ireland may contact customers to verify transactions, genuine staff will never ask you to share your full card details, one-time passcodes or to move your money to keep it safe.
Nicola Sadlier, Head of Fraud at Bank of Ireland, said: "Smishing attempts tend to appear in waves, from motorway toll charges to government payment scams, but the goal remains the same – to get people to share their banking details or transfer money directly into the hands of fraudsters.
We have seen the "Hi Mam / Hi Dad…" texts before. This is a case of fraudsters revisiting a tactic that has worked for them before, preying on a parent's instinct to respond to a child in need. The sense of urgency in bank impersonation texts is designed to panic people into action to protect their money.
Although 70% of the Irish population are confident they can spot scams, according to our latest research, unfortunately, people are still being caught out by these scams.
Our advice is simple – always be on your guard, and pause. Whether the message claims to be from your son, daughter, or your bank, always call back on a number that you already know. That one small step protects you and shuts down the scam instantly".
Bank of Ireland's guidance to help customers stay in control:
If you receive an unexpected message from a child or family member asking for help, do not reply and do not click any links.
Verify the sender by calling your family member on their usual number saved in your contacts.
TextChecker service – if you get a text that claims to be from Bank of Ireland but you are not sure if it's genuine, here's how to verify it:
Copy the text you wish to verify.
Paste into a new message.
Add the word CHECK before the text. (In the same text)
Send to 50365.
If you receive a suspicious text, email a screenshot to 365Security@boi.com and then delete the message.
Bank of Ireland customers who believe they may have shared banking information should call the Bank of Ireland 24/7 Freephone line immediately.
Scam Text Examples:





More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn,...]]> https://irishtechnews.ie/fraud-alert-wave-of-bank-impersonation-scam-texts/ The current wave of scams involves fraudsters pretending to be a family member with a damaged or lost phone, asking for the recipient to pay for something urgently.
The message typically begins with a seemingly innocent message such as 'Hi Mam / Hi Dad, this is my new number….' followed by a request asking for help to pay for something. In some cases, the fraudster will ask for a payment to be made to a specific bank account or, in other cases, ask for a card number and then set it up on a digital wallet, e.g. Apple Pay or Google Pay (and ask Mam for the code that the bank just sent).
Fraudsters are also sending texts that closely mimic legitimate Bank of Ireland fraud?alert messages, particularly those asking customers to confirm whether they recognise a recent card transaction. These scam texts are designed to look authentic, using similar wording and formats to real security messages. While Bank of Ireland may contact customers to verify transactions, genuine staff will never ask you to share your full card details, one-time passcodes or to move your money to keep it safe.
Nicola Sadlier, Head of Fraud at Bank of Ireland, said: "Smishing attempts tend to appear in waves, from motorway toll charges to government payment scams, but the goal remains the same – to get people to share their banking details or transfer money directly into the hands of fraudsters.
We have seen the "Hi Mam / Hi Dad…" texts before. This is a case of fraudsters revisiting a tactic that has worked for them before, preying on a parent's instinct to respond to a child in need. The sense of urgency in bank impersonation texts is designed to panic people into action to protect their money.
Although 70% of the Irish population are confident they can spot scams, according to our latest research, unfortunately, people are still being caught out by these scams.
Our advice is simple – always be on your guard, and pause. Whether the message claims to be from your son, daughter, or your bank, always call back on a number that you already know. That one small step protects you and shuts down the scam instantly".
Bank of Ireland's guidance to help customers stay in control:
If you receive an unexpected message from a child or family member asking for help, do not reply and do not click any links.
Verify the sender by calling your family member on their usual number saved in your contacts.
TextChecker service – if you get a text that claims to be from Bank of Ireland but you are not sure if it's genuine, here's how to verify it:
Copy the text you wish to verify.
Paste into a new message.
Add the word CHECK before the text. (In the same text)
Send to 50365.
If you receive a suspicious text, email a screenshot to 365Security@boi.com and then delete the message.
Bank of Ireland customers who believe they may have shared banking information should call the Bank of Ireland 24/7 Freephone line immediately.
Scam Text Examples:





More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn,...]]> Fri, 03 Apr 2026 11:00:42 +0000 Fraud alert: Wave of 'Hi Mam / Hi Dad.." and bank impersonation scam texts in circulation The current wave of scams involves fraudsters pretending to be a family member with a damaged or lost phone, asking for the recipient to pay for something urgently.
The message typically begins with a seemingly innocent message such as 'Hi Mam / Hi Dad, this is my new number….' followed by a request asking for help to pay for something. In some cases, the fraudster will ask for a payment to be made to a specific bank account or, in other cases, ask for a card number and then set it up on a digital wallet, e.g. Apple Pay or Google Pay (and ask Mam for the code that the bank just sent).
Fraudsters are also sending texts that closely mimic legitimate Bank of Ireland fraud?alert messages, particularly those asking customers to confirm whether they recognise a recent card transaction. These scam texts are designed to look authentic, using similar wording and formats to real security messages. While Bank of Ireland may contact customers to verify transactions, genuine staff will never ask you to share your full card details, one-time passcodes or to move your money to keep it safe.
Nicola Sadlier, Head of Fraud at Bank of Ireland, said: "Smishing attempts tend to appear in waves, from motorway toll charges to government payment scams, but the goal remains the same – to get people to share their banking details or transfer money directly into the hands of fraudsters.
We have seen the "Hi Mam / Hi Dad…" texts before. This is a case of fraudsters revisiting a tactic that has worked for them before, preying on a parent's instinct to respond to a child in need. The sense of urgency in bank impersonation texts is designed to panic people into action to protect their money.
Although 70% of the Irish population are confident they can spot scams, according to our latest research, unfortunately, people are still being caught out by these scams.
Our advice is simple – always be on your guard, and pause. Whether the message claims to be from your son, daughter, or your bank, always call back on a number that you already know. That one small step protects you and shuts down the scam instantly".
Bank of Ireland's guidance to help customers stay in control:
If you receive an unexpected message from a child or family member asking for help, do not reply and do not click any links.
Verify the sender by calling your family member on their usual number saved in your contacts.
TextChecker service – if you get a text that claims to be from Bank of Ireland but you are not sure if it's genuine, here's how to verify it:
Copy the text you wish to verify.
Paste into a new message.
Add the word CHECK before the text. (In the same text)
Send to 50365.
If you receive a suspicious text, email a screenshot to 365Security@boi.com and then delete the message.
Bank of Ireland customers who believe they may have shared banking information should call the Bank of Ireland 24/7 Freephone line immediately.
Scam Text Examples:





More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn,...]]> Irish Tech News 04:20 false full 46 d0435064-59da-48d1-b028-543dfb2da6c5 The three-year initiative is led by the Research Ireland ADAPT Centre in Trinity's School of Computer Science and Statistics, in collaboration with dotPublic. It will examine whether the widespread adoption of commercial platforms, tools, and publishing practices has altered how public institutions present themselves online, and how that may have affected the public's ability to recognise, trust, and rely on authoritative information.
Over the past two decades, universities, libraries, broadcasters, and public bodies have moved online using systems designed primarily for commercial purposes. The research will examine whether some features of these systems, including a focus on engagement, attention, and the harvesting of behavioural data, may undermine public interest priorities, including privacy, accountability, and long-term access. It will explore whether, as a result, public-interest information now circulates in environments where it can be harder to distinguish from material with no obligation to accuracy, provenance, or public responsibility.
The programme will also test whether this shift has had measurable consequences. Specifically, it will examine whether the conditions under which information is published, including the presence of tracking technologies, the absence of provenance, and the use of metrics designed to prolong engagement rather than serve the public, have contributed to changing levels of trust in expert institutions.
Specifically, the research will address three core questions:
— What civic standards should publicly trusted information providers meet online in order to remain recognisable and accountable?
— Can those standards be sustained through institutional commitment alone, or are they eroded over time by the surrounding digital environment?
— Could new forms of infrastructure, including a dedicated .PUBLIC domain, provide a more stable foundation for trusted knowledge and information services?
Over the course of the programme, the team will define and test civic publishing standards, develop open-source tools to support them, and explore ways of making the origin, authorship, and integrity of information visible and verifiable. The work will include experimental studies to assess how different publishing conditions affect user trust and behaviour.
As part of this, the ADAPT Centre's own digital outputs will serve as a live pilot. As the Centre approaches the end of its current funding cycle in December 2026, the programme will examine how its publicly funded research and digital resources can remain accessible, verifiable, and trustworthy over time.
This pilot will provide a practical test case within a broader investigation into the future of public knowledge online and is designed to be replicable by any publicly funded institution facing the same challenge.
Dave Lewis, Professor of Computer Science in Trinity and the ADAPT Centre, said: "Public institutions have adapted to the internet as it exists. This programme allows us to ask whether that environment is aligned with their purpose, and whether the way information is presented online is affecting how it is understood and trusted."
Tony Ageh, Executive Director of dotPublic and Adjunct Assistant Professor at Trinity, added: "The question is not simply how to preserve information, but whether the conditions in which it is published are changing how people relate to it. If trust in public knowledge has declined, we need to understand whether that is a failure of institutions or a consequence of the systems they have been operating within."
The programme is jointly led by Prof. Lewis, who provides academic leadership and oversight, and Tony Ageh, who leads external partnerships and programme development. Trinity will host the r...]]> https://irishtechnews.ie/trinity-project-more-trustworthy-internet/ The three-year initiative is led by the Research Ireland ADAPT Centre in Trinity's School of Computer Science and Statistics, in collaboration with dotPublic. It will examine whether the widespread adoption of commercial platforms, tools, and publishing practices has altered how public institutions present themselves online, and how that may have affected the public's ability to recognise, trust, and rely on authoritative information.
Over the past two decades, universities, libraries, broadcasters, and public bodies have moved online using systems designed primarily for commercial purposes. The research will examine whether some features of these systems, including a focus on engagement, attention, and the harvesting of behavioural data, may undermine public interest priorities, including privacy, accountability, and long-term access. It will explore whether, as a result, public-interest information now circulates in environments where it can be harder to distinguish from material with no obligation to accuracy, provenance, or public responsibility.
The programme will also test whether this shift has had measurable consequences. Specifically, it will examine whether the conditions under which information is published, including the presence of tracking technologies, the absence of provenance, and the use of metrics designed to prolong engagement rather than serve the public, have contributed to changing levels of trust in expert institutions.
Specifically, the research will address three core questions:
— What civic standards should publicly trusted information providers meet online in order to remain recognisable and accountable?
— Can those standards be sustained through institutional commitment alone, or are they eroded over time by the surrounding digital environment?
— Could new forms of infrastructure, including a dedicated .PUBLIC domain, provide a more stable foundation for trusted knowledge and information services?
Over the course of the programme, the team will define and test civic publishing standards, develop open-source tools to support them, and explore ways of making the origin, authorship, and integrity of information visible and verifiable. The work will include experimental studies to assess how different publishing conditions affect user trust and behaviour.
As part of this, the ADAPT Centre's own digital outputs will serve as a live pilot. As the Centre approaches the end of its current funding cycle in December 2026, the programme will examine how its publicly funded research and digital resources can remain accessible, verifiable, and trustworthy over time.
This pilot will provide a practical test case within a broader investigation into the future of public knowledge online and is designed to be replicable by any publicly funded institution facing the same challenge.
Dave Lewis, Professor of Computer Science in Trinity and the ADAPT Centre, said: "Public institutions have adapted to the internet as it exists. This programme allows us to ask whether that environment is aligned with their purpose, and whether the way information is presented online is affecting how it is understood and trusted."
Tony Ageh, Executive Director of dotPublic and Adjunct Assistant Professor at Trinity, added: "The question is not simply how to preserve information, but whether the conditions in which it is published are changing how people relate to it. If trust in public knowledge has declined, we need to understand whether that is a failure of institutions or a consequence of the systems they have been operating within."
The programme is jointly led by Prof. Lewis, who provides academic leadership and oversight, and Tony Ageh, who leads external partnerships and programme development. Trinity will host the r...]]> Fri, 03 Apr 2026 09:30:40 +0000 Trinity-led Project Will Build a More Trustworthy Internet for Public Knowledge The three-year initiative is led by ...]]> The three-year initiative is led by the Research Ireland ADAPT Centre in Trinity's School of Computer Science and Statistics, in collaboration with dotPublic. It will examine whether the widespread adoption of commercial platforms, tools, and publishing practices has altered how public institutions present themselves online, and how that may have affected the public's ability to recognise, trust, and rely on authoritative information.
Over the past two decades, universities, libraries, broadcasters, and public bodies have moved online using systems designed primarily for commercial purposes. The research will examine whether some features of these systems, including a focus on engagement, attention, and the harvesting of behavioural data, may undermine public interest priorities, including privacy, accountability, and long-term access. It will explore whether, as a result, public-interest information now circulates in environments where it can be harder to distinguish from material with no obligation to accuracy, provenance, or public responsibility.
The programme will also test whether this shift has had measurable consequences. Specifically, it will examine whether the conditions under which information is published, including the presence of tracking technologies, the absence of provenance, and the use of metrics designed to prolong engagement rather than serve the public, have contributed to changing levels of trust in expert institutions.
Specifically, the research will address three core questions:
— What civic standards should publicly trusted information providers meet online in order to remain recognisable and accountable?
— Can those standards be sustained through institutional commitment alone, or are they eroded over time by the surrounding digital environment?
— Could new forms of infrastructure, including a dedicated .PUBLIC domain, provide a more stable foundation for trusted knowledge and information services?
Over the course of the programme, the team will define and test civic publishing standards, develop open-source tools to support them, and explore ways of making the origin, authorship, and integrity of information visible and verifiable. The work will include experimental studies to assess how different publishing conditions affect user trust and behaviour.
As part of this, the ADAPT Centre's own digital outputs will serve as a live pilot. As the Centre approaches the end of its current funding cycle in December 2026, the programme will examine how its publicly funded research and digital resources can remain accessible, verifiable, and trustworthy over time.
This pilot will provide a practical test case within a broader investigation into the future of public knowledge online and is designed to be replicable by any publicly funded institution facing the same challenge.
Dave Lewis, Professor of Computer Science in Trinity and the ADAPT Centre, said: "Public institutions have adapted to the internet as it exists. This programme allows us to ask whether that environment is aligned with their purpose, and whether the way information is presented online is affecting how it is understood and trusted."
Tony Ageh, Executive Director of dotPublic and Adjunct Assistant Professor at Trinity, added: "The question is not simply how to preserve information, but whether the conditions in which it is published are changing how people relate to it. If trust in public knowledge has declined, we need to understand whether that is a failure of institutions or a consequence of the systems they have been operating within."
The programme is jointly led by Prof. Lewis, who provides academic leadership and oversight, and Tony Ageh, who leads external partnerships and programme development. Trinity will host the r...]]> Irish Tech News 04:50 false full 45 603de773-5a19-4371-ae9b-6b1825112bd4 The Hero Digital Transformation Actually Needs
Many digital transformations seek a mythical hero, a brave warrior to make bold statements and apply strong principles to shape the organisation's digital North Star. The expectation is that good digital leadership is about strength and brute force, steeped in a 'fortune favours the brave' kind of bravado. However, in my 30 years working in digital transformation, I have found that the 'warrior' is not the hero we need for digital success; rather the real hero we need is the 'meaning-maker'.
This is where mythology offers a practical lens. Mythology has always helped people navigate uncertainty and turn complexity into something human. It helps people understand where they are, what is happening and what comes next. It also teaches us that the most powerful figures are not always the ones who fight, rather, they are the ones who help others see their part in the transformation by making it meaningful.
Here are some examples of how you can use myth to be the hero that your organisation really needs, by telling the story of digital transformation in a more human-led way.
Example 1: The Mirror (Amaterasu)
In Japanese mythology, the sun goddess Amaterasu withdrew into a cave after being disrespected by her brother Susanoo, whose reckless actions destroyed her world. When she withdrew, the world fell into darkness; even the gods couldn't convince her to come out. It was only when they held up a mirror, reflecting her own brilliance back to her, did she step forward and immediately restored the light.
This is a powerful lesson for digital transformation, because people don't disengage due to a lack of capability, rather they disengage when they no longer feel valued. In many organisations, the talent you need is already there, it just isn't motivated to participate. This is where the real hero, the meaning-maker works best. They create the conditions where people feel seen again, thus making them feel valued, restoring their motivation to engage.
Practical ways to apply this include identifying where your team's capability is being overlooked and tease it out, using storytelling to conjure visibility and sponsorship (not just communication) and listening to the lived experience of your team rather than paying attention to their titles.
Example 2: The Navigator (Sanjaya)
In the Indian epic Mahabharata, Sanjaya could see the entire battlefield end to end. However, seeing was not the point, the point was to make sense of what was happening, at a big-picture level, and use this information to help others understand how to navigate the terrain. He gave meaning to the battle, by mapping the tactics to the strategy in a clear manner. This kept his army and sponsors engaged. Sanjaya brought meaning to an otherwise chaotic endeavour.
Similarly, in digital transformation, your business analysts and architects act as meaning-makers by helping people understand why the digital change matters.
Practical ways to apply this include involving business analysts in shaping the story early (to influence), focusing on the meaning behind the requirements (the 'why') and positioning architects as guides, not just designers of what is possible.
Example 3: The Skald (Storytellers)
In Norse tradition, skalds were more than poets – they were trusted storytellers who shaped how people understood their world. Their stories carried meaning across generations, preserving identity, values and culture. They treated story as a strategic tool for aligning their people to their long-term goals. This again is an example of the heroic meaning-maker.
In digital transformation, your strategy and roadmap can only stay relevant and maintain meaning if they are shared as stories, not slides or large posters. People fo...]]> https://irishtechnews.ie/holding-out-for-a-digital-hero-useful-tips/ The Hero Digital Transformation Actually Needs
Many digital transformations seek a mythical hero, a brave warrior to make bold statements and apply strong principles to shape the organisation's digital North Star. The expectation is that good digital leadership is about strength and brute force, steeped in a 'fortune favours the brave' kind of bravado. However, in my 30 years working in digital transformation, I have found that the 'warrior' is not the hero we need for digital success; rather the real hero we need is the 'meaning-maker'.
This is where mythology offers a practical lens. Mythology has always helped people navigate uncertainty and turn complexity into something human. It helps people understand where they are, what is happening and what comes next. It also teaches us that the most powerful figures are not always the ones who fight, rather, they are the ones who help others see their part in the transformation by making it meaningful.
Here are some examples of how you can use myth to be the hero that your organisation really needs, by telling the story of digital transformation in a more human-led way.
Example 1: The Mirror (Amaterasu)
In Japanese mythology, the sun goddess Amaterasu withdrew into a cave after being disrespected by her brother Susanoo, whose reckless actions destroyed her world. When she withdrew, the world fell into darkness; even the gods couldn't convince her to come out. It was only when they held up a mirror, reflecting her own brilliance back to her, did she step forward and immediately restored the light.
This is a powerful lesson for digital transformation, because people don't disengage due to a lack of capability, rather they disengage when they no longer feel valued. In many organisations, the talent you need is already there, it just isn't motivated to participate. This is where the real hero, the meaning-maker works best. They create the conditions where people feel seen again, thus making them feel valued, restoring their motivation to engage.
Practical ways to apply this include identifying where your team's capability is being overlooked and tease it out, using storytelling to conjure visibility and sponsorship (not just communication) and listening to the lived experience of your team rather than paying attention to their titles.
Example 2: The Navigator (Sanjaya)
In the Indian epic Mahabharata, Sanjaya could see the entire battlefield end to end. However, seeing was not the point, the point was to make sense of what was happening, at a big-picture level, and use this information to help others understand how to navigate the terrain. He gave meaning to the battle, by mapping the tactics to the strategy in a clear manner. This kept his army and sponsors engaged. Sanjaya brought meaning to an otherwise chaotic endeavour.
Similarly, in digital transformation, your business analysts and architects act as meaning-makers by helping people understand why the digital change matters.
Practical ways to apply this include involving business analysts in shaping the story early (to influence), focusing on the meaning behind the requirements (the 'why') and positioning architects as guides, not just designers of what is possible.
Example 3: The Skald (Storytellers)
In Norse tradition, skalds were more than poets – they were trusted storytellers who shaped how people understood their world. Their stories carried meaning across generations, preserving identity, values and culture. They treated story as a strategic tool for aligning their people to their long-term goals. This again is an example of the heroic meaning-maker.
In digital transformation, your strategy and roadmap can only stay relevant and maintain meaning if they are shared as stories, not slides or large posters. People fo...]]> Fri, 03 Apr 2026 08:00:34 +0000 Holding out for a (digital) hero, some useful tips The Hero Digital Transformation Actually ...]]> The Hero Digital Transformation Actually Needs
Many digital transformations seek a mythical hero, a brave warrior to make bold statements and apply strong principles to shape the organisation's digital North Star. The expectation is that good digital leadership is about strength and brute force, steeped in a 'fortune favours the brave' kind of bravado. However, in my 30 years working in digital transformation, I have found that the 'warrior' is not the hero we need for digital success; rather the real hero we need is the 'meaning-maker'.
This is where mythology offers a practical lens. Mythology has always helped people navigate uncertainty and turn complexity into something human. It helps people understand where they are, what is happening and what comes next. It also teaches us that the most powerful figures are not always the ones who fight, rather, they are the ones who help others see their part in the transformation by making it meaningful.
Here are some examples of how you can use myth to be the hero that your organisation really needs, by telling the story of digital transformation in a more human-led way.
Example 1: The Mirror (Amaterasu)
In Japanese mythology, the sun goddess Amaterasu withdrew into a cave after being disrespected by her brother Susanoo, whose reckless actions destroyed her world. When she withdrew, the world fell into darkness; even the gods couldn't convince her to come out. It was only when they held up a mirror, reflecting her own brilliance back to her, did she step forward and immediately restored the light.
This is a powerful lesson for digital transformation, because people don't disengage due to a lack of capability, rather they disengage when they no longer feel valued. In many organisations, the talent you need is already there, it just isn't motivated to participate. This is where the real hero, the meaning-maker works best. They create the conditions where people feel seen again, thus making them feel valued, restoring their motivation to engage.
Practical ways to apply this include identifying where your team's capability is being overlooked and tease it out, using storytelling to conjure visibility and sponsorship (not just communication) and listening to the lived experience of your team rather than paying attention to their titles.
Example 2: The Navigator (Sanjaya)
In the Indian epic Mahabharata, Sanjaya could see the entire battlefield end to end. However, seeing was not the point, the point was to make sense of what was happening, at a big-picture level, and use this information to help others understand how to navigate the terrain. He gave meaning to the battle, by mapping the tactics to the strategy in a clear manner. This kept his army and sponsors engaged. Sanjaya brought meaning to an otherwise chaotic endeavour.
Similarly, in digital transformation, your business analysts and architects act as meaning-makers by helping people understand why the digital change matters.
Practical ways to apply this include involving business analysts in shaping the story early (to influence), focusing on the meaning behind the requirements (the 'why') and positioning architects as guides, not just designers of what is possible.
Example 3: The Skald (Storytellers)
In Norse tradition, skalds were more than poets – they were trusted storytellers who shaped how people understood their world. Their stories carried meaning across generations, preserving identity, values and culture. They treated story as a strategic tool for aligning their people to their long-term goals. This again is an example of the heroic meaning-maker.
In digital transformation, your strategy and roadmap can only stay relevant and maintain meaning if they are shared as stories, not slides or large posters. People fo...]]> Simon Cocking 06:44 false full 44 9d7fdf34-df44-40bc-b153-47ff3249cb3b We need to revitalise our efforts to improve cyber security In Ireland and across Europe.
The criminals have learnt how to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools much faster than the cyber professionals. Unhindered by regulations and always willing to try things out, they have delivered an 89% increase in AI enabled attacks and 266% increase in cloud intrusions.
Crowd Strike's first report for 2026 presents a worsening situation that does not augur well for the rest of the year and questions AI tools and cloud systems, that were meant to improve things.
Add conflicts across the globe and the use of cyber warfare as a critical component of modern warfare, we have new players and tactics being deployed at a frightening rate.
Meanwhile, our attempts to engage with employees and make them part of the solution to cyber crime appear not to be working.
CybSafe, the cyber awareness training company has recently published their five-year study on behaviour and attitudes to security. It looks like we may have peaked in 2022. Techniques that should now be learnt behaviour need to be relearnt and revitalised.
CybSafe gave the following examples:
The Multi-Factor Authentication Gap, we have heard the message, but we're losing the habit. While MFA awareness grew from 52% to 77% since 2021, regular usage peaked at 94% in 2022 and has since collapsed to just 53% in 2025.
The Update Snooze, we're hitting 'Remind me later' more than ever. The number of people who 'always' install software updates immediately has dropped from 44% in 2021 to 31% in 2025.
Confidence is high but consistent action is on the decline, despite a stable belief in our ability to spot scams, those who 'always' check for phishing signs fell from 51% to 36% over five years.
The Cognitive Ceiling, we're hitting a mental limit. Between 2022 and 2025, the percentage of people who feel so overwhelmed by security information continues to increase, so much so. that they minimise their protection.
The Fatalism Spike, 'my data's already out there, so why bother?' This fatalistic belief surged from 22% in 2023 to 34% in 2025, turning a rational risk into a reason for apathy.
The Cost Barrier, when you're feeling bad about things, you don't want to pay more money for security that feels like a luxury you can't afford. Over half of us (53%) now see the cost of tools and software as a major barrier, up from 43% in 2021.
The Criminal gangs and state actors who launch attacks on government and business are improving. CybSafe are telling us that our attitudes and behaviours are getting worse. The world is not in great shape at all, it appears that our guard is down.
At every level of society; personal, family, school, business and government, we must look at some of our neighbours in Finland and Estonia about their approach. Engaging citizens through every communication channel and developing a third force outside of the normal services are part of their strategy.
We have untapped resources in the female and neurodiverse populations who can make a huge difference to support the beleaguered services in the private and public sector. We must set cyber security in the right direction in 2026.
See more stories here.
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.]]> https://irishtechnews.ie/cyber-security-is-going-in-the-wrong-direction/ We need to revitalise our efforts to improve cyber security In Ireland and across Europe.
The criminals have learnt how to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools much faster than the cyber professionals. Unhindered by regulations and always willing to try things out, they have delivered an 89% increase in AI enabled attacks and 266% increase in cloud intrusions.
Crowd Strike's first report for 2026 presents a worsening situation that does not augur well for the rest of the year and questions AI tools and cloud systems, that were meant to improve things.
Add conflicts across the globe and the use of cyber warfare as a critical component of modern warfare, we have new players and tactics being deployed at a frightening rate.
Meanwhile, our attempts to engage with employees and make them part of the solution to cyber crime appear not to be working.
CybSafe, the cyber awareness training company has recently published their five-year study on behaviour and attitudes to security. It looks like we may have peaked in 2022. Techniques that should now be learnt behaviour need to be relearnt and revitalised.
CybSafe gave the following examples:
The Multi-Factor Authentication Gap, we have heard the message, but we're losing the habit. While MFA awareness grew from 52% to 77% since 2021, regular usage peaked at 94% in 2022 and has since collapsed to just 53% in 2025.
The Update Snooze, we're hitting 'Remind me later' more than ever. The number of people who 'always' install software updates immediately has dropped from 44% in 2021 to 31% in 2025.
Confidence is high but consistent action is on the decline, despite a stable belief in our ability to spot scams, those who 'always' check for phishing signs fell from 51% to 36% over five years.
The Cognitive Ceiling, we're hitting a mental limit. Between 2022 and 2025, the percentage of people who feel so overwhelmed by security information continues to increase, so much so. that they minimise their protection.
The Fatalism Spike, 'my data's already out there, so why bother?' This fatalistic belief surged from 22% in 2023 to 34% in 2025, turning a rational risk into a reason for apathy.
The Cost Barrier, when you're feeling bad about things, you don't want to pay more money for security that feels like a luxury you can't afford. Over half of us (53%) now see the cost of tools and software as a major barrier, up from 43% in 2021.
The Criminal gangs and state actors who launch attacks on government and business are improving. CybSafe are telling us that our attitudes and behaviours are getting worse. The world is not in great shape at all, it appears that our guard is down.
At every level of society; personal, family, school, business and government, we must look at some of our neighbours in Finland and Estonia about their approach. Engaging citizens through every communication channel and developing a third force outside of the normal services are part of their strategy.
We have untapped resources in the female and neurodiverse populations who can make a huge difference to support the beleaguered services in the private and public sector. We must set cyber security in the right direction in 2026.
See more stories here.
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.]]> Thu, 02 Apr 2026 16:00:20 +0000 Cyber Security is going in the wrong direction We need to revitalise our efforts to improve cyber security In Ireland and across Europe.
The criminals have learnt how to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools much faster than the cyber professionals. Unhindered ...]]> We need to revitalise our efforts to improve cyber security In Ireland and across Europe.
The criminals have learnt how to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools much faster than the cyber professionals. Unhindered by regulations and always willing to try things out, they have delivered an 89% increase in AI enabled attacks and 266% increase in cloud intrusions.
Crowd Strike's first report for 2026 presents a worsening situation that does not augur well for the rest of the year and questions AI tools and cloud systems, that were meant to improve things.
Add conflicts across the globe and the use of cyber warfare as a critical component of modern warfare, we have new players and tactics being deployed at a frightening rate.
Meanwhile, our attempts to engage with employees and make them part of the solution to cyber crime appear not to be working.
CybSafe, the cyber awareness training company has recently published their five-year study on behaviour and attitudes to security. It looks like we may have peaked in 2022. Techniques that should now be learnt behaviour need to be relearnt and revitalised.
CybSafe gave the following examples:
The Multi-Factor Authentication Gap, we have heard the message, but we're losing the habit. While MFA awareness grew from 52% to 77% since 2021, regular usage peaked at 94% in 2022 and has since collapsed to just 53% in 2025.
The Update Snooze, we're hitting 'Remind me later' more than ever. The number of people who 'always' install software updates immediately has dropped from 44% in 2021 to 31% in 2025.
Confidence is high but consistent action is on the decline, despite a stable belief in our ability to spot scams, those who 'always' check for phishing signs fell from 51% to 36% over five years.
The Cognitive Ceiling, we're hitting a mental limit. Between 2022 and 2025, the percentage of people who feel so overwhelmed by security information continues to increase, so much so. that they minimise their protection.
The Fatalism Spike, 'my data's already out there, so why bother?' This fatalistic belief surged from 22% in 2023 to 34% in 2025, turning a rational risk into a reason for apathy.
The Cost Barrier, when you're feeling bad about things, you don't want to pay more money for security that feels like a luxury you can't afford. Over half of us (53%) now see the cost of tools and software as a major barrier, up from 43% in 2021.
The Criminal gangs and state actors who launch attacks on government and business are improving. CybSafe are telling us that our attitudes and behaviours are getting worse. The world is not in great shape at all, it appears that our guard is down.
At every level of society; personal, family, school, business and government, we must look at some of our neighbours in Finland and Estonia about their approach. Engaging citizens through every communication channel and developing a third force outside of the normal services are part of their strategy.
We have untapped resources in the female and neurodiverse populations who can make a huge difference to support the beleaguered services in the private and public sector. We must set cyber security in the right direction in 2026.
See more stories here.
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.]]> Ronan Leonard 04:28 false full 43 80dc9fc2-5732-4917-b7f2-4ae5d79b3c3f AI is rapidly moving from experimentation to everyday workplace reality. Across Ireland, employees are already using it to summarise documents, analyse data and automate routine tasks.
Yet for many leaders and organisations, the real challenge is not access to the technology but turning AI into meaningful business value.
The organisations seeing the greatest impact from AI are those bringing three things together: strategic leadership, the right technology foundation, and a workforce empowered to identify where AI can genuinely improve how work gets done.
Ireland's recently published Digital and AI Strategy, which sees AI technologies as a driver of growth, reflects this approach. It highlights the need to invest not only in digital infrastructure but also in the skills and capabilities that will allow employees to harness AI responsibly and productively.
For business leaders, the opportunity is significant, but so is the responsibility to build a clear and practical business case for AI.
Increased focus on the business case for AI
The conversation around AI is evolving at speed. What began as experimentation is now focused on a much more practical question: how can AI deliver measurable outcomes?
Across Ireland, organisations are operating in a cost-conscious environment where every technology investment must demonstrate value. The strongest AI strategies, therefore, focus on specific business outcomes such as productivity gains, improved decision-making or enhanced customer experiences.
A common misconception is that AI adoption requires large-scale investment and disruption. In reality, many successful initiatives begin with targeted use cases, such as automating routine processes, analysing data more effectively or improving customer interactions, that demonstrate value quickly and allow organisations to scale over time.
Workforce central to unlocking AI advantage
While technology provides the capability, it is employees who ultimately determine whether AI delivers real value.
Many of the most effective AI applications are discovered by employees who understand the day-to-day challenges within their roles. Teams in operations, finance or customer service are sometimes best placed to identify repetitive tasks that could be automated or improved through better data insights.
Equally important is ensuring employees feel confident using AI responsibly. Our latest Dell Innovation Catalysts Study shows the scale of this challenge. In fact, 98% of Irish organisations say their employees will need new skills to unlock the full potential of AI.
As these tools become embedded in everyday workflows, organisations will need to move beyond occasional training and adopt more continuous approaches to learning. The Government's commitment to roll out AI training across the public sector is welcome and will help drive responsible AI adoption and ensure 100% of key public services are digitalised by 2030.
Leadership sets the tone for AI adoption
Leadership plays a crucial role in helping organisations move from AI experimentation to real business impact.
For many organisations, the challenge is not recognising AI's potential, but unlocking value from the vast amounts of data they already hold. Leaders, therefore, have an important role in ensuring AI initiatives are tied to clear priorities and focused on turning data into insights that support better decisions.
From our perspective at Dell Technologies, organisations that treat AI as a business transformation rather than simply a technology deployment are the ones unlocking its real strategic advantage.
We are also beginning to see more advanced capabilities such as agentic AI, where intelligent systems can help coordinate workflows and support decision-making. As these technologies evolve, leadership will play an increasingly important role in ensuring organisations have the right strategy and governance in place to...]]> https://irishtechnews.ie/people-leadership-and-technology-business-ireland/ AI is rapidly moving from experimentation to everyday workplace reality. Across Ireland, employees are already using it to summarise documents, analyse data and automate routine tasks.
Yet for many leaders and organisations, the real challenge is not access to the technology but turning AI into meaningful business value.
The organisations seeing the greatest impact from AI are those bringing three things together: strategic leadership, the right technology foundation, and a workforce empowered to identify where AI can genuinely improve how work gets done.
Ireland's recently published Digital and AI Strategy, which sees AI technologies as a driver of growth, reflects this approach. It highlights the need to invest not only in digital infrastructure but also in the skills and capabilities that will allow employees to harness AI responsibly and productively.
For business leaders, the opportunity is significant, but so is the responsibility to build a clear and practical business case for AI.
Increased focus on the business case for AI
The conversation around AI is evolving at speed. What began as experimentation is now focused on a much more practical question: how can AI deliver measurable outcomes?
Across Ireland, organisations are operating in a cost-conscious environment where every technology investment must demonstrate value. The strongest AI strategies, therefore, focus on specific business outcomes such as productivity gains, improved decision-making or enhanced customer experiences.
A common misconception is that AI adoption requires large-scale investment and disruption. In reality, many successful initiatives begin with targeted use cases, such as automating routine processes, analysing data more effectively or improving customer interactions, that demonstrate value quickly and allow organisations to scale over time.
Workforce central to unlocking AI advantage
While technology provides the capability, it is employees who ultimately determine whether AI delivers real value.
Many of the most effective AI applications are discovered by employees who understand the day-to-day challenges within their roles. Teams in operations, finance or customer service are sometimes best placed to identify repetitive tasks that could be automated or improved through better data insights.
Equally important is ensuring employees feel confident using AI responsibly. Our latest Dell Innovation Catalysts Study shows the scale of this challenge. In fact, 98% of Irish organisations say their employees will need new skills to unlock the full potential of AI.
As these tools become embedded in everyday workflows, organisations will need to move beyond occasional training and adopt more continuous approaches to learning. The Government's commitment to roll out AI training across the public sector is welcome and will help drive responsible AI adoption and ensure 100% of key public services are digitalised by 2030.
Leadership sets the tone for AI adoption
Leadership plays a crucial role in helping organisations move from AI experimentation to real business impact.
For many organisations, the challenge is not recognising AI's potential, but unlocking value from the vast amounts of data they already hold. Leaders, therefore, have an important role in ensuring AI initiatives are tied to clear priorities and focused on turning data into insights that support better decisions.
From our perspective at Dell Technologies, organisations that treat AI as a business transformation rather than simply a technology deployment are the ones unlocking its real strategic advantage.
We are also beginning to see more advanced capabilities such as agentic AI, where intelligent systems can help coordinate workflows and support decision-making. As these technologies evolve, leadership will play an increasingly important role in ensuring organisations have the right strategy and governance in place to...]]> Thu, 02 Apr 2026 14:00:45 +0000 People, leadership and technology driving real business value from AI in Ireland AI is rapidly moving from experimentation to everyday workplace reality. Across Ireland, employees are already using it to summarise documents, analyse data and automate routine tas...]]> AI is rapidly moving from experimentation to everyday workplace reality. Across Ireland, employees are already using it to summarise documents, analyse data and automate routine tasks.
Yet for many leaders and organisations, the real challenge is not access to the technology but turning AI into meaningful business value.
The organisations seeing the greatest impact from AI are those bringing three things together: strategic leadership, the right technology foundation, and a workforce empowered to identify where AI can genuinely improve how work gets done.
Ireland's recently published Digital and AI Strategy, which sees AI technologies as a driver of growth, reflects this approach. It highlights the need to invest not only in digital infrastructure but also in the skills and capabilities that will allow employees to harness AI responsibly and productively.
For business leaders, the opportunity is significant, but so is the responsibility to build a clear and practical business case for AI.
Increased focus on the business case for AI
The conversation around AI is evolving at speed. What began as experimentation is now focused on a much more practical question: how can AI deliver measurable outcomes?
Across Ireland, organisations are operating in a cost-conscious environment where every technology investment must demonstrate value. The strongest AI strategies, therefore, focus on specific business outcomes such as productivity gains, improved decision-making or enhanced customer experiences.
A common misconception is that AI adoption requires large-scale investment and disruption. In reality, many successful initiatives begin with targeted use cases, such as automating routine processes, analysing data more effectively or improving customer interactions, that demonstrate value quickly and allow organisations to scale over time.
Workforce central to unlocking AI advantage
While technology provides the capability, it is employees who ultimately determine whether AI delivers real value.
Many of the most effective AI applications are discovered by employees who understand the day-to-day challenges within their roles. Teams in operations, finance or customer service are sometimes best placed to identify repetitive tasks that could be automated or improved through better data insights.
Equally important is ensuring employees feel confident using AI responsibly. Our latest Dell Innovation Catalysts Study shows the scale of this challenge. In fact, 98% of Irish organisations say their employees will need new skills to unlock the full potential of AI.
As these tools become embedded in everyday workflows, organisations will need to move beyond occasional training and adopt more continuous approaches to learning. The Government's commitment to roll out AI training across the public sector is welcome and will help drive responsible AI adoption and ensure 100% of key public services are digitalised by 2030.
Leadership sets the tone for AI adoption
Leadership plays a crucial role in helping organisations move from AI experimentation to real business impact.
For many organisations, the challenge is not recognising AI's potential, but unlocking value from the vast amounts of data they already hold. Leaders, therefore, have an important role in ensuring AI initiatives are tied to clear priorities and focused on turning data into insights that support better decisions.
From our perspective at Dell Technologies, organisations that treat AI as a business transformation rather than simply a technology deployment are the ones unlocking its real strategic advantage.
We are also beginning to see more advanced capabilities such as agentic AI, where intelligent systems can help coordinate workflows and support decision-making. As these technologies evolve, leadership will play an increasingly important role in ensuring organisations have the right strategy and governance in place to...]]> Irish Tech News 07:21 false full 42 59b408bf-82a3-400d-adad-bfbd1fc099d2 The WRGP was created by Learnovate to respond to the shortage of digital skills in the Irish economy by offering organisations the opportunity to host high-calibre graduates in AI and data analytics on 12-month placements.
Co-funded by Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, the WRGP provides companies with a structured, low-risk way to build out their technological capabilities, while offering graduates the chance to earn up to €38,000, gain experience and apply their skills to a real digital transformation project in a work setting.
The programme is currently accepting applications with up to 12 organisations set to serve as hosts during the next intake. All host organisations must be registered with Enterprise Ireland. For more information on how to become a WRGP host organisation, contact info@learnovatecentre.org.
According to Learnovate's 2025 Learning Signals Survey, two-thirds (66%) of Irish organisations cite AI and digital fluency as their most pressing skills gaps. Half (52%) are still only in the early stages of developing a strategy to address the issue.
Under the model, host organisations benefit from the Learnovate research team's continuing mentoring of the graduates, who also take part in structured reviews, workshops and professional development courses in project management.
Former host companies include adaptive learning firm Adaptemy; B2B strategic workforce platform SkillsVista; curriculum management provider Akari, and Hibernia College, a higher education institution specialising in flexible, online postgraduate and professional development programmes in education and healthcare.
Hibernia College reported that graduates delivered measurable impact in terms of AI adoption, data-driven decision-making and digital learning innovation. They helped extract and analyse complex learner data from college systems, generated insights that informed changes to programme design and delivery, and supported the practical application of generative AI in content production and digital workflows.
Host organisations have also highlighted the value of the programme's cost-sharing model. Funding is available to host organisations for up to 70% of the programme's value, which will allow companies to explore new technological capabilities in a managed and supported way.
This is a nationwide initiative with in-office, hybrid and remote roles available through the programme. Many host organisations have elected to offer graduates full-time positions following the 12-month placement, a move which reflects both the calibre of participants and the value delivered during the placement.
Learnovate Director Nessa McEniff says:
"Organisations are grappling more and more with how best to adopt AI and advanced learning technologies in ways that deliver genuine value. The Work Ready Graduate Programme provides a practical pathway to do that. Companies gain access to best-in-class graduates who can provide a transformative impact on priority projects, while those graduates are supported through structured mentoring and exposure to leading-edge research and practice. It is a model that builds capability and benefits both graduates and companies."
Hibernia College Digital Learning Team Manager John Lenehan says:
"The quality of candidates we received through the Work Ready Graduate Programme was phenomenal and, when they came on board, their impact was transformative for our operations. They were very effective at extracting data and developing insights from our systems – insights that helped us rethink our approach to how we evaluate and deliver digital learning content. The Work Ready Graduate Programme is a fantastic resource for any organisation looking for experts to proactively lead the introduction of cutting-edge ...]]> https://irishtechnews.ie/learnovate-bridge-digital-skills-gap/ The WRGP was created by Learnovate to respond to the shortage of digital skills in the Irish economy by offering organisations the opportunity to host high-calibre graduates in AI and data analytics on 12-month placements.
Co-funded by Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, the WRGP provides companies with a structured, low-risk way to build out their technological capabilities, while offering graduates the chance to earn up to €38,000, gain experience and apply their skills to a real digital transformation project in a work setting.
The programme is currently accepting applications with up to 12 organisations set to serve as hosts during the next intake. All host organisations must be registered with Enterprise Ireland. For more information on how to become a WRGP host organisation, contact info@learnovatecentre.org.
According to Learnovate's 2025 Learning Signals Survey, two-thirds (66%) of Irish organisations cite AI and digital fluency as their most pressing skills gaps. Half (52%) are still only in the early stages of developing a strategy to address the issue.
Under the model, host organisations benefit from the Learnovate research team's continuing mentoring of the graduates, who also take part in structured reviews, workshops and professional development courses in project management.
Former host companies include adaptive learning firm Adaptemy; B2B strategic workforce platform SkillsVista; curriculum management provider Akari, and Hibernia College, a higher education institution specialising in flexible, online postgraduate and professional development programmes in education and healthcare.
Hibernia College reported that graduates delivered measurable impact in terms of AI adoption, data-driven decision-making and digital learning innovation. They helped extract and analyse complex learner data from college systems, generated insights that informed changes to programme design and delivery, and supported the practical application of generative AI in content production and digital workflows.
Host organisations have also highlighted the value of the programme's cost-sharing model. Funding is available to host organisations for up to 70% of the programme's value, which will allow companies to explore new technological capabilities in a managed and supported way.
This is a nationwide initiative with in-office, hybrid and remote roles available through the programme. Many host organisations have elected to offer graduates full-time positions following the 12-month placement, a move which reflects both the calibre of participants and the value delivered during the placement.
Learnovate Director Nessa McEniff says:
"Organisations are grappling more and more with how best to adopt AI and advanced learning technologies in ways that deliver genuine value. The Work Ready Graduate Programme provides a practical pathway to do that. Companies gain access to best-in-class graduates who can provide a transformative impact on priority projects, while those graduates are supported through structured mentoring and exposure to leading-edge research and practice. It is a model that builds capability and benefits both graduates and companies."
Hibernia College Digital Learning Team Manager John Lenehan says:
"The quality of candidates we received through the Work Ready Graduate Programme was phenomenal and, when they came on board, their impact was transformative for our operations. They were very effective at extracting data and developing insights from our systems – insights that helped us rethink our approach to how we evaluate and deliver digital learning content. The Work Ready Graduate Programme is a fantastic resource for any organisation looking for experts to proactively lead the introduction of cutting-edge ...]]> Thu, 02 Apr 2026 13:00:59 +0000 Learnovate urges organisations to bridge digital skills gap by joining Work Ready Graduate Programme The WRGP was created by Lea...]]> The WRGP was created by Learnovate to respond to the shortage of digital skills in the Irish economy by offering organisations the opportunity to host high-calibre graduates in AI and data analytics on 12-month placements.
Co-funded by Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, the WRGP provides companies with a structured, low-risk way to build out their technological capabilities, while offering graduates the chance to earn up to €38,000, gain experience and apply their skills to a real digital transformation project in a work setting.
The programme is currently accepting applications with up to 12 organisations set to serve as hosts during the next intake. All host organisations must be registered with Enterprise Ireland. For more information on how to become a WRGP host organisation, contact info@learnovatecentre.org.
According to Learnovate's 2025 Learning Signals Survey, two-thirds (66%) of Irish organisations cite AI and digital fluency as their most pressing skills gaps. Half (52%) are still only in the early stages of developing a strategy to address the issue.
Under the model, host organisations benefit from the Learnovate research team's continuing mentoring of the graduates, who also take part in structured reviews, workshops and professional development courses in project management.
Former host companies include adaptive learning firm Adaptemy; B2B strategic workforce platform SkillsVista; curriculum management provider Akari, and Hibernia College, a higher education institution specialising in flexible, online postgraduate and professional development programmes in education and healthcare.
Hibernia College reported that graduates delivered measurable impact in terms of AI adoption, data-driven decision-making and digital learning innovation. They helped extract and analyse complex learner data from college systems, generated insights that informed changes to programme design and delivery, and supported the practical application of generative AI in content production and digital workflows.
Host organisations have also highlighted the value of the programme's cost-sharing model. Funding is available to host organisations for up to 70% of the programme's value, which will allow companies to explore new technological capabilities in a managed and supported way.
This is a nationwide initiative with in-office, hybrid and remote roles available through the programme. Many host organisations have elected to offer graduates full-time positions following the 12-month placement, a move which reflects both the calibre of participants and the value delivered during the placement.
Learnovate Director Nessa McEniff says:
"Organisations are grappling more and more with how best to adopt AI and advanced learning technologies in ways that deliver genuine value. The Work Ready Graduate Programme provides a practical pathway to do that. Companies gain access to best-in-class graduates who can provide a transformative impact on priority projects, while those graduates are supported through structured mentoring and exposure to leading-edge research and practice. It is a model that builds capability and benefits both graduates and companies."
Hibernia College Digital Learning Team Manager John Lenehan says:
"The quality of candidates we received through the Work Ready Graduate Programme was phenomenal and, when they came on board, their impact was transformative for our operations. They were very effective at extracting data and developing insights from our systems – insights that helped us rethink our approach to how we evaluate and deliver digital learning content. The Work Ready Graduate Programme is a fantastic resource for any organisation looking for experts to proactively lead the introduction of cutting-edge ...]]> Irish Tech News 05:02 false full 41 86ffdba8-4db5-4c05-ac41-6bbac7c2fed5 The bottleneck isn't intelligence. It's shared intelligence. AI at work is still mostly single-player, one person, one tool, one conversation at a time. But the most important work has always happened between people. Decisions made in meetings. Context built up over months in channels and threads. Deals won by teams, not individuals. The organisations pulling ahead aren't the ones with just more AI — they're the ones where intelligence doesn't wait to be found. It shows up. That's the new unfair advantage: more impact from every person, on every team.
Capturing that advantage requires a new interface for work. One that lives where work already happens, that knows your channels, your history, your decisions, your data, and connects every agent, every app, and every workflow your organisation runs. One that works for the whole team, not just the people who know where to look.
That interface is Slack. Slack has always been where work happens. Slackbot is how work gets done.
Slackbot is the ultimate teammate, unlike any colleague you've ever had. Always-on and deeply knowledgeable about every facet of your business, it combines powerful AI reasoning with full awareness of your channels, conversations, files, and history. It learns how you work and gets better at it over time, adapting to the workflows and preferences unique to your role.
It comes with a growing set of skills: searching, brainstorming, writing, coding, orchestrating workflows, updating records. And because Slackbot is a platform, those skills extend across every app and agent in your enterprise, putting the full capability of your organisation inside a single conversation. Governed by default. Inheriting every permission your organisation has already established. Slackbot doesn't just make you faster. It makes your team better.
There is nothing new to install. Nothing new to manage. It just works.
Customers like Anthropic, Asymbl, Engine, reMarkableare using Slackbot, with some employees reporting saving up to 90 minutes a day – the equivalent of more than two months of working hours back every year. Inside Salesforce, the results are even stronger: teams are saving up to 20 hours a week, already generating over $6.4M in productivity value.
"Slack is the operating system for work, bringing humans, agents, data, and apps together in one trusted conversational interface. With Slackbot, every employee now has a super-intelligent teammate whose status is always green – coordinating across teams and systems, accelerating execution across the enterprise, and saving hours every day. Slackbot is the front door for the Agentic Enterprise." – Parker Harris, Co-Founder Salesforce, Slack CTO
Today, we're announcing more than 30 new capabilities that take Slackbot from personal agent to the ultimate teammate. Together, they don't just extend what Slackbot can do, they redefine what Slack is for every Agentic Enterprise. Everything shipping is built around the same idea: more impact per person, per team.
Here's what's new:
With a new meeting transcription and note taking capability, Slackbot is now a powerful personal meeting assistant with the full context of your business. Unlike other meeting tools, it can act across your enterprise systems the moment the call ends.
Slackbot now travels across your desktop with you as you work – understanding the context of whatever you're doing and taking action across your enterprise apps, with the permissions and governance already established in Slack.
New reusable AI skills let any team define a task once – the inputs, the steps, the exact output – and run it anytime, automatically. Slackbot recognizes when a prompt matches a skill and applies it with...]]> https://irishtechnews.ie/meet-the-new-slack-where-ai-works/ The bottleneck isn't intelligence. It's shared intelligence. AI at work is still mostly single-player, one person, one tool, one conversation at a time. But the most important work has always happened between people. Decisions made in meetings. Context built up over months in channels and threads. Deals won by teams, not individuals. The organisations pulling ahead aren't the ones with just more AI — they're the ones where intelligence doesn't wait to be found. It shows up. That's the new unfair advantage: more impact from every person, on every team.
Capturing that advantage requires a new interface for work. One that lives where work already happens, that knows your channels, your history, your decisions, your data, and connects every agent, every app, and every workflow your organisation runs. One that works for the whole team, not just the people who know where to look.
That interface is Slack. Slack has always been where work happens. Slackbot is how work gets done.
Slackbot is the ultimate teammate, unlike any colleague you've ever had. Always-on and deeply knowledgeable about every facet of your business, it combines powerful AI reasoning with full awareness of your channels, conversations, files, and history. It learns how you work and gets better at it over time, adapting to the workflows and preferences unique to your role.
It comes with a growing set of skills: searching, brainstorming, writing, coding, orchestrating workflows, updating records. And because Slackbot is a platform, those skills extend across every app and agent in your enterprise, putting the full capability of your organisation inside a single conversation. Governed by default. Inheriting every permission your organisation has already established. Slackbot doesn't just make you faster. It makes your team better.
There is nothing new to install. Nothing new to manage. It just works.
Customers like Anthropic, Asymbl, Engine, reMarkableare using Slackbot, with some employees reporting saving up to 90 minutes a day – the equivalent of more than two months of working hours back every year. Inside Salesforce, the results are even stronger: teams are saving up to 20 hours a week, already generating over $6.4M in productivity value.
"Slack is the operating system for work, bringing humans, agents, data, and apps together in one trusted conversational interface. With Slackbot, every employee now has a super-intelligent teammate whose status is always green – coordinating across teams and systems, accelerating execution across the enterprise, and saving hours every day. Slackbot is the front door for the Agentic Enterprise." – Parker Harris, Co-Founder Salesforce, Slack CTO
Today, we're announcing more than 30 new capabilities that take Slackbot from personal agent to the ultimate teammate. Together, they don't just extend what Slackbot can do, they redefine what Slack is for every Agentic Enterprise. Everything shipping is built around the same idea: more impact per person, per team.
Here's what's new:
With a new meeting transcription and note taking capability, Slackbot is now a powerful personal meeting assistant with the full context of your business. Unlike other meeting tools, it can act across your enterprise systems the moment the call ends.
Slackbot now travels across your desktop with you as you work – understanding the context of whatever you're doing and taking action across your enterprise apps, with the permissions and governance already established in Slack.
New reusable AI skills let any team define a task once – the inputs, the steps, the exact output – and run it anytime, automatically. Slackbot recognizes when a prompt matches a skill and applies it with...]]> Thu, 02 Apr 2026 12:00:01 +0000 Meet the new Slack – Where AI works The bottleneck isn't intelligence. It's shared intelligence. AI at work is still mostly single-player, one person, one tool, one conversation at a time. But the most important work has always happened between people. Decisions made in meetings. Context built up over months in channels and threads. Deals won by teams, not individuals. The organisations pulling ahead aren't the ones with just more AI — they're the ones where intelligence doesn't wait to be found. It shows up. That's the new unfair advantage: more impact from every person, on every team.
Capturing that advantage requires a new interface for work. One that lives where work already happens, that knows your channels, your history, your decisions, your data, and connects every agent, every app, and every workflow your organisation runs. One that works for the whole team, not just the people who know where to look.
That interface is Slack. Slack has always been where work happens. Slackbot is how work gets done.
Slackbot is the ultimate teammate, unlike any colleague you've ever had. Always-on and deeply knowledgeable about every facet of your business, it combines powerful AI reasoning with full awareness of your channels, conversations, files, and history. It learns how you work and gets better at it over time, adapting to the workflows and preferences unique to your role.
It comes with a growing set of skills: searching, brainstorming, writing, coding, orchestrating workflows, updating records. And because Slackbot is a platform, those skills extend across every app and agent in your enterprise, putting the full capability of your organisation inside a single conversation. Governed by default. Inheriting every permission your organisation has already established. Slackbot doesn't just make you faster. It makes your team better.
There is nothing new to install. Nothing new to manage. It just works.
Customers like Anthropic, Asymbl, Engine, reMarkableare using Slackbot, with some employees reporting saving up to 90 minutes a day – the equivalent of more than two months of working hours back every year. Inside Salesforce, the results are even stronger: teams are saving up to 20 hours a week, already generating over $6.4M in productivity value.
"Slack is the operating system for work, bringing humans, agents, data, and apps together in one trusted conversational interface. With Slackbot, every employee now has a super-intelligent teammate whose status is always green – coordinating across teams and systems, accelerating execution across the enterprise, and saving hours every day. Slackbot is the front door for the Agentic Enterprise." – Parker Harris, Co-Founder Salesforce, Slack CTO
Today, we're announcing more than 30 new capabilities that take Slackbot from personal agent to the ultimate teammate. Together, they don't just extend what Slackbot can do, they redefine what Slack is for every Agentic Enterprise. Everything shipping is built around the same idea: more impact per person, per team.
Here's what's new:
With a new meeting transcription and note taking capability, Slackbot is now a powerful personal meeting assistant with the full context of your business. Unlike other meeting tools, it can act across your enterprise systems the moment the call ends.
Slackbot now travels across your desktop with you as you work – understanding the context of whatever you're doing and taking action across your enterprise apps, with the permissions and governance already established in Slack.
New reusable AI skills let any team define a task once – the inputs, the steps, the exact output – and run it anytime, automatically. Slackbot recognizes when a prompt matches a skill and applies it with...]]> Ronan Leonard 15:46 false full 40 6241967f-2559-4a00-bf23-f2123cd68fd4 Minister Lawless encouraged students and families to check their eligibility early, noting that ensuring college remains affordable for households across the country continues to be a key Government priority.
Minister Lawless said, "Every year, I meet students and families who tell me how challenging the cost of college can be. I'm very conscious of that, and these changes are about easing that pressure and making sure cost isn't the thing that stops someone pursuing their education."
The Minister highlighted that students are already benefitting from several enhancements introduced this academic year, with further improvements taking effect from September.
"I know that rent, travel and everyday expenses can add up fast. That's why I have widened the grant thresholds and increased non?adjacent maintenance rates – doing everything we can to ease the pressure on families when it comes to college costs."
He continued: "In addition to strengthening the Student Grant Scheme, I have permanently reduced the student contribution fee by €500. This means that eligible undergraduate students from households earning up to €120,000 will pay no more than €2,000 towards the student contribution charge from 2026/27."
The Minister encouraged students to act promptly.
"These improvements take effect from September. I'd urge people to check their eligibility on www.susi.ie and, if they're eligible, to get their application in early".
Applications have also opened for the Part?Time Fee Scheme for Specified Undergraduate Courses for 2026/27. First launched in 2024, this scheme supports students who are underrepresented in higher education and who need more flexible learning options.
Minister Lawless welcomed the expansion of institutions participating in the scheme.
"I'm delighted to welcome the new Higher Education Institutions joining the Part?Time Scheme. Not everyone can commit to full?time study – many people are balancing work, family and other responsibilities. This scheme gives learners real flexibility and real opportunity. As we continue to grow this initiative, the increased course provision shows our commitment to offering students more choice in how they study."
Budget 2026: Key Improvements Taking Effect from September 2026
Budget 2026 delivered significant enhancements to both the Student Grant Scheme and the Part?Time Student Grant Scheme. Eligible students will see the following improvements:
Improvements from September 2026 for eligible students will include:
— Increase in the €500 student contribution grant threshold from €115,000 to €120,000
— Increase in the special rate threshold from €27,400 to €28,600
— Permanent €500 reduction in the Student Contribution charge (from €3,000 to €2,500)
— Permanent €500 increase in the Postgraduate Fee Contribution Grant (from €4,000 to €4,500)
— Increase to all non?adjacent maintenance rates (for students living 30km or more from their institution)
— Increase to the income disregard for student earnings outside term time (from €8,424 to €8,830)
SUSI is now open for new and renewal applications from today, 1 April 2026, for both the Student Grant Scheme and the Part?Time Scheme. Students can apply at www.susi.ie.]]> https://irishtechnews.ie/major-expansion-of-student-grant-supports-susi/ Minister Lawless encouraged students and families to check their eligibility early, noting that ensuring college remains affordable for households across the country continues to be a key Government priority.
Minister Lawless said, "Every year, I meet students and families who tell me how challenging the cost of college can be. I'm very conscious of that, and these changes are about easing that pressure and making sure cost isn't the thing that stops someone pursuing their education."
The Minister highlighted that students are already benefitting from several enhancements introduced this academic year, with further improvements taking effect from September.
"I know that rent, travel and everyday expenses can add up fast. That's why I have widened the grant thresholds and increased non?adjacent maintenance rates – doing everything we can to ease the pressure on families when it comes to college costs."
He continued: "In addition to strengthening the Student Grant Scheme, I have permanently reduced the student contribution fee by €500. This means that eligible undergraduate students from households earning up to €120,000 will pay no more than €2,000 towards the student contribution charge from 2026/27."
The Minister encouraged students to act promptly.
"These improvements take effect from September. I'd urge people to check their eligibility on www.susi.ie and, if they're eligible, to get their application in early".
Applications have also opened for the Part?Time Fee Scheme for Specified Undergraduate Courses for 2026/27. First launched in 2024, this scheme supports students who are underrepresented in higher education and who need more flexible learning options.
Minister Lawless welcomed the expansion of institutions participating in the scheme.
"I'm delighted to welcome the new Higher Education Institutions joining the Part?Time Scheme. Not everyone can commit to full?time study – many people are balancing work, family and other responsibilities. This scheme gives learners real flexibility and real opportunity. As we continue to grow this initiative, the increased course provision shows our commitment to offering students more choice in how they study."
Budget 2026: Key Improvements Taking Effect from September 2026
Budget 2026 delivered significant enhancements to both the Student Grant Scheme and the Part?Time Student Grant Scheme. Eligible students will see the following improvements:
Improvements from September 2026 for eligible students will include:
— Increase in the €500 student contribution grant threshold from €115,000 to €120,000
— Increase in the special rate threshold from €27,400 to €28,600
— Permanent €500 reduction in the Student Contribution charge (from €3,000 to €2,500)
— Permanent €500 increase in the Postgraduate Fee Contribution Grant (from €4,000 to €4,500)
— Increase to all non?adjacent maintenance rates (for students living 30km or more from their institution)
— Increase to the income disregard for student earnings outside term time (from €8,424 to €8,830)
SUSI is now open for new and renewal applications from today, 1 April 2026, for both the Student Grant Scheme and the Part?Time Scheme. Students can apply at www.susi.ie.]]> Thu, 02 Apr 2026 11:00:36 +0000 Major expansion of Student Grant Supports as SUSI opens for 2026/27 applications Minister Lawless encouraged students and families to check their eligibility early, noting that ensuring college remains affordable for households across the country continues to be a key Government priority.
Minister Lawless said, "Every year, I meet students and families who tell me how challenging the cost of college can be. I'm very conscious of that, and these changes are about easing that pressure and making sure cost isn't the thing that stops someone pursuing their education."
The Minister highlighted that students are already benefitting from several enhancements introduced this academic year, with further improvements taking effect from September.
"I know that rent, travel and everyday expenses can add up fast. That's why I have widened the grant thresholds and increased non?adjacent maintenance rates – doing everything we can to ease the pressure on families when it comes to college costs."
He continued: "In addition to strengthening the Student Grant Scheme, I have permanently reduced the student contribution fee by €500. This means that eligible undergraduate students from households earning up to €120,000 will pay no more than €2,000 towards the student contribution charge from 2026/27."
The Minister encouraged students to act promptly.
"These improvements take effect from September. I'd urge people to check their eligibility on www.susi.ie and, if they're eligible, to get their application in early".
Applications have also opened for the Part?Time Fee Scheme for Specified Undergraduate Courses for 2026/27. First launched in 2024, this scheme supports students who are underrepresented in higher education and who need more flexible learning options.
Minister Lawless welcomed the expansion of institutions participating in the scheme.
"I'm delighted to welcome the new Higher Education Institutions joining the Part?Time Scheme. Not everyone can commit to full?time study – many people are balancing work, family and other responsibilities. This scheme gives learners real flexibility and real opportunity. As we continue to grow this initiative, the increased course provision shows our commitment to offering students more choice in how they study."
Budget 2026: Key Improvements Taking Effect from September 2026
Budget 2026 delivered significant enhancements to both the Student Grant Scheme and the Part?Time Student Grant Scheme. Eligible students will see the following improvements:
Improvements from September 2026 for eligible students will include:
— Increase in the €500 student contribution grant threshold from €115,000 to €120,000
— Increase in the special rate threshold from €27,400 to €28,600
— Permanent €500 reduction in the Student Contribution charge (from €3,000 to €2,500)
— Permanent €500 increase in the Postgraduate Fee Contribution Grant (from €4,000 to €4,500)
— Increase to all non?adjacent maintenance rates (for students living 30km or more from their institution)
— Increase to the income disregard for student earnings outside term time (from €8,424 to €8,830)
SUSI is now open for new and renewal applications from today, 1 April 2026, for both the Student Grant Scheme and the Part?Time Scheme. Students can apply at www.susi.ie.]]> Irish Tech News 04:07 false full 39 500d9217-2ddd-498d-8905-1b082e3abef8 In the new research, recently published in the leading international journal Nature Communications, the Trinity team reported one such promising advance with collaborators at the University of Bath and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL).
The team developed a new way to generate extremely stable signals of light using microscopic ring-shaped devices called "microresonators". These signals form what scientists call optical frequency combs, sometimes described as "optical rulers" because they produce a series of evenly spaced colours of light that can be used to measure light with remarkable precision.
The researchers also demonstrated a new type of light pulse called a "hyperparametric soliton". This stable pulse is the key behind the major advancement in this work, as it allows the comb signals to be produced at different colours of light from the laser that powers the device.
This makes the technology useful for high-speed optical communications that play a major role in data transfer (in data centres).
And the researchers demonstrated this in a wavelength region used for high-speed data links inside large data centres, an area of growing importance as demand for data continues to surge with the expansion of AI computing infrastructure.
What is the potential impact of this research?
Data centres require huge amounts of energy to perform the myriad tasks we ask of them, and those requirements are rapidly increasing – driven, in part, by our ever-growing use of AI. According to Ireland's Central Statistics Office, data centres accounted for 22% of total electricity use in 2024, which is more than all urban households (18%) combined. And their electricity use increased by 10% from the previous year.
Given the upward trajectory of our reliance on data centres and their need for power, any technological innovations that enhance efficiency can make a genuine impact in reducing electricity consumption and contributing towards challenging carbon emissions targets.
Professor John Donegan, Professor of Physics at Trinity College Dublin and a Funded Investigator at the CONNECT Research Ireland Centre for Future Networks, said: "We are very excited to have generated a new type of optical source that will be of strong interest to those working in optical communications and high-precision optical measurements."
"Working with an outstanding optical theorist at the University of Bath and the world-leading microresonator fabrication group in Switzerland, my group has been able to demonstrate a new type of optical comb source."
"Our work also benefits from collaboration with Pilot Photonics, a DCU spin-out developing high-precision laser and comb sources for optical communications. We anticipate that this is just the beginning of this work and that it will develop strongly in the years to come."
How could the work deliver the next generation of optical networks?
"Modern fibre-optic networks send large amounts of data by transmitting many different colours of light through a single optical fibre – a technique known as wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM)," added Prof. Donegan.
"But optical frequency combs can generate many of these colours from a single light source, potentially replacing arrays of separate lasers – so by simplifying system design while improving efficiency and stability, comb-based technologies could become important building blocks for future data centre networks and high-capacity internet infrastructure."
This research was supported by Research Ireland, the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the CONNECT Centre, the Royal Society and the Leading Innovation and Entrepreneurship Teams of Zhejiang.
The journal article can be read at: https://www.n...]]> https://irishtechnews.ie/trinity-chip-scale-light-technology-faster-ai/ In the new research, recently published in the leading international journal Nature Communications, the Trinity team reported one such promising advance with collaborators at the University of Bath and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL).
The team developed a new way to generate extremely stable signals of light using microscopic ring-shaped devices called "microresonators". These signals form what scientists call optical frequency combs, sometimes described as "optical rulers" because they produce a series of evenly spaced colours of light that can be used to measure light with remarkable precision.
The researchers also demonstrated a new type of light pulse called a "hyperparametric soliton". This stable pulse is the key behind the major advancement in this work, as it allows the comb signals to be produced at different colours of light from the laser that powers the device.
This makes the technology useful for high-speed optical communications that play a major role in data transfer (in data centres).
And the researchers demonstrated this in a wavelength region used for high-speed data links inside large data centres, an area of growing importance as demand for data continues to surge with the expansion of AI computing infrastructure.
What is the potential impact of this research?
Data centres require huge amounts of energy to perform the myriad tasks we ask of them, and those requirements are rapidly increasing – driven, in part, by our ever-growing use of AI. According to Ireland's Central Statistics Office, data centres accounted for 22% of total electricity use in 2024, which is more than all urban households (18%) combined. And their electricity use increased by 10% from the previous year.
Given the upward trajectory of our reliance on data centres and their need for power, any technological innovations that enhance efficiency can make a genuine impact in reducing electricity consumption and contributing towards challenging carbon emissions targets.
Professor John Donegan, Professor of Physics at Trinity College Dublin and a Funded Investigator at the CONNECT Research Ireland Centre for Future Networks, said: "We are very excited to have generated a new type of optical source that will be of strong interest to those working in optical communications and high-precision optical measurements."
"Working with an outstanding optical theorist at the University of Bath and the world-leading microresonator fabrication group in Switzerland, my group has been able to demonstrate a new type of optical comb source."
"Our work also benefits from collaboration with Pilot Photonics, a DCU spin-out developing high-precision laser and comb sources for optical communications. We anticipate that this is just the beginning of this work and that it will develop strongly in the years to come."
How could the work deliver the next generation of optical networks?
"Modern fibre-optic networks send large amounts of data by transmitting many different colours of light through a single optical fibre – a technique known as wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM)," added Prof. Donegan.
"But optical frequency combs can generate many of these colours from a single light source, potentially replacing arrays of separate lasers – so by simplifying system design while improving efficiency and stability, comb-based technologies could become important building blocks for future data centre networks and high-capacity internet infrastructure."
This research was supported by Research Ireland, the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the CONNECT Centre, the Royal Society and the Leading Innovation and Entrepreneurship Teams of Zhejiang.
The journal article can be read at: https://www.n...]]> Thu, 02 Apr 2026 09:30:33 +0000 Trinity Team's New Chip-Scale Light Technology Could Power Faster AI and Data Centre Communications In the new r...]]> In the new research, recently published in the leading international journal Nature Communications, the Trinity team reported one such promising advance with collaborators at the University of Bath and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL).
The team developed a new way to generate extremely stable signals of light using microscopic ring-shaped devices called "microresonators". These signals form what scientists call optical frequency combs, sometimes described as "optical rulers" because they produce a series of evenly spaced colours of light that can be used to measure light with remarkable precision.
The researchers also demonstrated a new type of light pulse called a "hyperparametric soliton". This stable pulse is the key behind the major advancement in this work, as it allows the comb signals to be produced at different colours of light from the laser that powers the device.
This makes the technology useful for high-speed optical communications that play a major role in data transfer (in data centres).
And the researchers demonstrated this in a wavelength region used for high-speed data links inside large data centres, an area of growing importance as demand for data continues to surge with the expansion of AI computing infrastructure.
What is the potential impact of this research?
Data centres require huge amounts of energy to perform the myriad tasks we ask of them, and those requirements are rapidly increasing – driven, in part, by our ever-growing use of AI. According to Ireland's Central Statistics Office, data centres accounted for 22% of total electricity use in 2024, which is more than all urban households (18%) combined. And their electricity use increased by 10% from the previous year.
Given the upward trajectory of our reliance on data centres and their need for power, any technological innovations that enhance efficiency can make a genuine impact in reducing electricity consumption and contributing towards challenging carbon emissions targets.
Professor John Donegan, Professor of Physics at Trinity College Dublin and a Funded Investigator at the CONNECT Research Ireland Centre for Future Networks, said: "We are very excited to have generated a new type of optical source that will be of strong interest to those working in optical communications and high-precision optical measurements."
"Working with an outstanding optical theorist at the University of Bath and the world-leading microresonator fabrication group in Switzerland, my group has been able to demonstrate a new type of optical comb source."
"Our work also benefits from collaboration with Pilot Photonics, a DCU spin-out developing high-precision laser and comb sources for optical communications. We anticipate that this is just the beginning of this work and that it will develop strongly in the years to come."
How could the work deliver the next generation of optical networks?
"Modern fibre-optic networks send large amounts of data by transmitting many different colours of light through a single optical fibre – a technique known as wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM)," added Prof. Donegan.
"But optical frequency combs can generate many of these colours from a single light source, potentially replacing arrays of separate lasers – so by simplifying system design while improving efficiency and stability, comb-based technologies could become important building blocks for future data centre networks and high-capacity internet infrastructure."
This research was supported by Research Ireland, the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the CONNECT Centre, the Royal Society and the Leading Innovation and Entrepreneurship Teams of Zhejiang.
The journal article can be read at: https://www.n...]]> Irish Tech News 04:59 false full 38 e815e2b3-38d0-4970-ae95-04e56fc8bee3 There is a recent [March 27, 2026] spotlight on Sky News, The AI delusion problem is bigger than we thought, stating that, "A new study from Anthropic and the University of Toronto analysed 1.5 million conversations with the AI chatbot Claude, revealing rare but concerning cases of what some are calling "AI psychosis" and what researchers describe as "reality distortion". What happens when AI starts pulling people away from reality and even encourages them to act on distorted beliefs?"
The challenges of AI Delusion
There is recent [March 26, 2026] analysis on The Guardian, Marriage over, €100,000 down the drain: the AI users whose lives were wrecked by delusion, stating that, "Last year, the first support group for people whose lives have been derailed by AI psychosis was formed. The Human Line Project has collected stories from 22 countries. They include 15 suicides, 90 hospitalisations, six arrests and more than $1m (£750,000) spent on delusional projects. More than 60% of its members had no history of mental illness."
"Modern AI chatbots built on large language models – advanced AI systems – are trained on enormous datasets to predict word sequences: it's a sophisticated system of pattern matching. Yet even knowing this, when something non-human uses human language to communicate with us, our deeply ingrained response is to view it – and to feel it – as human. This cognitive dissonance may be harder for some people to carry than others."
The Human Line Project
Having a support group against AI delusion and psychosis is admirable, given that AI companies are doing nothing exponential against both, seeing how the problem persists, in spite of adjustments they have announced over the last few months.
All AI chatbots have disclaimers, ensuring the user is aware that AI is not an organism. But with AI, sycophantic, then a penetrative ability to use human language and express understanding across human knowledge areas, it appeals to several minds, and for some, excessively. And this is good for business.
Saying AI should not be sycophantic is like saying that social media should not have doom scrolling. That AI chatbots are like digital concierge, or servile, with how excellent they are, makes people loiter. It is a vital part of the value offering.
This means that it is unlikely that there would ever be some encompassing software engineering solution to AI psychosis. So, expecting thorough regulation, or some reduction in sycophancy or some algorithmic tweak may not be deep enough to make much difference against AI psychosis.
Now, the option is to go to the source, the human mind, to seek out what it might mean that AI is causing or reinforcing delusions. Simply, how will it be possible to have a conceptual design of the mind, with relays and destinations to display what the AI might be doing?
This conceptual display [or theoretical neuroimaging] can be a separate application where keywords from a chat can be pasted, so that it is possible to simulate relays and destinations the mind went, then show those skipped [caution, consequences], as well as the types of relay interchanges, which means using reality paths for non-reality like imagination.
The model is based on the postulation in Conceptual Biomarkers and Theoretical Biological Factors for Psychiatric and Intelligence Nosology.
For Profit
It is unlikely that the solution to AI delusion and psychosis would be effective or competitive as a nonprofit. The commercial interests are in trillions of dollars, by market cap. There is no way to match them, with donations or partnerships or a few reports in the news.
The mind safety display against AI psychosis would be for profit, having subscribers [be able to] access features that would be useful to stay in check.
There could be a free version, only for general sample relays. As profits are pursued aggressively and soars, it will possible to develop better iterations an...]]> https://irishtechnews.ie/can-the-human-line-project-solve-ai-delusion/ There is a recent [March 27, 2026] spotlight on Sky News, The AI delusion problem is bigger than we thought, stating that, "A new study from Anthropic and the University of Toronto analysed 1.5 million conversations with the AI chatbot Claude, revealing rare but concerning cases of what some are calling "AI psychosis" and what researchers describe as "reality distortion". What happens when AI starts pulling people away from reality and even encourages them to act on distorted beliefs?"
The challenges of AI Delusion
There is recent [March 26, 2026] analysis on The Guardian, Marriage over, €100,000 down the drain: the AI users whose lives were wrecked by delusion, stating that, "Last year, the first support group for people whose lives have been derailed by AI psychosis was formed. The Human Line Project has collected stories from 22 countries. They include 15 suicides, 90 hospitalisations, six arrests and more than $1m (£750,000) spent on delusional projects. More than 60% of its members had no history of mental illness."
"Modern AI chatbots built on large language models – advanced AI systems – are trained on enormous datasets to predict word sequences: it's a sophisticated system of pattern matching. Yet even knowing this, when something non-human uses human language to communicate with us, our deeply ingrained response is to view it – and to feel it – as human. This cognitive dissonance may be harder for some people to carry than others."
The Human Line Project
Having a support group against AI delusion and psychosis is admirable, given that AI companies are doing nothing exponential against both, seeing how the problem persists, in spite of adjustments they have announced over the last few months.
All AI chatbots have disclaimers, ensuring the user is aware that AI is not an organism. But with AI, sycophantic, then a penetrative ability to use human language and express understanding across human knowledge areas, it appeals to several minds, and for some, excessively. And this is good for business.
Saying AI should not be sycophantic is like saying that social media should not have doom scrolling. That AI chatbots are like digital concierge, or servile, with how excellent they are, makes people loiter. It is a vital part of the value offering.
This means that it is unlikely that there would ever be some encompassing software engineering solution to AI psychosis. So, expecting thorough regulation, or some reduction in sycophancy or some algorithmic tweak may not be deep enough to make much difference against AI psychosis.
Now, the option is to go to the source, the human mind, to seek out what it might mean that AI is causing or reinforcing delusions. Simply, how will it be possible to have a conceptual design of the mind, with relays and destinations to display what the AI might be doing?
This conceptual display [or theoretical neuroimaging] can be a separate application where keywords from a chat can be pasted, so that it is possible to simulate relays and destinations the mind went, then show those skipped [caution, consequences], as well as the types of relay interchanges, which means using reality paths for non-reality like imagination.
The model is based on the postulation in Conceptual Biomarkers and Theoretical Biological Factors for Psychiatric and Intelligence Nosology.
For Profit
It is unlikely that the solution to AI delusion and psychosis would be effective or competitive as a nonprofit. The commercial interests are in trillions of dollars, by market cap. There is no way to match them, with donations or partnerships or a few reports in the news.
The mind safety display against AI psychosis would be for profit, having subscribers [be able to] access features that would be useful to stay in check.
There could be a free version, only for general sample relays. As profits are pursued aggressively and soars, it will possible to develop better iterations an...]]> Thu, 02 Apr 2026 08:00:26 +0000 Can the Human Line Project, a Nonprofit, Solve AI Delusion, Psychosis? There is a recent [March 27, 2026] spotlight on Sky News, The AI delusion problem is bigger than we thought, stating that, "A new study from Anthropic and the University of Toronto analysed 1.5...]]> There is a recent [March 27, 2026] spotlight on Sky News, The AI delusion problem is bigger than we thought, stating that, "A new study from Anthropic and the University of Toronto analysed 1.5 million conversations with the AI chatbot Claude, revealing rare but concerning cases of what some are calling "AI psychosis" and what researchers describe as "reality distortion". What happens when AI starts pulling people away from reality and even encourages them to act on distorted beliefs?"
The challenges of AI Delusion
There is recent [March 26, 2026] analysis on The Guardian, Marriage over, €100,000 down the drain: the AI users whose lives were wrecked by delusion, stating that, "Last year, the first support group for people whose lives have been derailed by AI psychosis was formed. The Human Line Project has collected stories from 22 countries. They include 15 suicides, 90 hospitalisations, six arrests and more than $1m (£750,000) spent on delusional projects. More than 60% of its members had no history of mental illness."
"Modern AI chatbots built on large language models – advanced AI systems – are trained on enormous datasets to predict word sequences: it's a sophisticated system of pattern matching. Yet even knowing this, when something non-human uses human language to communicate with us, our deeply ingrained response is to view it – and to feel it – as human. This cognitive dissonance may be harder for some people to carry than others."
The Human Line Project
Having a support group against AI delusion and psychosis is admirable, given that AI companies are doing nothing exponential against both, seeing how the problem persists, in spite of adjustments they have announced over the last few months.
All AI chatbots have disclaimers, ensuring the user is aware that AI is not an organism. But with AI, sycophantic, then a penetrative ability to use human language and express understanding across human knowledge areas, it appeals to several minds, and for some, excessively. And this is good for business.
Saying AI should not be sycophantic is like saying that social media should not have doom scrolling. That AI chatbots are like digital concierge, or servile, with how excellent they are, makes people loiter. It is a vital part of the value offering.
This means that it is unlikely that there would ever be some encompassing software engineering solution to AI psychosis. So, expecting thorough regulation, or some reduction in sycophancy or some algorithmic tweak may not be deep enough to make much difference against AI psychosis.
Now, the option is to go to the source, the human mind, to seek out what it might mean that AI is causing or reinforcing delusions. Simply, how will it be possible to have a conceptual design of the mind, with relays and destinations to display what the AI might be doing?
This conceptual display [or theoretical neuroimaging] can be a separate application where keywords from a chat can be pasted, so that it is possible to simulate relays and destinations the mind went, then show those skipped [caution, consequences], as well as the types of relay interchanges, which means using reality paths for non-reality like imagination.
The model is based on the postulation in Conceptual Biomarkers and Theoretical Biological Factors for Psychiatric and Intelligence Nosology.
For Profit
It is unlikely that the solution to AI delusion and psychosis would be effective or competitive as a nonprofit. The commercial interests are in trillions of dollars, by market cap. There is no way to match them, with donations or partnerships or a few reports in the news.
The mind safety display against AI psychosis would be for profit, having subscribers [be able to] access features that would be useful to stay in check.
There could be a free version, only for general sample relays. As profits are pursued aggressively and soars, it will possible to develop better iterations an...]]> Simon Cocking 06:50 false full 37 3859bb84-ac7f-48e3-b6c7-285373a0f499 NIE Networks, which serves over 966,000 customers across Northern Ireland, has a responsibility to supply contractors and members of the public with these maps when planning excavation works. This is vital to avoid accidental cable strikes that could cause power outages.
Every year, NIE Networks receives around 6,000 requests for maps. The organisation had to manually generate maps for each specific request in a time-consuming process which saw applicants waiting up to 10 days to receive these via email or by post. Now, customers can make these requests online via a dedicated webpage and receive maps within a maximum of one hour. The service is available 24 hours a day, including outside of traditional office hours and at weekends, which minimises the risk of power outages, helps to streamline construction projects, and ensures access to accurate information.
In addition to reduced waiting times, the number of requests for maps has increased significantly since the introduction of the new process. This contributes to boosted health and safety for Northern Ireland's approximately 1.9 million citizens, with greater awareness of the safety risks near planned excavations.
Furthermore, the solution is delivering considerable time savings for NIE Networks and is enabling internal resources to be reallocated to other core business activities. An interactive dashboard provides teams with far greater oversight of planned works and enables quicker response times in the case of any incidents. The new digital system also contributes to NIE Networks' sustainability goals, including the reduction of paper usage by 96,000 sheets per year.
Emily Boyd, Team Lead, GIS Technician (East Region), NIE Networks said: "The number one priority in NIE Networks is to improve safety around the electricity network – and that's why the new ArcGIS solution is so important. It is helping to ensure people are better informed of the locations of high voltage cables, so it's critical for us to be able to do this in a timely and efficient manner. What's more, staff can see where jobs are being done and, if a cable is accidentally damaged, they can instantly access the customer information and respond more quickly to restore the service."
Philip McLaughlin, Senior Account Manager, Esri Ireland, said: "NIE Networks provides a critical service for the continued health and safety of Northern Ireland's citizens. Our technology enables the organisation to generate and distribute crucial maps quickly and efficiently, ensuring building works and projects can commence or continue uninterrupted and with the most up-to-date data. This service will be particularly important for preventing power outages in the colder winter months amid increased potential for adverse weather."
See more stories here.
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.]]> https://irishtechnews.ie/esri-powers-increased-public-safety-for-northern-ireland-electricity-networks/ NIE Networks, which serves over 966,000 customers across Northern Ireland, has a responsibility to supply contractors and members of the public with these maps when planning excavation works. This is vital to avoid accidental cable strikes that could cause power outages.
Every year, NIE Networks receives around 6,000 requests for maps. The organisation had to manually generate maps for each specific request in a time-consuming process which saw applicants waiting up to 10 days to receive these via email or by post. Now, customers can make these requests online via a dedicated webpage and receive maps within a maximum of one hour. The service is available 24 hours a day, including outside of traditional office hours and at weekends, which minimises the risk of power outages, helps to streamline construction projects, and ensures access to accurate information.
In addition to reduced waiting times, the number of requests for maps has increased significantly since the introduction of the new process. This contributes to boosted health and safety for Northern Ireland's approximately 1.9 million citizens, with greater awareness of the safety risks near planned excavations.
Furthermore, the solution is delivering considerable time savings for NIE Networks and is enabling internal resources to be reallocated to other core business activities. An interactive dashboard provides teams with far greater oversight of planned works and enables quicker response times in the case of any incidents. The new digital system also contributes to NIE Networks' sustainability goals, including the reduction of paper usage by 96,000 sheets per year.
Emily Boyd, Team Lead, GIS Technician (East Region), NIE Networks said: "The number one priority in NIE Networks is to improve safety around the electricity network – and that's why the new ArcGIS solution is so important. It is helping to ensure people are better informed of the locations of high voltage cables, so it's critical for us to be able to do this in a timely and efficient manner. What's more, staff can see where jobs are being done and, if a cable is accidentally damaged, they can instantly access the customer information and respond more quickly to restore the service."
Philip McLaughlin, Senior Account Manager, Esri Ireland, said: "NIE Networks provides a critical service for the continued health and safety of Northern Ireland's citizens. Our technology enables the organisation to generate and distribute crucial maps quickly and efficiently, ensuring building works and projects can commence or continue uninterrupted and with the most up-to-date data. This service will be particularly important for preventing power outages in the colder winter months amid increased potential for adverse weather."
See more stories here.
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.]]> Wed, 01 Apr 2026 16:00:19 +0000 Esri powers increased public safety for Northern Ireland Electricity Networks NIE Networks, which serves over 966,000 customers across Northern Ireland, has a responsibility to supply contractors and members of the public with these maps when planning excavation works. This is vital to avoid accidental cable strikes that could cause power outages.
Every year, NIE Networks receives around 6,000 requests for maps. The organisation had to manually generate maps for each specific request in a time-consuming process which saw applicants waiting up to 10 days to receive these via email or by post. Now, customers can make these requests online via a dedicated webpage and receive maps within a maximum of one hour. The service is available 24 hours a day, including outside of traditional office hours and at weekends, which minimises the risk of power outages, helps to streamline construction projects, and ensures access to accurate information.
In addition to reduced waiting times, the number of requests for maps has increased significantly since the introduction of the new process. This contributes to boosted health and safety for Northern Ireland's approximately 1.9 million citizens, with greater awareness of the safety risks near planned excavations.
Furthermore, the solution is delivering considerable time savings for NIE Networks and is enabling internal resources to be reallocated to other core business activities. An interactive dashboard provides teams with far greater oversight of planned works and enables quicker response times in the case of any incidents. The new digital system also contributes to NIE Networks' sustainability goals, including the reduction of paper usage by 96,000 sheets per year.
Emily Boyd, Team Lead, GIS Technician (East Region), NIE Networks said: "The number one priority in NIE Networks is to improve safety around the electricity network – and that's why the new ArcGIS solution is so important. It is helping to ensure people are better informed of the locations of high voltage cables, so it's critical for us to be able to do this in a timely and efficient manner. What's more, staff can see where jobs are being done and, if a cable is accidentally damaged, they can instantly access the customer information and respond more quickly to restore the service."
Philip McLaughlin, Senior Account Manager, Esri Ireland, said: "NIE Networks provides a critical service for the continued health and safety of Northern Ireland's citizens. Our technology enables the organisation to generate and distribute crucial maps quickly and efficiently, ensuring building works and projects can commence or continue uninterrupted and with the most up-to-date data. This service will be particularly important for preventing power outages in the colder winter months amid increased potential for adverse weather."
See more stories here.
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.]]> Ronan Leonard 04:07 false full 36 6f079df4-67c5-42a7-9b80-7268dd0b74a5 Harvey first announced its intention to establish a Dublin presence in January, with plans to create 20 roles in its first year. The company has since made its first two hires across its people and finance teams, with additional roles currently open on its legal and sales teams.
The Dublin office will serve as Harvey's EMEA G&A hub, supporting a rapidly expanding customer base across the region. Approximately 30% of Harvey's 1,000+ global customers are based in EMEA, including leading global and Irish law firms and enterprises such as A&L Goodbody, Arthur Cox, Maples Group, Mason Hayes & Curran, McCann FitzGerald, Beauchamps LLP, Philip Lee LLP, and Kingspan Group.
The new location places Harvey in close proximity to many of these customers and at the heart of Dublin's established technology and professional services community.
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke said: "Harvey's expansion highlights Ireland's growing influence in the global AI landscape. This investment reflects the momentum within Ireland's AI ecosystem and the significant opportunity it presents for high-value job creation and innovation. Harvey's decision to establish its EMEA G&A hub here reinforces Ireland's reputation as a competitive location for companies developing and deploying advanced AI technologies with global impact."
"Today marks an important milestone in our European growth," said Winston Weinberg, CEO and co-founder of Harvey. "We're proud to partner with many of Ireland's leading firms and enterprises, and establishing a permanent presence in Dublin allows us to deepen those relationships while continuing to scale across EMEA. Ireland's strong technology ecosystem and access to exceptional talent make it the right place for us to invest for the long term."
Katie Burke, Chief Operating Officer at Harvey, added: "Dublin has a deep pool of experienced, internationally minded professionals across key operational functions. Having previously built teams here, I've seen the quality of talent firsthand. As we expand our operational footprint in EMEA, Ireland provides the expertise and infrastructure to help us scale effectively and sustainably."
Michael Lohan, CEO of IDA Ireland, said: 'I am delighted that Harvey is strengthening their footprint in Ireland with this new office and their plans to expand their workforce to 40 employees in Dublin. AI is a key focus area for IDA Ireland, and this decision by Harvey highlights Ireland's strengths as a location for investment in innovative technology.'
Harvey leaders are hosting customers and partners at its Dublin office this week to mark the official opening and to further strengthen collaboration across the region.
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.]]> https://irishtechnews.ie/harvey-officially-opens-dublin-office/ Harvey first announced its intention to establish a Dublin presence in January, with plans to create 20 roles in its first year. The company has since made its first two hires across its people and finance teams, with additional roles currently open on its legal and sales teams.
The Dublin office will serve as Harvey's EMEA G&A hub, supporting a rapidly expanding customer base across the region. Approximately 30% of Harvey's 1,000+ global customers are based in EMEA, including leading global and Irish law firms and enterprises such as A&L Goodbody, Arthur Cox, Maples Group, Mason Hayes & Curran, McCann FitzGerald, Beauchamps LLP, Philip Lee LLP, and Kingspan Group.
The new location places Harvey in close proximity to many of these customers and at the heart of Dublin's established technology and professional services community.
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke said: "Harvey's expansion highlights Ireland's growing influence in the global AI landscape. This investment reflects the momentum within Ireland's AI ecosystem and the significant opportunity it presents for high-value job creation and innovation. Harvey's decision to establish its EMEA G&A hub here reinforces Ireland's reputation as a competitive location for companies developing and deploying advanced AI technologies with global impact."
"Today marks an important milestone in our European growth," said Winston Weinberg, CEO and co-founder of Harvey. "We're proud to partner with many of Ireland's leading firms and enterprises, and establishing a permanent presence in Dublin allows us to deepen those relationships while continuing to scale across EMEA. Ireland's strong technology ecosystem and access to exceptional talent make it the right place for us to invest for the long term."
Katie Burke, Chief Operating Officer at Harvey, added: "Dublin has a deep pool of experienced, internationally minded professionals across key operational functions. Having previously built teams here, I've seen the quality of talent firsthand. As we expand our operational footprint in EMEA, Ireland provides the expertise and infrastructure to help us scale effectively and sustainably."
Michael Lohan, CEO of IDA Ireland, said: 'I am delighted that Harvey is strengthening their footprint in Ireland with this new office and their plans to expand their workforce to 40 employees in Dublin. AI is a key focus area for IDA Ireland, and this decision by Harvey highlights Ireland's strengths as a location for investment in innovative technology.'
Harvey leaders are hosting customers and partners at its Dublin office this week to mark the official opening and to further strengthen collaboration across the region.
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.]]> Wed, 01 Apr 2026 15:00:27 +0000 Harvey Officially Opens Dublin Office, Announces Plans for 40+ Roles Harvey first announced its intention to establish a Dublin presence in January, with plans to create 20 roles in its first year. The company has since made its first two hires across its people and finance teams, with additional roles currently open on its legal and sales teams.
The Dublin office will serve as Harvey's EMEA G&A hub, supporting a rapidly expanding customer base across the region. Approximately 30% of Harvey's 1,000+ global customers are based in EMEA, including leading global and Irish law firms and enterprises such as A&L Goodbody, Arthur Cox, Maples Group, Mason Hayes & Curran, McCann FitzGerald, Beauchamps LLP, Philip Lee LLP, and Kingspan Group.
The new location places Harvey in close proximity to many of these customers and at the heart of Dublin's established technology and professional services community.
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke said: "Harvey's expansion highlights Ireland's growing influence in the global AI landscape. This investment reflects the momentum within Ireland's AI ecosystem and the significant opportunity it presents for high-value job creation and innovation. Harvey's decision to establish its EMEA G&A hub here reinforces Ireland's reputation as a competitive location for companies developing and deploying advanced AI technologies with global impact."
"Today marks an important milestone in our European growth," said Winston Weinberg, CEO and co-founder of Harvey. "We're proud to partner with many of Ireland's leading firms and enterprises, and establishing a permanent presence in Dublin allows us to deepen those relationships while continuing to scale across EMEA. Ireland's strong technology ecosystem and access to exceptional talent make it the right place for us to invest for the long term."
Katie Burke, Chief Operating Officer at Harvey, added: "Dublin has a deep pool of experienced, internationally minded professionals across key operational functions. Having previously built teams here, I've seen the quality of talent firsthand. As we expand our operational footprint in EMEA, Ireland provides the expertise and infrastructure to help us scale effectively and sustainably."
Michael Lohan, CEO of IDA Ireland, said: 'I am delighted that Harvey is strengthening their footprint in Ireland with this new office and their plans to expand their workforce to 40 employees in Dublin. AI is a key focus area for IDA Ireland, and this decision by Harvey highlights Ireland's strengths as a location for investment in innovative technology.'
Harvey leaders are hosting customers and partners at its Dublin office this week to mark the official opening and to further strengthen collaboration across the region.
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.]]> Irish Tech News 04:00 false full 35 b80763c3-ada3-44eb-8fa0-dab3a2bdda43 The series, convened by the Faculty of Arts and Humanities and curated by Professor Taha Yasseri, Workday Chair of Technology and Society at TU Dublin, brings together researchers, industry experts, policymakers, and the public to explore the ethical and cultural questions raised by emerging technologies.
"The pace of technological change means we urgently need spaces where people from different disciplines and from outside academia can come together to reflect on what these developments mean for society," said Professor Yasseri. "The etc. lecture series is designed to encourage exactly that kind of thoughtful and open conversation."
The inaugural lecture, titled "Real (talk) > True (talk): Making space for making," by Dr Rilla Khaled, will explore how creative and design-based research fits within traditional academic systems, and why the processes behind making video games, interactive systems, and digital experiences deserve greater recognition as forms of knowledge. In doing so, the talk connects to the etc. series' focus on ethics, technology and culture by showing how everyday digital experiences are designed, how they shape society, and why understanding the thinking behind them matters beyond academia or industry alone.
Dr Khaled is an Associate Professor in the Department of Design and Computation Arts at Concordia University in Montréal, Canada, and Director of the Technoculture, Art and Games (TAG) Research Centre. Her work explores how interactive technologies, including games and speculative digital prototypes, can improve the human condition and encourage critical reflection on technology's role in society.
In her lecture, she will introduce the Method for Design Materialisation (MDM), a framework that documents how creative projects develop from initial ideas through to finished outcomes. By making the thinking behind design work more visible, the approach challenges traditional definitions of research while highlighting how creative practices contribute to our understanding of technology, culture, and society.
Dr Orla McDonagh, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at TU Dublin, said the initiative reflects the Faculty's commitment to connecting academic research with wider society.
"Through the lens of ethics, technology and culture, the etc. lecture series invites speakers from different disciplines to explore some of the major questions shaping contemporary life," she said. "At a time of rapid technological change and global transformation, the arts and humanities play a crucial role in helping society interpret, acknowledge, and handle change."
The event will take place in the Concert Hall in the East Quad on TU Dublin's Grangegorman Campus. It is free and open to everyone, with advance registration required.
Event details
Event: ethics, technology and culture, (etc.) Lecture Series – Inaugural Lecture
Speaker: Dr Rilla Khaled
Title: Real (talk) > True (talk): Making space for making
Date: Thursday, 16 April 2026
Time: 15:00 – 16:30
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also...]]> https://irishtechnews.ie/tu-dublin-launches-new-lecture-series/ The series, convened by the Faculty of Arts and Humanities and curated by Professor Taha Yasseri, Workday Chair of Technology and Society at TU Dublin, brings together researchers, industry experts, policymakers, and the public to explore the ethical and cultural questions raised by emerging technologies.
"The pace of technological change means we urgently need spaces where people from different disciplines and from outside academia can come together to reflect on what these developments mean for society," said Professor Yasseri. "The etc. lecture series is designed to encourage exactly that kind of thoughtful and open conversation."
The inaugural lecture, titled "Real (talk) > True (talk): Making space for making," by Dr Rilla Khaled, will explore how creative and design-based research fits within traditional academic systems, and why the processes behind making video games, interactive systems, and digital experiences deserve greater recognition as forms of knowledge. In doing so, the talk connects to the etc. series' focus on ethics, technology and culture by showing how everyday digital experiences are designed, how they shape society, and why understanding the thinking behind them matters beyond academia or industry alone.
Dr Khaled is an Associate Professor in the Department of Design and Computation Arts at Concordia University in Montréal, Canada, and Director of the Technoculture, Art and Games (TAG) Research Centre. Her work explores how interactive technologies, including games and speculative digital prototypes, can improve the human condition and encourage critical reflection on technology's role in society.
In her lecture, she will introduce the Method for Design Materialisation (MDM), a framework that documents how creative projects develop from initial ideas through to finished outcomes. By making the thinking behind design work more visible, the approach challenges traditional definitions of research while highlighting how creative practices contribute to our understanding of technology, culture, and society.
Dr Orla McDonagh, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at TU Dublin, said the initiative reflects the Faculty's commitment to connecting academic research with wider society.
"Through the lens of ethics, technology and culture, the etc. lecture series invites speakers from different disciplines to explore some of the major questions shaping contemporary life," she said. "At a time of rapid technological change and global transformation, the arts and humanities play a crucial role in helping society interpret, acknowledge, and handle change."
The event will take place in the Concert Hall in the East Quad on TU Dublin's Grangegorman Campus. It is free and open to everyone, with advance registration required.
Event details
Event: ethics, technology and culture, (etc.) Lecture Series – Inaugural Lecture
Speaker: Dr Rilla Khaled
Title: Real (talk) > True (talk): Making space for making
Date: Thursday, 16 April 2026
Time: 15:00 – 16:30
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also...]]> Wed, 01 Apr 2026 14:00:56 +0000 TU Dublin Launches New Lecture Series Exploring Ethics, Technology and Culture The series, convened by the Faculty of Arts and Humanities and curated by Professor Taha Yasseri, Workday Chair of Technology and Society at TU Dublin, brings together researchers, industry experts, policymakers, and the public to explore the ethical and cultural questions raised by emerging technologies.
"The pace of technological change means we urgently need spaces where people from different disciplines and from outside academia can come together to reflect on what these developments mean for society," said Professor Yasseri. "The etc. lecture series is designed to encourage exactly that kind of thoughtful and open conversation."
The inaugural lecture, titled "Real (talk) > True (talk): Making space for making," by Dr Rilla Khaled, will explore how creative and design-based research fits within traditional academic systems, and why the processes behind making video games, interactive systems, and digital experiences deserve greater recognition as forms of knowledge. In doing so, the talk connects to the etc. series' focus on ethics, technology and culture by showing how everyday digital experiences are designed, how they shape society, and why understanding the thinking behind them matters beyond academia or industry alone.
Dr Khaled is an Associate Professor in the Department of Design and Computation Arts at Concordia University in Montréal, Canada, and Director of the Technoculture, Art and Games (TAG) Research Centre. Her work explores how interactive technologies, including games and speculative digital prototypes, can improve the human condition and encourage critical reflection on technology's role in society.
In her lecture, she will introduce the Method for Design Materialisation (MDM), a framework that documents how creative projects develop from initial ideas through to finished outcomes. By making the thinking behind design work more visible, the approach challenges traditional definitions of research while highlighting how creative practices contribute to our understanding of technology, culture, and society.
Dr Orla McDonagh, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at TU Dublin, said the initiative reflects the Faculty's commitment to connecting academic research with wider society.
"Through the lens of ethics, technology and culture, the etc. lecture series invites speakers from different disciplines to explore some of the major questions shaping contemporary life," she said. "At a time of rapid technological change and global transformation, the arts and humanities play a crucial role in helping society interpret, acknowledge, and handle change."
The event will take place in the Concert Hall in the East Quad on TU Dublin's Grangegorman Campus. It is free and open to everyone, with advance registration required.
Event details
Event: ethics, technology and culture, (etc.) Lecture Series – Inaugural Lecture
Speaker: Dr Rilla Khaled
Title: Real (talk) > True (talk): Making space for making
Date: Thursday, 16 April 2026
Time: 15:00 – 16:30
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also...]]> Irish Tech News 04:31 false full 34 6b29b6a2-f6c3-4b8e-9e9d-eb747ff367a8 The X50 is built around Thunderbolt 5, offering up to 80Gbps bandwidth and targeting users working with large files, including video editors and content creators. In practical terms, this puts it in the upper tier of external SSD enclosures, where sustained performance is often limited not by interface speed, but by thermals.
Focus on passive cooling
Rather than relying on active cooling, ORICO has opted for a fully fanless design, placing emphasis on heat dissipation through materials and structure.
According to the manufacturer, the X50 uses a multi-layer cooling system that includes a hydrogel-based evaporative layer, an expanded fin structure, and a CNC-machined aluminium enclosure. The aim is to improve heat transfer efficiency while keeping the device silent in operation.
The company claims that the design increases heat dissipation area significantly compared to flatter enclosures, and that the inclusion of high-grade thermal interface materials helps transfer heat away from the SSD more effectively.
Silent operation and sustained performance
One of the more practical outcomes of this approach is that the X50 operates without a fan, resulting in 0 dB noise levels. For users working in quiet environments, this is a notable advantage over some actively cooled alternatives.
ORICO states that the enclosure can maintain surface temperatures at or below 45°C under load, while avoiding thermal throttling. While exact figures may vary depending on the SSD used and workload, early reviews of the device do point to stable performance and effective passive cooling under sustained use.
Built for newer systems
The enclosure is designed primarily for newer systems that support Thunderbolt 5, although it remains backwards compatible with Thunderbolt 4 and USB4. As with most devices in this category, users will need a compatible NVMe SSD to fully realise its performance potential.
Physically, the X50 follows a familiar compact aluminium design, prioritising portability alongside performance. This makes it suitable for professionals who need high-speed storage on the move, without introducing additional noise or moving parts.
A growing trend in enclosure design
The X50 reflects a broader shift in the market, where enclosure design is becoming increasingly focused on thermal management rather than just interface speed. As SSD performance continues to scale, maintaining consistent speeds over time is becoming as important as peak throughput.
While some of ORICO's more ambitious cooling claims will need to be put to the test, the overall direction is clear: quieter, fanless designs that aim to deliver sustained high performance without compromise.
You can find out more information about the product here: https://oricotechs.com/products/orico-x50-thunderbolt-5-enclosure.
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.]]> https://irishtechnews.ie/orico-x50-thunderbolt-5-enclosure/ The X50 is built around Thunderbolt 5, offering up to 80Gbps bandwidth and targeting users working with large files, including video editors and content creators. In practical terms, this puts it in the upper tier of external SSD enclosures, where sustained performance is often limited not by interface speed, but by thermals.
Focus on passive cooling
Rather than relying on active cooling, ORICO has opted for a fully fanless design, placing emphasis on heat dissipation through materials and structure.
According to the manufacturer, the X50 uses a multi-layer cooling system that includes a hydrogel-based evaporative layer, an expanded fin structure, and a CNC-machined aluminium enclosure. The aim is to improve heat transfer efficiency while keeping the device silent in operation.
The company claims that the design increases heat dissipation area significantly compared to flatter enclosures, and that the inclusion of high-grade thermal interface materials helps transfer heat away from the SSD more effectively.
Silent operation and sustained performance
One of the more practical outcomes of this approach is that the X50 operates without a fan, resulting in 0 dB noise levels. For users working in quiet environments, this is a notable advantage over some actively cooled alternatives.
ORICO states that the enclosure can maintain surface temperatures at or below 45°C under load, while avoiding thermal throttling. While exact figures may vary depending on the SSD used and workload, early reviews of the device do point to stable performance and effective passive cooling under sustained use.
Built for newer systems
The enclosure is designed primarily for newer systems that support Thunderbolt 5, although it remains backwards compatible with Thunderbolt 4 and USB4. As with most devices in this category, users will need a compatible NVMe SSD to fully realise its performance potential.
Physically, the X50 follows a familiar compact aluminium design, prioritising portability alongside performance. This makes it suitable for professionals who need high-speed storage on the move, without introducing additional noise or moving parts.
A growing trend in enclosure design
The X50 reflects a broader shift in the market, where enclosure design is becoming increasingly focused on thermal management rather than just interface speed. As SSD performance continues to scale, maintaining consistent speeds over time is becoming as important as peak throughput.
While some of ORICO's more ambitious cooling claims will need to be put to the test, the overall direction is clear: quieter, fanless designs that aim to deliver sustained high performance without compromise.
You can find out more information about the product here: https://oricotechs.com/products/orico-x50-thunderbolt-5-enclosure.
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.]]> Wed, 01 Apr 2026 13:00:15 +0000 ORICO X50 Thunderbolt 5 enclosure focuses on thermal design as speeds increase The X50 is built around Thunderbolt 5, offering up to 80Gbps bandwidth and targeting users working with large files, including video editors and content creators. In practical terms, this puts it in the upper tier of external SSD enclosures, where sustained performance is often limited not by interface speed, but by thermals.
Focus on passive cooling
Rather than relying on active cooling, ORICO has opted for a fully fanless design, placing emphasis on heat dissipation through materials and structure.
According to the manufacturer, the X50 uses a multi-layer cooling system that includes a hydrogel-based evaporative layer, an expanded fin structure, and a CNC-machined aluminium enclosure. The aim is to improve heat transfer efficiency while keeping the device silent in operation.
The company claims that the design increases heat dissipation area significantly compared to flatter enclosures, and that the inclusion of high-grade thermal interface materials helps transfer heat away from the SSD more effectively.
Silent operation and sustained performance
One of the more practical outcomes of this approach is that the X50 operates without a fan, resulting in 0 dB noise levels. For users working in quiet environments, this is a notable advantage over some actively cooled alternatives.
ORICO states that the enclosure can maintain surface temperatures at or below 45°C under load, while avoiding thermal throttling. While exact figures may vary depending on the SSD used and workload, early reviews of the device do point to stable performance and effective passive cooling under sustained use.
Built for newer systems
The enclosure is designed primarily for newer systems that support Thunderbolt 5, although it remains backwards compatible with Thunderbolt 4 and USB4. As with most devices in this category, users will need a compatible NVMe SSD to fully realise its performance potential.
Physically, the X50 follows a familiar compact aluminium design, prioritising portability alongside performance. This makes it suitable for professionals who need high-speed storage on the move, without introducing additional noise or moving parts.
A growing trend in enclosure design
The X50 reflects a broader shift in the market, where enclosure design is becoming increasingly focused on thermal management rather than just interface speed. As SSD performance continues to scale, maintaining consistent speeds over time is becoming as important as peak throughput.
While some of ORICO's more ambitious cooling claims will need to be put to the test, the overall direction is clear: quieter, fanless designs that aim to deliver sustained high performance without compromise.
You can find out more information about the product here: https://oricotechs.com/products/orico-x50-thunderbolt-5-enclosure.
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.]]> Irish Tech News 04:15 false full 33 e0aebb64-868f-4b19-a82f-502fd9a99916 In Ireland, it shows up in small, practical ways. Search journeys look different, ad platforms suggest more, and customers often arrive with sharper questions than they used to. For agencies such as SWOT Digital, that means helping businesses adapt as AI starts to shape how people search, compare, and choose.
This is where AI Search Optimisation is starting to complement traditional SEO. The goal is no longer just rankings. It's being the brand that gets referenced, surfaced, and cited when AI tools generate answers.
It puts more weight on clarity, credibility, and usefulness.
Search Is Starting to Feel Like an Answer Engine
SEO has never been a quick fix. It's months of technical improvements, intent research, content planning, and earning trust. When the foundations are right, visibility tends to follow.
What's different now is what happens before a click. More searches get answered before anyone clicks. Add in chat tools that help people compare options, and plenty of journeys now end with a shortlist, not a site visit.
That doesn't make your website less important. Minor gaps show up quickly.
Someone lands on the page, and they shouldn't have to guess. What do you do? Who is it for? What happens next? Brands that perform well keep it clear and specific.
Content Is Faster to Produce, but Harder to Trust
AI has made content production quicker. Drafts, outlines, rewrites, variations for social, all of that is easier than it used to be.
But there's a trade-off. A lot of content now looks and sounds the same. Safe advice. Familiar structures. Not much that sticks.
Irish audiences tend to spot vague claims quickly, especially in competitive sectors where every business starts to sound identical. That's why detail matters more than volume. Real examples. Local context. Clear explanations. Even acknowledging trade-offs can build trust, because it reads like someone who has actually done the work.
AI can help you move faster, but the final version still needs human judgment.
Paid Media Is Getting More Automated, so the Groundwork Matters
Most ad platforms have been leaning into automation for years. AI is accelerating that, and it's changing what optimisation looks like in practice.
This can work well, but only if the foundations are right. When tracking is unreliable, conversions don't fire properly, or lead quality is weak, automation can push spend towards the wrong outcome. You often only spot it after the budget has already moved.
Better outcomes tend to come from getting the core pieces aligned. A strong offer, clear copy, a landing page that answers the search intent, and measurement that matches what's happening in the business.
Reporting Drives the Next Decision
Reporting still takes work. AI can support the reporting summary, but it doesn't fix missing conversions, misfiring events, or gaps in setup.
When analytics and CRM don't agree, teams lose time questioning the numbers instead of using them.
What helps most is alignment. What counts as a good lead? What counts as success? Which actions matter? When a team agrees on those basics, reporting becomes useful again.
Customer Experience Is Where AI Becomes Tangible
This is where AI can make a noticeable difference for Irish businesses. Faster responses, cleaner triage, better routing, more consistent follow-ups.
It can also backfire quickly.
Speed matters, but people still want a person for awkward, sensitive, or high-value issues. If the chat keeps sending them in circles, they leave frustrated and less likely to return.
The best setups tend to stay simple. Let AI handle straightforward queries, then make escalation clear and easy.
Governance Is No Longer "Someone Else's Job"
As AI tools spread, data handling becomes part of marketing work. What gets pasted into tools. What files get uploaded. Where outputs get s...]]> https://irishtechnews.ie/what-does-ai-mean-for-digital-marketing-ireland/ In Ireland, it shows up in small, practical ways. Search journeys look different, ad platforms suggest more, and customers often arrive with sharper questions than they used to. For agencies such as SWOT Digital, that means helping businesses adapt as AI starts to shape how people search, compare, and choose.
This is where AI Search Optimisation is starting to complement traditional SEO. The goal is no longer just rankings. It's being the brand that gets referenced, surfaced, and cited when AI tools generate answers.
It puts more weight on clarity, credibility, and usefulness.
Search Is Starting to Feel Like an Answer Engine
SEO has never been a quick fix. It's months of technical improvements, intent research, content planning, and earning trust. When the foundations are right, visibility tends to follow.
What's different now is what happens before a click. More searches get answered before anyone clicks. Add in chat tools that help people compare options, and plenty of journeys now end with a shortlist, not a site visit.
That doesn't make your website less important. Minor gaps show up quickly.
Someone lands on the page, and they shouldn't have to guess. What do you do? Who is it for? What happens next? Brands that perform well keep it clear and specific.
Content Is Faster to Produce, but Harder to Trust
AI has made content production quicker. Drafts, outlines, rewrites, variations for social, all of that is easier than it used to be.
But there's a trade-off. A lot of content now looks and sounds the same. Safe advice. Familiar structures. Not much that sticks.
Irish audiences tend to spot vague claims quickly, especially in competitive sectors where every business starts to sound identical. That's why detail matters more than volume. Real examples. Local context. Clear explanations. Even acknowledging trade-offs can build trust, because it reads like someone who has actually done the work.
AI can help you move faster, but the final version still needs human judgment.
Paid Media Is Getting More Automated, so the Groundwork Matters
Most ad platforms have been leaning into automation for years. AI is accelerating that, and it's changing what optimisation looks like in practice.
This can work well, but only if the foundations are right. When tracking is unreliable, conversions don't fire properly, or lead quality is weak, automation can push spend towards the wrong outcome. You often only spot it after the budget has already moved.
Better outcomes tend to come from getting the core pieces aligned. A strong offer, clear copy, a landing page that answers the search intent, and measurement that matches what's happening in the business.
Reporting Drives the Next Decision
Reporting still takes work. AI can support the reporting summary, but it doesn't fix missing conversions, misfiring events, or gaps in setup.
When analytics and CRM don't agree, teams lose time questioning the numbers instead of using them.
What helps most is alignment. What counts as a good lead? What counts as success? Which actions matter? When a team agrees on those basics, reporting becomes useful again.
Customer Experience Is Where AI Becomes Tangible
This is where AI can make a noticeable difference for Irish businesses. Faster responses, cleaner triage, better routing, more consistent follow-ups.
It can also backfire quickly.
Speed matters, but people still want a person for awkward, sensitive, or high-value issues. If the chat keeps sending them in circles, they leave frustrated and less likely to return.
The best setups tend to stay simple. Let AI handle straightforward queries, then make escalation clear and easy.
Governance Is No Longer "Someone Else's Job"
As AI tools spread, data handling becomes part of marketing work. What gets pasted into tools. What files get uploaded. Where outputs get s...]]> Wed, 01 Apr 2026 11:00:14 +0000 What Does AI Really Mean for Digital Marketing in Ireland? In Ireland, it shows up in small, practical ways. Search journeys look different, ad platform...]]> In Ireland, it shows up in small, practical ways. Search journeys look different, ad platforms suggest more, and customers often arrive with sharper questions than they used to. For agencies such as SWOT Digital, that means helping businesses adapt as AI starts to shape how people search, compare, and choose.
This is where AI Search Optimisation is starting to complement traditional SEO. The goal is no longer just rankings. It's being the brand that gets referenced, surfaced, and cited when AI tools generate answers.
It puts more weight on clarity, credibility, and usefulness.
Search Is Starting to Feel Like an Answer Engine
SEO has never been a quick fix. It's months of technical improvements, intent research, content planning, and earning trust. When the foundations are right, visibility tends to follow.
What's different now is what happens before a click. More searches get answered before anyone clicks. Add in chat tools that help people compare options, and plenty of journeys now end with a shortlist, not a site visit.
That doesn't make your website less important. Minor gaps show up quickly.
Someone lands on the page, and they shouldn't have to guess. What do you do? Who is it for? What happens next? Brands that perform well keep it clear and specific.
Content Is Faster to Produce, but Harder to Trust
AI has made content production quicker. Drafts, outlines, rewrites, variations for social, all of that is easier than it used to be.
But there's a trade-off. A lot of content now looks and sounds the same. Safe advice. Familiar structures. Not much that sticks.
Irish audiences tend to spot vague claims quickly, especially in competitive sectors where every business starts to sound identical. That's why detail matters more than volume. Real examples. Local context. Clear explanations. Even acknowledging trade-offs can build trust, because it reads like someone who has actually done the work.
AI can help you move faster, but the final version still needs human judgment.
Paid Media Is Getting More Automated, so the Groundwork Matters
Most ad platforms have been leaning into automation for years. AI is accelerating that, and it's changing what optimisation looks like in practice.
This can work well, but only if the foundations are right. When tracking is unreliable, conversions don't fire properly, or lead quality is weak, automation can push spend towards the wrong outcome. You often only spot it after the budget has already moved.
Better outcomes tend to come from getting the core pieces aligned. A strong offer, clear copy, a landing page that answers the search intent, and measurement that matches what's happening in the business.
Reporting Drives the Next Decision
Reporting still takes work. AI can support the reporting summary, but it doesn't fix missing conversions, misfiring events, or gaps in setup.
When analytics and CRM don't agree, teams lose time questioning the numbers instead of using them.
What helps most is alignment. What counts as a good lead? What counts as success? Which actions matter? When a team agrees on those basics, reporting becomes useful again.
Customer Experience Is Where AI Becomes Tangible
This is where AI can make a noticeable difference for Irish businesses. Faster responses, cleaner triage, better routing, more consistent follow-ups.
It can also backfire quickly.
Speed matters, but people still want a person for awkward, sensitive, or high-value issues. If the chat keeps sending them in circles, they leave frustrated and less likely to return.
The best setups tend to stay simple. Let AI handle straightforward queries, then make escalation clear and easy.
Governance Is No Longer "Someone Else's Job"
As AI tools spread, data handling becomes part of marketing work. What gets pasted into tools. What files get uploaded. Where outputs get s...]]> Irish Tech News 06:55 false full 32 b9130f65-1a50-45ae-bed8-f46b70afb0f9 Presentations might feel like your worst nightmare. You are not the only one, many people recognise this feeling. Here are some practical tips to help you present with greater ease.
Preparation is key
Know what you want to say before you start. Use a clear structure and tools like a PowerPoint, notes or cue cards if needed. Summarise your message in one clear sentence so you know exactly what you want people to take away.
What to do when presentations make you nervous
Practise it out loud: in your car, in front of a mirror or with others. You can record yourself on video and watch it back, so you can observe your behaviour and hear how you come across. Pay attention to what you do: do you rush, avoid eye contact or lose your structure?
Understand your audience: what they know, what they need and what matters to them. As I always say: "Before you begin to share, make sure you know who is there."
Nerves are ok
Feeling nervous is natural, normal and it's fine. The question is whether it takes over your behaviour.
Organise yourself so you can find some calm. That can be simple: wear something you feel good in, look at the room and take a moment to arrive. Breathing can also help you calm your body. Take a deep breath in, then slowly exhale (a cathartic exhale) letting the air flow out like a soft whistle. This helps reduce stress.
Use your nonverbal communication
Many people don't know what to do with their hands. You then see two patterns: hands disappear (behind the back or in pockets) or they start moving without purpose.
Keep your hands visible and use them to emphasise key points. If you don't know what to do, let them rest naturally at your sides or keep them action ready (as if you are holding a box of chocolate).
Your posture, eye contact and voice determine how you come across. If you stand upright, take space and face the room, people stay with you. If you look past people or only at your slides, they disconnect, so use eye contact. If your voice is calm and clear, people can follow you. If you rush, speak too softly or flatten your tone, they stop listening.
Be in the moment
During a presentation, stay in the moment and don't get caught up in what you've said or what you might forget. You are the only one who knows your full presentation, so if you leave something out, no one will notice. Additionally, don't get distracted by looking at your audience. They might seem busy with their phones, but they could actually be taking notes.
Engage people actively
If you feel like you are stuck, you can always engage with others. Ask a simple question or invite a reaction to bring the focus back into the room, for example: "How do you see this?" It gives you time to think and shows that the presentation is not just yours. It also helps you see where people are, so you can adjust your message if needed.
Conclusion
There are many things to choose from when it comes to calming yourself down. Find what works best for you and what helps you feel relaxed.
If you prepare your message, organise your behaviour and stay aware of what happens in the room, you give yourself a strong foundation to feel more in control and come across with confidence.
Anne-Maartje Oud is author of WHAT TO DO IF…? How to Handle Any Situation at Work and Come Out Winning published by Kogan Page, priced £12.99
See more breaking stories here.
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your bu...]]> https://irishtechnews.ie/what-to-do-when-presentations-make-you-nervous/ Presentations might feel like your worst nightmare. You are not the only one, many people recognise this feeling. Here are some practical tips to help you present with greater ease.
Preparation is key
Know what you want to say before you start. Use a clear structure and tools like a PowerPoint, notes or cue cards if needed. Summarise your message in one clear sentence so you know exactly what you want people to take away.
What to do when presentations make you nervous
Practise it out loud: in your car, in front of a mirror or with others. You can record yourself on video and watch it back, so you can observe your behaviour and hear how you come across. Pay attention to what you do: do you rush, avoid eye contact or lose your structure?
Understand your audience: what they know, what they need and what matters to them. As I always say: "Before you begin to share, make sure you know who is there."
Nerves are ok
Feeling nervous is natural, normal and it's fine. The question is whether it takes over your behaviour.
Organise yourself so you can find some calm. That can be simple: wear something you feel good in, look at the room and take a moment to arrive. Breathing can also help you calm your body. Take a deep breath in, then slowly exhale (a cathartic exhale) letting the air flow out like a soft whistle. This helps reduce stress.
Use your nonverbal communication
Many people don't know what to do with their hands. You then see two patterns: hands disappear (behind the back or in pockets) or they start moving without purpose.
Keep your hands visible and use them to emphasise key points. If you don't know what to do, let them rest naturally at your sides or keep them action ready (as if you are holding a box of chocolate).
Your posture, eye contact and voice determine how you come across. If you stand upright, take space and face the room, people stay with you. If you look past people or only at your slides, they disconnect, so use eye contact. If your voice is calm and clear, people can follow you. If you rush, speak too softly or flatten your tone, they stop listening.
Be in the moment
During a presentation, stay in the moment and don't get caught up in what you've said or what you might forget. You are the only one who knows your full presentation, so if you leave something out, no one will notice. Additionally, don't get distracted by looking at your audience. They might seem busy with their phones, but they could actually be taking notes.
Engage people actively
If you feel like you are stuck, you can always engage with others. Ask a simple question or invite a reaction to bring the focus back into the room, for example: "How do you see this?" It gives you time to think and shows that the presentation is not just yours. It also helps you see where people are, so you can adjust your message if needed.
Conclusion
There are many things to choose from when it comes to calming yourself down. Find what works best for you and what helps you feel relaxed.
If you prepare your message, organise your behaviour and stay aware of what happens in the room, you give yourself a strong foundation to feel more in control and come across with confidence.
Anne-Maartje Oud is author of WHAT TO DO IF…? How to Handle Any Situation at Work and Come Out Winning published by Kogan Page, priced £12.99
See more breaking stories here.
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your bu...]]> Wed, 01 Apr 2026 09:30:22 +0000 What to do when presentations make you nervous Presentations might feel like your worst nightmare. You are not the only one, many people r...]]> Presentations might feel like your worst nightmare. You are not the only one, many people recognise this feeling. Here are some practical tips to help you present with greater ease.
Preparation is key
Know what you want to say before you start. Use a clear structure and tools like a PowerPoint, notes or cue cards if needed. Summarise your message in one clear sentence so you know exactly what you want people to take away.
What to do when presentations make you nervous
Practise it out loud: in your car, in front of a mirror or with others. You can record yourself on video and watch it back, so you can observe your behaviour and hear how you come across. Pay attention to what you do: do you rush, avoid eye contact or lose your structure?
Understand your audience: what they know, what they need and what matters to them. As I always say: "Before you begin to share, make sure you know who is there."
Nerves are ok
Feeling nervous is natural, normal and it's fine. The question is whether it takes over your behaviour.
Organise yourself so you can find some calm. That can be simple: wear something you feel good in, look at the room and take a moment to arrive. Breathing can also help you calm your body. Take a deep breath in, then slowly exhale (a cathartic exhale) letting the air flow out like a soft whistle. This helps reduce stress.
Use your nonverbal communication
Many people don't know what to do with their hands. You then see two patterns: hands disappear (behind the back or in pockets) or they start moving without purpose.
Keep your hands visible and use them to emphasise key points. If you don't know what to do, let them rest naturally at your sides or keep them action ready (as if you are holding a box of chocolate).
Your posture, eye contact and voice determine how you come across. If you stand upright, take space and face the room, people stay with you. If you look past people or only at your slides, they disconnect, so use eye contact. If your voice is calm and clear, people can follow you. If you rush, speak too softly or flatten your tone, they stop listening.
Be in the moment
During a presentation, stay in the moment and don't get caught up in what you've said or what you might forget. You are the only one who knows your full presentation, so if you leave something out, no one will notice. Additionally, don't get distracted by looking at your audience. They might seem busy with their phones, but they could actually be taking notes.
Engage people actively
If you feel like you are stuck, you can always engage with others. Ask a simple question or invite a reaction to bring the focus back into the room, for example: "How do you see this?" It gives you time to think and shows that the presentation is not just yours. It also helps you see where people are, so you can adjust your message if needed.
Conclusion
There are many things to choose from when it comes to calming yourself down. Find what works best for you and what helps you feel relaxed.
If you prepare your message, organise your behaviour and stay aware of what happens in the room, you give yourself a strong foundation to feel more in control and come across with confidence.
Anne-Maartje Oud is author of WHAT TO DO IF…? How to Handle Any Situation at Work and Come Out Winning published by Kogan Page, priced £12.99
See more breaking stories here.
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your bu...]]> Simon Cocking 04:35 false full 31 5820dbc1-a0b4-4a8b-b0c2-5f2875a663d4 On April 29, 2018, I wrote about Ethereum's (ETH) decentralized nature [quoting a crypto industry founder Dr. Emin Gun Sirer] which qualified ETH as a commodity for US law purposes. The regulatory uncertainty, regarding whether ETH [and other digital assets] is classified as securities or commodities, has historically been a primary barrier to institutional capital adoption since it created legal risks, complicated custody, and hampered compliance, causing investors to hold back in investing.
Why Ethereum's (ETH) has finally evolved into a commodity
To remove a major cloud over whether the second most traded digital asset ETH after Bitcoin (BTC) was a security or a commodity on June 14, 2018, former the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) Director of Corporation Finance William Hinman suggested that ETH in its current decentralized state did not constitute a security, providing temporary regulatory clarity on its legal classification as a commodity.
Litigation to Determine ETH's Legal Classification
Nevertheless, in the absence of authoritative regulatory certainty from the SEC or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), lawsuits challenged whether ETH [and other digital assets] was a regulated security or a commodity.
NYAG vs. KuCoin (2023): The New York Attorney General (NYAG) filed a lawsuit against crypto trading platform KuCoin a major global cryptocurrency exchange serving over 40 million users in more than 200 countries with a massive selection of over 1,000 digital assets and extensive feature set, including spot, futures, margin trading, and automated bots, alleging it failed to register as a broker-dealer and, in a landmark claim, that ETH is a security under the Martin Act (New York's anti-fraud law).
SEC vs. Lido/Rocket Pool (2024) Developers: In 2024, the SEC took significant legal action involving Lido and Rocket Pool by filing a lawsuit against their primary distribution partner, While not targeting ETH itself, the SEC charged developers of liquid staking protocols (stETH/rETH) with selling unregistered securities, highlighting regulatory concern over staking services.
In February 2025, under new leadership, the SEC dropped its lawsuit. On August 5, 2025, the SEC issued a staff statement clarifying that liquid staking activities generally do not involve the offer and sale of securities. The SEC now views liquid staking providers as performing "administrative" or "ministerial" functions rather than "managerial" work, meaning they act merely as agents for the depositors. While general staking is deemed ministerial, "staking receipt tokens" (liquid staking) are considered securities if the underlying asset is a security. The potential for a "staked-as-standard" approach could boost Ethereum's utility, particularly if the Clarity Act leads to tighter regulations or caps on stablecoin yields.
Consensys vs. SEC (2024): Consensys sued the SEC, challenging its authority to investigate or regulate ETH, arguing that the SEC's efforts to label it a security are a "regulatory overreach". This was triggered by a Wells Notice regarding MetaMask. The SEC notified Consensys that it would close its investigation into Ethereum 2.0, deciding not to bring an enforcement action alleging that ETH is a security.
CFTC v. Ikkurty (2024) ETH, BTC, OHM and Klima were ruled to be commodities under the Commodity Exchange Act. This decision, part of a fraud case, provided significant legal precedent backing the CFTC's authority over crypto spot markets, distinguishing it from security classification.
The SEC & CFTC Issued Clarity on Digital Asset Classification & Regulation
Eight years after I wrote my article concerning the classification of ETH for US law purposes, on March 17, 2026, the SEC and CFTC finally issued a landmark joint interpretation providing the most comprehensive regulatory clarity for digital assets to date resolving the uncerta...]]> https://irishtechnews.ie/eight-years-in-the-making-eth-is-a-commodity/ On April 29, 2018, I wrote about Ethereum's (ETH) decentralized nature [quoting a crypto industry founder Dr. Emin Gun Sirer] which qualified ETH as a commodity for US law purposes. The regulatory uncertainty, regarding whether ETH [and other digital assets] is classified as securities or commodities, has historically been a primary barrier to institutional capital adoption since it created legal risks, complicated custody, and hampered compliance, causing investors to hold back in investing.
Why Ethereum's (ETH) has finally evolved into a commodity
To remove a major cloud over whether the second most traded digital asset ETH after Bitcoin (BTC) was a security or a commodity on June 14, 2018, former the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) Director of Corporation Finance William Hinman suggested that ETH in its current decentralized state did not constitute a security, providing temporary regulatory clarity on its legal classification as a commodity.
Litigation to Determine ETH's Legal Classification
Nevertheless, in the absence of authoritative regulatory certainty from the SEC or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), lawsuits challenged whether ETH [and other digital assets] was a regulated security or a commodity.
NYAG vs. KuCoin (2023): The New York Attorney General (NYAG) filed a lawsuit against crypto trading platform KuCoin a major global cryptocurrency exchange serving over 40 million users in more than 200 countries with a massive selection of over 1,000 digital assets and extensive feature set, including spot, futures, margin trading, and automated bots, alleging it failed to register as a broker-dealer and, in a landmark claim, that ETH is a security under the Martin Act (New York's anti-fraud law).
SEC vs. Lido/Rocket Pool (2024) Developers: In 2024, the SEC took significant legal action involving Lido and Rocket Pool by filing a lawsuit against their primary distribution partner, While not targeting ETH itself, the SEC charged developers of liquid staking protocols (stETH/rETH) with selling unregistered securities, highlighting regulatory concern over staking services.
In February 2025, under new leadership, the SEC dropped its lawsuit. On August 5, 2025, the SEC issued a staff statement clarifying that liquid staking activities generally do not involve the offer and sale of securities. The SEC now views liquid staking providers as performing "administrative" or "ministerial" functions rather than "managerial" work, meaning they act merely as agents for the depositors. While general staking is deemed ministerial, "staking receipt tokens" (liquid staking) are considered securities if the underlying asset is a security. The potential for a "staked-as-standard" approach could boost Ethereum's utility, particularly if the Clarity Act leads to tighter regulations or caps on stablecoin yields.
Consensys vs. SEC (2024): Consensys sued the SEC, challenging its authority to investigate or regulate ETH, arguing that the SEC's efforts to label it a security are a "regulatory overreach". This was triggered by a Wells Notice regarding MetaMask. The SEC notified Consensys that it would close its investigation into Ethereum 2.0, deciding not to bring an enforcement action alleging that ETH is a security.
CFTC v. Ikkurty (2024) ETH, BTC, OHM and Klima were ruled to be commodities under the Commodity Exchange Act. This decision, part of a fraud case, provided significant legal precedent backing the CFTC's authority over crypto spot markets, distinguishing it from security classification.
The SEC & CFTC Issued Clarity on Digital Asset Classification & Regulation
Eight years after I wrote my article concerning the classification of ETH for US law purposes, on March 17, 2026, the SEC and CFTC finally issued a landmark joint interpretation providing the most comprehensive regulatory clarity for digital assets to date resolving the uncerta...]]> Wed, 01 Apr 2026 08:00:46 +0000 Eight Years in the Making – ETH is a Commodity On April 29, 2018, I wrote about Ethereum's (ETH) decentralized nature [quoting a crypto industry founder Dr. Emin Gun Sirer] which qualified ETH as a commodity for US ...]]> On April 29, 2018, I wrote about Ethereum's (ETH) decentralized nature [quoting a crypto industry founder Dr. Emin Gun Sirer] which qualified ETH as a commodity for US law purposes. The regulatory uncertainty, regarding whether ETH [and other digital assets] is classified as securities or commodities, has historically been a primary barrier to institutional capital adoption since it created legal risks, complicated custody, and hampered compliance, causing investors to hold back in investing.
Why Ethereum's (ETH) has finally evolved into a commodity
To remove a major cloud over whether the second most traded digital asset ETH after Bitcoin (BTC) was a security or a commodity on June 14, 2018, former the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) Director of Corporation Finance William Hinman suggested that ETH in its current decentralized state did not constitute a security, providing temporary regulatory clarity on its legal classification as a commodity.
Litigation to Determine ETH's Legal Classification
Nevertheless, in the absence of authoritative regulatory certainty from the SEC or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), lawsuits challenged whether ETH [and other digital assets] was a regulated security or a commodity.
NYAG vs. KuCoin (2023): The New York Attorney General (NYAG) filed a lawsuit against crypto trading platform KuCoin a major global cryptocurrency exchange serving over 40 million users in more than 200 countries with a massive selection of over 1,000 digital assets and extensive feature set, including spot, futures, margin trading, and automated bots, alleging it failed to register as a broker-dealer and, in a landmark claim, that ETH is a security under the Martin Act (New York's anti-fraud law).
SEC vs. Lido/Rocket Pool (2024) Developers: In 2024, the SEC took significant legal action involving Lido and Rocket Pool by filing a lawsuit against their primary distribution partner, While not targeting ETH itself, the SEC charged developers of liquid staking protocols (stETH/rETH) with selling unregistered securities, highlighting regulatory concern over staking services.
In February 2025, under new leadership, the SEC dropped its lawsuit. On August 5, 2025, the SEC issued a staff statement clarifying that liquid staking activities generally do not involve the offer and sale of securities. The SEC now views liquid staking providers as performing "administrative" or "ministerial" functions rather than "managerial" work, meaning they act merely as agents for the depositors. While general staking is deemed ministerial, "staking receipt tokens" (liquid staking) are considered securities if the underlying asset is a security. The potential for a "staked-as-standard" approach could boost Ethereum's utility, particularly if the Clarity Act leads to tighter regulations or caps on stablecoin yields.
Consensys vs. SEC (2024): Consensys sued the SEC, challenging its authority to investigate or regulate ETH, arguing that the SEC's efforts to label it a security are a "regulatory overreach". This was triggered by a Wells Notice regarding MetaMask. The SEC notified Consensys that it would close its investigation into Ethereum 2.0, deciding not to bring an enforcement action alleging that ETH is a security.
CFTC v. Ikkurty (2024) ETH, BTC, OHM and Klima were ruled to be commodities under the Commodity Exchange Act. This decision, part of a fraud case, provided significant legal precedent backing the CFTC's authority over crypto spot markets, distinguishing it from security classification.
The SEC & CFTC Issued Clarity on Digital Asset Classification & Regulation
Eight years after I wrote my article concerning the classification of ETH for US law purposes, on March 17, 2026, the SEC and CFTC finally issued a landmark joint interpretation providing the most comprehensive regulatory clarity for digital assets to date resolving the uncerta...]]> Simon Cocking 15:46 false full 30 54fe3fba-3124-46e3-9fb3-dced234834fd As AI is now becoming one of the main tools used by business, it has come as no surprise that the Irish government is backing it. The Irish government is going all in on the AI revolution and is the first government in the world to back AI being used in a country's native language, starting in the Gaeltacht.
The Government AI initiative has been 5 years in development and is going to be launched by Dara Calleary, Minister for Social Protection; and Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, when the dail resumes after the Easter break. A government source told Irish Tech News that after 5 years in formalising and planning this initiative, the time is right to launch it.
The source also told us that the government was waiting until AI technology including LLM's was at the stage it is at now, before they could introduce it. Another problem that had to be overcome was getting the AI to understand various Irish accents and dialects. A Kerry accent or a Northern accent such as one from Monaghan is vastly different than say a Dublin 4 accent.
Irish AI in the Gaeltacht
The new initiative dubbed Artificial Irish (AI) is going to have a trial run in the Gaeltacht in the summer. If the trial run is successful, it will get a nationwide launch next year.
The aim of the initiative is to promote STEM and the tech sector to junior cert and leaving cert school kids who are also Gaeilgeoirí. The trial run this summer will be run in various Irish Colleges in the Gaeltacht, and if it is successful, the aim is to add it to the national curriculum.
Barney O'Blarney the chairperson of Gaeilgeoir Forever which promotes Gaelic in a modern Ireland was full of praise for what the government is doing. "It's a wonderful idea that will be big news all over the world." O'Blarney added "The first country in the world to promote the use of AI in the country's native language is s something to be proud of."
As you will know Irish Tech News has been actively backing AI in some of our podcasts and some of the articles we publish. The new government AI initiative is something we whole heartedly applaud and we look forward to covering it in further detail after the official launch.
In the meantime keep listening to our podcasts and reading our articles on the Irish Tech News podcast as we showcase the latest in Irish and world tech news.
See more stories here.]]> https://irishtechnews.ie/the-irish-government-push-perfect-ai-in-gaeltacht/ As AI is now becoming one of the main tools used by business, it has come as no surprise that the Irish government is backing it. The Irish government is going all in on the AI revolution and is the first government in the world to back AI being used in a country's native language, starting in the Gaeltacht.
The Government AI initiative has been 5 years in development and is going to be launched by Dara Calleary, Minister for Social Protection; and Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, when the dail resumes after the Easter break. A government source told Irish Tech News that after 5 years in formalising and planning this initiative, the time is right to launch it.
The source also told us that the government was waiting until AI technology including LLM's was at the stage it is at now, before they could introduce it. Another problem that had to be overcome was getting the AI to understand various Irish accents and dialects. A Kerry accent or a Northern accent such as one from Monaghan is vastly different than say a Dublin 4 accent.
Irish AI in the Gaeltacht
The new initiative dubbed Artificial Irish (AI) is going to have a trial run in the Gaeltacht in the summer. If the trial run is successful, it will get a nationwide launch next year.
The aim of the initiative is to promote STEM and the tech sector to junior cert and leaving cert school kids who are also Gaeilgeoirí. The trial run this summer will be run in various Irish Colleges in the Gaeltacht, and if it is successful, the aim is to add it to the national curriculum.
Barney O'Blarney the chairperson of Gaeilgeoir Forever which promotes Gaelic in a modern Ireland was full of praise for what the government is doing. "It's a wonderful idea that will be big news all over the world." O'Blarney added "The first country in the world to promote the use of AI in the country's native language is s something to be proud of."
As you will know Irish Tech News has been actively backing AI in some of our podcasts and some of the articles we publish. The new government AI initiative is something we whole heartedly applaud and we look forward to covering it in further detail after the official launch.
In the meantime keep listening to our podcasts and reading our articles on the Irish Tech News podcast as we showcase the latest in Irish and world tech news.
See more stories here.]]> Wed, 01 Apr 2026 07:00:52 +0000 The Irish government and perfect A1 AI in Gaeltacht As AI is now becoming one of the main tools used by business, it has come as no surprise that the Irish government is backing it. The Irish government is going all in on the AI revolution and is the first government in the world to back AI being used in a country's native language, starting in the Gaeltacht.
The Government AI initiative has been 5 years in development and is going to be launched by Dara Calleary, Minister for Social Protection; and Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, when the dail resumes after the Easter break. A government source told Irish Tech News that after 5 years in formalising and planning this initiative, the time is right to launch it.
The source also told us that the government was waiting until AI technology including LLM's was at the stage it is at now, before they could introduce it. Another problem that had to be overcome was getting the AI to understand various Irish accents and dialects. A Kerry accent or a Northern accent such as one from Monaghan is vastly different than say a Dublin 4 accent.
Irish AI in the Gaeltacht
The new initiative dubbed Artificial Irish (AI) is going to have a trial run in the Gaeltacht in the summer. If the trial run is successful, it will get a nationwide launch next year.
The aim of the initiative is to promote STEM and the tech sector to junior cert and leaving cert school kids who are also Gaeilgeoirí. The trial run this summer will be run in various Irish Colleges in the Gaeltacht, and if it is successful, the aim is to add it to the national curriculum.
Barney O'Blarney the chairperson of Gaeilgeoir Forever which promotes Gaelic in a modern Ireland was full of praise for what the government is doing. "It's a wonderful idea that will be big news all over the world." O'Blarney added "The first country in the world to promote the use of AI in the country's native language is s something to be proud of."
As you will know Irish Tech News has been actively backing AI in some of our podcasts and some of the articles we publish. The new government AI initiative is something we whole heartedly applaud and we look forward to covering it in further detail after the official launch.
In the meantime keep listening to our podcasts and reading our articles on the Irish Tech News podcast as we showcase the latest in Irish and world tech news.
See more stories here.]]> Ronan Leonard 02:35 false full 29 f59ffe58-1851-48db-9fe2-e15142289595 Dr Diarmuid O'Brien, CEO of Research Ireland, commented:
"The high level of participation in the Research Ireland Enterprise Fellowship programme illustrates a strong appetite across disciplines and sectors for meaningful collaboration between academia and enterprise. This investment supports the mobility and development of research talent by giving researchers experience across both academic and enterprise settings, and enabling the flow of knowledge and skills in both directions. Through these awards, we are supporting the development of solutions to real-world challenges while strengthening connections across Ireland's research and innovation ecosystem. This is delivering on our recently launched strategy's ambition to grow Ireland's talent base, economy, and society."
The 2025 programme was delivered through two streams – a Partnership stream, and a Placement stream – each designed to support different modes of research in collaboration with enterprise partners.
The Partnership stream supports researchers to undertake full-time research in an eligible research body while working in close partnership with enterprise. 15 proposals were awarded under the partnership stream, with a total investment of €1.3 million.
Some of this year's Partnership stream awardees include:
Loriane Murphy (South East Technological University), who will work with Green Restoration Ireland Cooperative Society Ltd. to assess the health of Irish peatlands through analysing soil biodiversity, supporting improved restoration efforts and sustainable land management practices;
De Van Vo (University of Limerick), who will work with Eli Lilly & Co to co-design interactive simulations that support inclusive, inquiry-based STEAM education in post-primary schools;
Tess McCann (University College Dublin), who will work with Fighting Blindness to study the mechanisms that lead to retinal regeneration, supporting the future development of therapies for vision loss.
Under the Placement stream, 31 awards were made, representing a total investment of €3.1 million. The placement stream enables researchers to pursue research on placement with enterprise partners worldwide.
Some of this year's Placement stream awardees include:
Conall McNamara (Trinity College Dublin), who will work with SMBC Aviation Capital to assess the policy, economic and environmental impacts of sustainable aviation fuels, supporting evidence-based pathways to low-carbon aviation;
Andrew McGeever (Atlantic Technological University), who will work with Orreco Ltd. to assess how factors such as sleep, competition and sex-specific differences influence recovery and inflammation biomarkers in athletes, improving understanding of injury risk;
Grace Colley (Dublin City University), who will work with AstraZeneca to use AI to identify and prioritise digital biomarkers to support personalised cancer treatment;
Ehren Dixon (Tyndall National Institute), who will work with Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI) to improve biosensor performance diagnostics, supporting the development of reliable sensors across environmental, healthcare and industrial settings;
Cydney Thompson (Maynooth University), who will work with HIV Ireland to develop a community-led national archive shaped and governed by people impacted by the ongoing HIV and AIDS epidemic in Ireland.
Forty distinct enterprise partners are supporting this year's awardees, and span small, medium and large enterprises, both indigenous and international, as well as not-for-profit bodies and charities.
The 46 awardees stem from 13 institutions nationwide: Atlantic Technological University (1), ...]]> https://irishtechnews.ie/research-ireland-fellowships-to-support-enterprise-engaged-research/ Dr Diarmuid O'Brien, CEO of Research Ireland, commented:
"The high level of participation in the Research Ireland Enterprise Fellowship programme illustrates a strong appetite across disciplines and sectors for meaningful collaboration between academia and enterprise. This investment supports the mobility and development of research talent by giving researchers experience across both academic and enterprise settings, and enabling the flow of knowledge and skills in both directions. Through these awards, we are supporting the development of solutions to real-world challenges while strengthening connections across Ireland's research and innovation ecosystem. This is delivering on our recently launched strategy's ambition to grow Ireland's talent base, economy, and society."
The 2025 programme was delivered through two streams – a Partnership stream, and a Placement stream – each designed to support different modes of research in collaboration with enterprise partners.
The Partnership stream supports researchers to undertake full-time research in an eligible research body while working in close partnership with enterprise. 15 proposals were awarded under the partnership stream, with a total investment of €1.3 million.
Some of this year's Partnership stream awardees include:
Loriane Murphy (South East Technological University), who will work with Green Restoration Ireland Cooperative Society Ltd. to assess the health of Irish peatlands through analysing soil biodiversity, supporting improved restoration efforts and sustainable land management practices;
De Van Vo (University of Limerick), who will work with Eli Lilly & Co to co-design interactive simulations that support inclusive, inquiry-based STEAM education in post-primary schools;
Tess McCann (University College Dublin), who will work with Fighting Blindness to study the mechanisms that lead to retinal regeneration, supporting the future development of therapies for vision loss.
Under the Placement stream, 31 awards were made, representing a total investment of €3.1 million. The placement stream enables researchers to pursue research on placement with enterprise partners worldwide.
Some of this year's Placement stream awardees include:
Conall McNamara (Trinity College Dublin), who will work with SMBC Aviation Capital to assess the policy, economic and environmental impacts of sustainable aviation fuels, supporting evidence-based pathways to low-carbon aviation;
Andrew McGeever (Atlantic Technological University), who will work with Orreco Ltd. to assess how factors such as sleep, competition and sex-specific differences influence recovery and inflammation biomarkers in athletes, improving understanding of injury risk;
Grace Colley (Dublin City University), who will work with AstraZeneca to use AI to identify and prioritise digital biomarkers to support personalised cancer treatment;
Ehren Dixon (Tyndall National Institute), who will work with Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI) to improve biosensor performance diagnostics, supporting the development of reliable sensors across environmental, healthcare and industrial settings;
Cydney Thompson (Maynooth University), who will work with HIV Ireland to develop a community-led national archive shaped and governed by people impacted by the ongoing HIV and AIDS epidemic in Ireland.
Forty distinct enterprise partners are supporting this year's awardees, and span small, medium and large enterprises, both indigenous and international, as well as not-for-profit bodies and charities.
The 46 awardees stem from 13 institutions nationwide: Atlantic Technological University (1), ...]]> Tue, 31 Mar 2026 16:00:29 +0000 Research Ireland fellowships to support enterprise-engaged research Dr Diarmuid O'Brien, CEO of Research Ireland, commented:
"The high level of participation in the Research Ireland Enterprise Fellowship programme illustrates a strong appetite across disciplines and sectors for meaningful collaboration between academia and enterprise. This investment supports the mobility and development of research talent by giving researchers experience across both academic and enterprise settings, and enabling the flow of knowledge and skills in both directions. Through these awards, we are supporting the development of solutions to real-world challenges while strengthening connections across Ireland's research and innovation ecosystem. This is delivering on our recently launched strategy's ambition to grow Ireland's talent base, economy, and society."
The 2025 programme was delivered through two streams – a Partnership stream, and a Placement stream – each designed to support different modes of research in collaboration with enterprise partners.
The Partnership stream supports researchers to undertake full-time research in an eligible research body while working in close partnership with enterprise. 15 proposals were awarded under the partnership stream, with a total investment of €1.3 million.
Some of this year's Partnership stream awardees include:
Loriane Murphy (South East Technological University), who will work with Green Restoration Ireland Cooperative Society Ltd. to assess the health of Irish peatlands through analysing soil biodiversity, supporting improved restoration efforts and sustainable land management practices;
De Van Vo (University of Limerick), who will work with Eli Lilly & Co to co-design interactive simulations that support inclusive, inquiry-based STEAM education in post-primary schools;
Tess McCann (University College Dublin), who will work with Fighting Blindness to study the mechanisms that lead to retinal regeneration, supporting the future development of therapies for vision loss.
Under the Placement stream, 31 awards were made, representing a total investment of €3.1 million. The placement stream enables researchers to pursue research on placement with enterprise partners worldwide.
Some of this year's Placement stream awardees include:
Conall McNamara (Trinity College Dublin), who will work with SMBC Aviation Capital to assess the policy, economic and environmental impacts of sustainable aviation fuels, supporting evidence-based pathways to low-carbon aviation;
Andrew McGeever (Atlantic Technological University), who will work with Orreco Ltd. to assess how factors such as sleep, competition and sex-specific differences influence recovery and inflammation biomarkers in athletes, improving understanding of injury risk;
Grace Colley (Dublin City University), who will work with AstraZeneca to use AI to identify and prioritise digital biomarkers to support personalised cancer treatment;
Ehren Dixon (Tyndall National Institute), who will work with Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI) to improve biosensor performance diagnostics, supporting the development of reliable sensors across environmental, healthcare and industrial settings;
Cydney Thompson (Maynooth University), who will work with HIV Ireland to develop a community-led national archive shaped and governed by people impacted by the ongoing HIV and AIDS epidemic in Ireland.
Forty distinct enterprise partners are supporting this year's awardees, and span small, medium and large enterprises, both indigenous and international, as well as not-for-profit bodies and charities.
The 46 awardees stem from 13 institutions nationwide: Atlantic Technological University (1), ...]]> Ronan Leonard 05:27 false full 28 be094c45-b0ff-4301-9001-d644acc250bc Organised jointly by the three Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs), the event highlighted the role of small businesses in local life and the value of taking part in shared events, developing peer networks and seeking support at the right time. Attendees were encouraged to make full use of the mentoring, training and advisory services available through their Local Enterprise Office.
Longford was strongly represented by guest speaker Áine Farrell of Áine's Fashion & Lingerie, who delivered an insightful talk on her business journey. She spoke about the realities of growth, the need for firm foundations and the importance of teamwork and adaptability in a changing retail landscape.
The event opened with MC Allyson English of The Mody Collective, who welcomed attendees and introduced An Cathaoirleach, Cllr Aoife Davitt, Westmeath County Council.
A panel discussion and dedicated networking session followed. The event closed with prizes sponsored by each of the three Local Enterprise Offices, celebrating some of the region's most dynamic small businesses. The tri-county gathering also marked the conclusion of Local Enterprise Week 2026.
Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council, Cllr Garry Murtagh, said, "It is encouraging to see so many women in business from across three counties coming together. Events like this help people make useful contacts, share practical advice and build confidence. Our Local Enterprise Office plays a central role in community life, and this gathering shows the strong talent and commitment that exists right across the region."
Chief Executive of Longford County Council, Paddy Mahon, said, "Our Local Enterprise Offices are here to help businesses start well, scale well and stay resilient. Events like this bring people together, strengthen local enterprise and shine a light on the hard work being carried out in every town and village. I want to thank all those who took part in this event and encourage businesses to reach out to their Local Enterprise Office to explore the supports available."
Attendees are invited to save the date for the next Women in Business event, which will take place in County Leitrim on Thursday, 21 May 2026, with further details to follow.
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.]]> https://irishtechnews.ie/over-100-women-in-business-attend-tricounty-event/ Organised jointly by the three Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs), the event highlighted the role of small businesses in local life and the value of taking part in shared events, developing peer networks and seeking support at the right time. Attendees were encouraged to make full use of the mentoring, training and advisory services available through their Local Enterprise Office.
Longford was strongly represented by guest speaker Áine Farrell of Áine's Fashion & Lingerie, who delivered an insightful talk on her business journey. She spoke about the realities of growth, the need for firm foundations and the importance of teamwork and adaptability in a changing retail landscape.
The event opened with MC Allyson English of The Mody Collective, who welcomed attendees and introduced An Cathaoirleach, Cllr Aoife Davitt, Westmeath County Council.
A panel discussion and dedicated networking session followed. The event closed with prizes sponsored by each of the three Local Enterprise Offices, celebrating some of the region's most dynamic small businesses. The tri-county gathering also marked the conclusion of Local Enterprise Week 2026.
Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council, Cllr Garry Murtagh, said, "It is encouraging to see so many women in business from across three counties coming together. Events like this help people make useful contacts, share practical advice and build confidence. Our Local Enterprise Office plays a central role in community life, and this gathering shows the strong talent and commitment that exists right across the region."
Chief Executive of Longford County Council, Paddy Mahon, said, "Our Local Enterprise Offices are here to help businesses start well, scale well and stay resilient. Events like this bring people together, strengthen local enterprise and shine a light on the hard work being carried out in every town and village. I want to thank all those who took part in this event and encourage businesses to reach out to their Local Enterprise Office to explore the supports available."
Attendees are invited to save the date for the next Women in Business event, which will take place in County Leitrim on Thursday, 21 May 2026, with further details to follow.
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.]]> Tue, 31 Mar 2026 15:00:49 +0000 Over 100 Women in Business attend Tri-County event to mark International Women's Day 2026 Organised jointly by the three Loca...]]> Organised jointly by the three Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs), the event highlighted the role of small businesses in local life and the value of taking part in shared events, developing peer networks and seeking support at the right time. Attendees were encouraged to make full use of the mentoring, training and advisory services available through their Local Enterprise Office.
Longford was strongly represented by guest speaker Áine Farrell of Áine's Fashion & Lingerie, who delivered an insightful talk on her business journey. She spoke about the realities of growth, the need for firm foundations and the importance of teamwork and adaptability in a changing retail landscape.
The event opened with MC Allyson English of The Mody Collective, who welcomed attendees and introduced An Cathaoirleach, Cllr Aoife Davitt, Westmeath County Council.
A panel discussion and dedicated networking session followed. The event closed with prizes sponsored by each of the three Local Enterprise Offices, celebrating some of the region's most dynamic small businesses. The tri-county gathering also marked the conclusion of Local Enterprise Week 2026.
Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council, Cllr Garry Murtagh, said, "It is encouraging to see so many women in business from across three counties coming together. Events like this help people make useful contacts, share practical advice and build confidence. Our Local Enterprise Office plays a central role in community life, and this gathering shows the strong talent and commitment that exists right across the region."
Chief Executive of Longford County Council, Paddy Mahon, said, "Our Local Enterprise Offices are here to help businesses start well, scale well and stay resilient. Events like this bring people together, strengthen local enterprise and shine a light on the hard work being carried out in every town and village. I want to thank all those who took part in this event and encourage businesses to reach out to their Local Enterprise Office to explore the supports available."
Attendees are invited to save the date for the next Women in Business event, which will take place in County Leitrim on Thursday, 21 May 2026, with further details to follow.
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.]]> Irish Tech News 03:22 false full 27 38926381-9f94-42d1-986a-b0dd90e9375a Not so long ago, a wallet was a worn piece of leather in your pocket. Then it moved to your phone. Now, it's evolving again – becoming smarter, more useful and more closely tuned to everyday life.
Over the coming decade, your wallet will likely change significantly and probably won't just store payment cards and loyalty points. It could help you decide how to use them – on your terms. With tokenised assets, AI assistance, and programmable money, you will have more control over how you pay, save and move value.
More than a single technology, the most important shift will be choice. Less "one-size-fits-all" finance and more "fit-for-you" finance.
Smarter, faster, more personal
Think of AI as your personal financial concierge. In the next few years, many people may have some form of intelligent digital assistant that suggests the most sensible way to pay and helps them manage finances with minimal effort.
You decide the rules – how much you're comfortable spending, which accounts and cards to prioritise, and what to block entirely. The technology does the heavy lifting in the background, within the boundaries you set.
Day-to-day, that might mean your AI assistant recommends your debit account for groceries, a rewards card for travel, or a stablecoin for a cross-border payment. Most of the complexity stays hidden, but you have a clear view of what is happening and the ability to override it.
And because these wallets are connected to trusted verification networks, every transaction can be checked in real time. That helps reduce fraud, protects you from fraudulent tokens and makes it easier to trust the services you use.
Instant payments, everywhere
Across Europe, instant payments have already moved from 'nice to have' to 'expected' in many situations. Over the next decade, that will spread across more banks, more markets and more everyday use cases, until waiting days for a transfer feels as old-fashioned as sending a cheque in the post.
Alongside this, stablecoins – digital currencies backed by traditional money – are emerging as another way to move value quickly – especially across borders. When combined with existing rails and clear rules, they can remove some hidden charges and delays that frustrate both consumers and businesses today.
For a designer in Galway working for a client in New York, or a small business in Waterford selling to customers in São Paulo, being paid almost instantly and using that money the same day will increasingly become the norm. The technology to deliver this exists today – the next step is to scale it, safely and consistently.
The rise of tokenised value
Tokenisation sounds technical, but the idea is simple: representing different types of value in digital form, so they are easier and more secure to move and manage.
Across the next decade, a typical wallet could hold much more than money. It could include small shares of property, digital bonds, cultural assets or carbon and energy-related credits. With a few taps, people could shift between these, or between currencies and rewards, depending on their needs at that moment.
Identity will likely move in this direction. Instead of repeatedly sharing the same documents, you could be able to carry tokenised credentials in your wallet – to prove you are over 18, a subscriber, or otherwise eligible for a service – without revealing everything about yourself each time.
Ownership models could change as well. Instead of buying a car or house outright, people in a neighbourhood might co-own tokenised shares in a vehicle fleet or a local development, giving more people a practical way to participate and invest.
Borderless by design
Europe is built on movement: of people, goods, services and ideas. Payments are catching up with that reality.
As instant payments, stablecoins and tokenised assets mature, day-to-day commerce will feel more natur...]]> https://irishtechnews.ie/what-could-your-wallet-look-like-in-the-future/ Not so long ago, a wallet was a worn piece of leather in your pocket. Then it moved to your phone. Now, it's evolving again – becoming smarter, more useful and more closely tuned to everyday life.
Over the coming decade, your wallet will likely change significantly and probably won't just store payment cards and loyalty points. It could help you decide how to use them – on your terms. With tokenised assets, AI assistance, and programmable money, you will have more control over how you pay, save and move value.
More than a single technology, the most important shift will be choice. Less "one-size-fits-all" finance and more "fit-for-you" finance.
Smarter, faster, more personal
Think of AI as your personal financial concierge. In the next few years, many people may have some form of intelligent digital assistant that suggests the most sensible way to pay and helps them manage finances with minimal effort.
You decide the rules – how much you're comfortable spending, which accounts and cards to prioritise, and what to block entirely. The technology does the heavy lifting in the background, within the boundaries you set.
Day-to-day, that might mean your AI assistant recommends your debit account for groceries, a rewards card for travel, or a stablecoin for a cross-border payment. Most of the complexity stays hidden, but you have a clear view of what is happening and the ability to override it.
And because these wallets are connected to trusted verification networks, every transaction can be checked in real time. That helps reduce fraud, protects you from fraudulent tokens and makes it easier to trust the services you use.
Instant payments, everywhere
Across Europe, instant payments have already moved from 'nice to have' to 'expected' in many situations. Over the next decade, that will spread across more banks, more markets and more everyday use cases, until waiting days for a transfer feels as old-fashioned as sending a cheque in the post.
Alongside this, stablecoins – digital currencies backed by traditional money – are emerging as another way to move value quickly – especially across borders. When combined with existing rails and clear rules, they can remove some hidden charges and delays that frustrate both consumers and businesses today.
For a designer in Galway working for a client in New York, or a small business in Waterford selling to customers in São Paulo, being paid almost instantly and using that money the same day will increasingly become the norm. The technology to deliver this exists today – the next step is to scale it, safely and consistently.
The rise of tokenised value
Tokenisation sounds technical, but the idea is simple: representing different types of value in digital form, so they are easier and more secure to move and manage.
Across the next decade, a typical wallet could hold much more than money. It could include small shares of property, digital bonds, cultural assets or carbon and energy-related credits. With a few taps, people could shift between these, or between currencies and rewards, depending on their needs at that moment.
Identity will likely move in this direction. Instead of repeatedly sharing the same documents, you could be able to carry tokenised credentials in your wallet – to prove you are over 18, a subscriber, or otherwise eligible for a service – without revealing everything about yourself each time.
Ownership models could change as well. Instead of buying a car or house outright, people in a neighbourhood might co-own tokenised shares in a vehicle fleet or a local development, giving more people a practical way to participate and invest.
Borderless by design
Europe is built on movement: of people, goods, services and ideas. Payments are catching up with that reality.
As instant payments, stablecoins and tokenised assets mature, day-to-day commerce will feel more natur...]]> Tue, 31 Mar 2026 14:00:57 +0000 What Could Your Wallet Look Like in the Future? Not so long ago, a wallet was a worn piece of leather in your pocket. Then it moved to your phone. Now, it's evolving again – becomin...]]> Not so long ago, a wallet was a worn piece of leather in your pocket. Then it moved to your phone. Now, it's evolving again – becoming smarter, more useful and more closely tuned to everyday life.
Over the coming decade, your wallet will likely change significantly and probably won't just store payment cards and loyalty points. It could help you decide how to use them – on your terms. With tokenised assets, AI assistance, and programmable money, you will have more control over how you pay, save and move value.
More than a single technology, the most important shift will be choice. Less "one-size-fits-all" finance and more "fit-for-you" finance.
Smarter, faster, more personal
Think of AI as your personal financial concierge. In the next few years, many people may have some form of intelligent digital assistant that suggests the most sensible way to pay and helps them manage finances with minimal effort.
You decide the rules – how much you're comfortable spending, which accounts and cards to prioritise, and what to block entirely. The technology does the heavy lifting in the background, within the boundaries you set.
Day-to-day, that might mean your AI assistant recommends your debit account for groceries, a rewards card for travel, or a stablecoin for a cross-border payment. Most of the complexity stays hidden, but you have a clear view of what is happening and the ability to override it.
And because these wallets are connected to trusted verification networks, every transaction can be checked in real time. That helps reduce fraud, protects you from fraudulent tokens and makes it easier to trust the services you use.
Instant payments, everywhere
Across Europe, instant payments have already moved from 'nice to have' to 'expected' in many situations. Over the next decade, that will spread across more banks, more markets and more everyday use cases, until waiting days for a transfer feels as old-fashioned as sending a cheque in the post.
Alongside this, stablecoins – digital currencies backed by traditional money – are emerging as another way to move value quickly – especially across borders. When combined with existing rails and clear rules, they can remove some hidden charges and delays that frustrate both consumers and businesses today.
For a designer in Galway working for a client in New York, or a small business in Waterford selling to customers in São Paulo, being paid almost instantly and using that money the same day will increasingly become the norm. The technology to deliver this exists today – the next step is to scale it, safely and consistently.
The rise of tokenised value
Tokenisation sounds technical, but the idea is simple: representing different types of value in digital form, so they are easier and more secure to move and manage.
Across the next decade, a typical wallet could hold much more than money. It could include small shares of property, digital bonds, cultural assets or carbon and energy-related credits. With a few taps, people could shift between these, or between currencies and rewards, depending on their needs at that moment.
Identity will likely move in this direction. Instead of repeatedly sharing the same documents, you could be able to carry tokenised credentials in your wallet – to prove you are over 18, a subscriber, or otherwise eligible for a service – without revealing everything about yourself each time.
Ownership models could change as well. Instead of buying a car or house outright, people in a neighbourhood might co-own tokenised shares in a vehicle fleet or a local development, giving more people a practical way to participate and invest.
Borderless by design
Europe is built on movement: of people, goods, services and ideas. Payments are catching up with that reality.
As instant payments, stablecoins and tokenised assets mature, day-to-day commerce will feel more natur...]]> Irish Tech News 07:34 false full 26 3f46e3a2-d2ff-4b6f-8f31-2995d4dd264c John talks about apprenticeships, careers advice, remote working, AI, more women in stem and more.
More about Bowsy:
Bowsy is an AI-powered talent assessment and early careers platform that helps organisations identify, assess and recruit high-potential talent more effectively. Our platform combines AI-driven profiling with real-world project assessments to improve hiring decisions across graduate recruitment, early careers programmes and specialised workforce assessments such as driver capability.based on real-world business challenges.
Bowsy helps organisations move beyond traditional CV screening and recruitment channels by providing a data-driven approach to identifying candidate potential, motivation and role fit.
See more podcasts here.
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.]]> https://irishtechnews.ie/people-opening-their-minds-to-remote-working-for-the-first-time-john-brady-ceo-and-co-founder-bowsy/ John talks about apprenticeships, careers advice, remote working, AI, more women in stem and more.
More about Bowsy:
Bowsy is an AI-powered talent assessment and early careers platform that helps organisations identify, assess and recruit high-potential talent more effectively. Our platform combines AI-driven profiling with real-world project assessments to improve hiring decisions across graduate recruitment, early careers programmes and specialised workforce assessments such as driver capability.based on real-world business challenges.
Bowsy helps organisations move beyond traditional CV screening and recruitment channels by providing a data-driven approach to identifying candidate potential, motivation and role fit.
See more podcasts here.
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.]]> Tue, 31 Mar 2026 13:00:50 +0000 People opening their minds to remote working for the first time, John Brady CEO and Co-Founder Bowsy John talks about apprenticeships, careers advice, remote working, AI, more women in stem and more.
More about Bowsy:
Bowsy is an AI-powered talent assessment and early careers platform that helps organisations identify, assess and recruit high-potential talent more effectively. Our platform combines AI-driven profiling with real-world project assessments to improve hiring decisions across graduate recruitment, early careers programmes and specialised workforce assessments such as driver capability.based on real-world business challenges.
Bowsy helps organisations move beyond traditional CV screening and recruitment channels by providing a data-driven approach to identifying candidate potential, motivation and role fit.
See more podcasts here.
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.]]> Ronan Leonard 02:03 false full 25 2996397b-a0f1-4463-8de6-75361d580d9a According to Pinergy's latest 'Energy Sustainability Research Study' conducted in collaboration with iReach Insights, cost savings remain the main reason businesses invest in sustainability measures. The extended daylight hours offer an opportunity for businesses to maximise their energy independence and drive down costs.
With solar and battery technology becoming more widely available and more efficient, Pinergy advises enterprises to think strategically about converting sunlight into a long-term asset.
Daire Keating, Chief Commercial Officer at Pinergy, said: "The longer days are a seasonal prompt for businesses to look again at their energy use and whether solar and batteries could make financial sense for them. Our research shows that cost remains the main driver, but many businesses are still unsure where to start. We partner with our clients in understanding their business needs and subsequent energy demand. By checking the practical requirements early and exploring finance options businesses are well positioned to make the process much more straightforward."
Daire Keating shares his top tips below for those considering solar for their business:
Tip 1: Treat Solar as a Long-Term Infrastructure Investment
Solar is often seen first as a sustainability measure, but we need to shift that perspective and view it as a crucial piece of business infrastructure. A well-designed solar system is a strategic asset offering a 20-25 year energy hedge and can help reduce exposure to energy price volatility over the long term, while offering predictable savings and a measurable return on investment. The typical payback is anywhere between 2-6 years, so a great use of precious capital. Pinergy's research identified cost efficiencies as the overwhelmingly top driver (68%) for businesses investing in sustainable initiatives. Taking a strategic view of infrastructure investment will enable businesses to align their cost motivations with long term operational efficiencies.
Tip 2: Know Your Energy Consumption Inside Out
Before installing solar, businesses need to understand how and when they use electricity. Optimal solar installations are precisely matched to your daytime electricity demand, so reviewing consumption patterns in advance is essential. This foresight prevents costly oversizing and ensures maximum financial viability.
Pinergy's Energy Sustainability Research Study highlights an existing energy monitoring gap. While 46% of businesses actively monitor their energy use, 25% only check it when the bill arrives and 29% say they do not meaningfully monitor it at all. This means many businesses have work to do to fully understand their consumption patterns before installing solar systems. Our market leading data insight tool, Acutrace, has been an invaluable asset for our clients in arriving at the right decision point for them.
Tip 3: Proactively Check Grid Connection & Compliance Requirements
Installing commercial solar and batteries involves more than fitting panels to a roof. Businesses in conjunction with their energy partners should assess grid connection requirements and capacity, potential export limits, and all necessary safety and building regulations. Addressing these critical factors, from fire safety and structural integrity to electrical compliance, during the feasibility stage prevents delays and safeguards your long-term investment.
Tip 4: Plan for Sustained Performance
A solar system is a 25-year asset, so maintenance and monitoring matter. Its true value comes from consistent performance over its lifetime. Businesses with a plan in place from the outset are well positioned to track system performance and deal quickly with any issues that could aff...]]> https://irishtechnews.ie/businesses-urged-to-consider-solar-energy-for-long-term-resilience/ According to Pinergy's latest 'Energy Sustainability Research Study' conducted in collaboration with iReach Insights, cost savings remain the main reason businesses invest in sustainability measures. The extended daylight hours offer an opportunity for businesses to maximise their energy independence and drive down costs.
With solar and battery technology becoming more widely available and more efficient, Pinergy advises enterprises to think strategically about converting sunlight into a long-term asset.
Daire Keating, Chief Commercial Officer at Pinergy, said: "The longer days are a seasonal prompt for businesses to look again at their energy use and whether solar and batteries could make financial sense for them. Our research shows that cost remains the main driver, but many businesses are still unsure where to start. We partner with our clients in understanding their business needs and subsequent energy demand. By checking the practical requirements early and exploring finance options businesses are well positioned to make the process much more straightforward."
Daire Keating shares his top tips below for those considering solar for their business:
Tip 1: Treat Solar as a Long-Term Infrastructure Investment
Solar is often seen first as a sustainability measure, but we need to shift that perspective and view it as a crucial piece of business infrastructure. A well-designed solar system is a strategic asset offering a 20-25 year energy hedge and can help reduce exposure to energy price volatility over the long term, while offering predictable savings and a measurable return on investment. The typical payback is anywhere between 2-6 years, so a great use of precious capital. Pinergy's research identified cost efficiencies as the overwhelmingly top driver (68%) for businesses investing in sustainable initiatives. Taking a strategic view of infrastructure investment will enable businesses to align their cost motivations with long term operational efficiencies.
Tip 2: Know Your Energy Consumption Inside Out
Before installing solar, businesses need to understand how and when they use electricity. Optimal solar installations are precisely matched to your daytime electricity demand, so reviewing consumption patterns in advance is essential. This foresight prevents costly oversizing and ensures maximum financial viability.
Pinergy's Energy Sustainability Research Study highlights an existing energy monitoring gap. While 46% of businesses actively monitor their energy use, 25% only check it when the bill arrives and 29% say they do not meaningfully monitor it at all. This means many businesses have work to do to fully understand their consumption patterns before installing solar systems. Our market leading data insight tool, Acutrace, has been an invaluable asset for our clients in arriving at the right decision point for them.
Tip 3: Proactively Check Grid Connection & Compliance Requirements
Installing commercial solar and batteries involves more than fitting panels to a roof. Businesses in conjunction with their energy partners should assess grid connection requirements and capacity, potential export limits, and all necessary safety and building regulations. Addressing these critical factors, from fire safety and structural integrity to electrical compliance, during the feasibility stage prevents delays and safeguards your long-term investment.
Tip 4: Plan for Sustained Performance
A solar system is a 25-year asset, so maintenance and monitoring matter. Its true value comes from consistent performance over its lifetime. Businesses with a plan in place from the outset are well positioned to track system performance and deal quickly with any issues that could aff...]]> Tue, 31 Mar 2026 12:00:48 +0000 Businesses urged to consider solar energy for long-term resilience According to Pinergy's latest 'Energy Sustainability Research Study' conducted in collaboration with iReach Insights, cost savings remain the main reason businesses invest in sustainability measures. The extended daylight hours offer an opportunity for businesses to maximise their energy independence and drive down costs.
With solar and battery technology becoming more widely available and more efficient, Pinergy advises enterprises to think strategically about converting sunlight into a long-term asset.
Daire Keating, Chief Commercial Officer at Pinergy, said: "The longer days are a seasonal prompt for businesses to look again at their energy use and whether solar and batteries could make financial sense for them. Our research shows that cost remains the main driver, but many businesses are still unsure where to start. We partner with our clients in understanding their business needs and subsequent energy demand. By checking the practical requirements early and exploring finance options businesses are well positioned to make the process much more straightforward."
Daire Keating shares his top tips below for those considering solar for their business:
Tip 1: Treat Solar as a Long-Term Infrastructure Investment
Solar is often seen first as a sustainability measure, but we need to shift that perspective and view it as a crucial piece of business infrastructure. A well-designed solar system is a strategic asset offering a 20-25 year energy hedge and can help reduce exposure to energy price volatility over the long term, while offering predictable savings and a measurable return on investment. The typical payback is anywhere between 2-6 years, so a great use of precious capital. Pinergy's research identified cost efficiencies as the overwhelmingly top driver (68%) for businesses investing in sustainable initiatives. Taking a strategic view of infrastructure investment will enable businesses to align their cost motivations with long term operational efficiencies.
Tip 2: Know Your Energy Consumption Inside Out
Before installing solar, businesses need to understand how and when they use electricity. Optimal solar installations are precisely matched to your daytime electricity demand, so reviewing consumption patterns in advance is essential. This foresight prevents costly oversizing and ensures maximum financial viability.
Pinergy's Energy Sustainability Research Study highlights an existing energy monitoring gap. While 46% of businesses actively monitor their energy use, 25% only check it when the bill arrives and 29% say they do not meaningfully monitor it at all. This means many businesses have work to do to fully understand their consumption patterns before installing solar systems. Our market leading data insight tool, Acutrace, has been an invaluable asset for our clients in arriving at the right decision point for them.
Tip 3: Proactively Check Grid Connection & Compliance Requirements
Installing commercial solar and batteries involves more than fitting panels to a roof. Businesses in conjunction with their energy partners should assess grid connection requirements and capacity, potential export limits, and all necessary safety and building regulations. Addressing these critical factors, from fire safety and structural integrity to electrical compliance, during the feasibility stage prevents delays and safeguards your long-term investment.
Tip 4: Plan for Sustained Performance
A solar system is a 25-year asset, so maintenance and monitoring matter. Its true value comes from consistent performance over its lifetime. Businesses with a plan in place from the outset are well positioned to track system performance and deal quickly with any issues that could aff...]]> Ronan Leonard 06:12 false full 24 da2d7987-16e5-4b3a-9217-ca62e33d9806 A series of awards were presented across all three Municipal Districts, and this year's overall Rising Star award was presented to St Mary's NS, Edgeworthstown, for their unique project 'Coding to Communicate.' The students used their newly acquired coding skills to help communicate with non-verbal classmates and children with Autism.
This year's Microsoft Dream Space Showcase event also welcomed some of the most prestigious and respected names in the industry, including Ericsson, MTU Cork, EY, KPMG, Storm Technologies and Global Logic. Their presence underscored the high regard and esteem in which this pioneering event is held.
The Ambassador of Hungary to Ireland, Gergely Bánhegyi, was one of the special guests on the day as part of a series of cultural events and collaborative projects linking County Longford with Hungary as part of Ireland's EU Presidency community engagement programme.
YouTube star Farmer Phil was also in attendance, and he visited a number of agricultural-related projects on the day with children from primary schools all over the county, delighted to meet the social media influencer.
Longford's Microsoft Dream Space Showcase is the culmination of months of engagement with primary schools in County Longford, which included the delivery of hands-on STEAM sessions by the Microsoft Dream Space teaching team as part of a 10-week Dream Space programme. The programme provided students with the opportunity to enhance their STEM and AI skills through the development of innovative STEM projects addressing sustainability challenges.
Over a 10-week period, students worked with their teachers, Longford County Council's STEM Engagement Officer, Siobhan Grealy, and Microsoft's teaching team to develop the STEAM and coding skills they needed for their projects. These newly acquired skills were then put into action by developing an innovative project addressing various challenges related to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.
The students celebrated their learnings and presented their projects at the Microsoft Dream Space Showcase event. Now in its fourth year, this initiative provides an opportunity for primary school children to enhance their STEM and AI skills through immersive experiences that help unlock their full potential, while also showing them the possibilities of a future career in the STEM sector. Ultimately, it is hoped that this will lead to all County Longford secondary schools offering computer science as a Leaving Certificate subject.
The collaboration with Microsoft, empowering local schools to participate in the Microsoft Dream Space Showcase, builds on a series of targeted interventions in the area of STEAM education spearheaded by Longford County Council.
Funding received by Longford County Council from the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the EU Just Transition Fund Programme 2021-2027 has been invested into local schools with a focus on accelerating interest and engagement in Computer Science and STEAM-related subjects as students transition from primary to post-primary level.
The ongoing support of primary school teachers throughout County Longford has been vital to the success of the programme while thanks was also extended to secondary school teachers who acted as adjudicators on the day.
Creative Ireland is also funding the building blocks of creativity for this project.
Chief Executive of Longford County Council, Paddy Mahon, said, "What we witnessed at this year's Microsoft Dream Space Showcase event exceeded every expectation. Longford County Council's commitment to pioneering STEAM education has created something extraordinary. We're not ...]]> https://irishtechnews.ie/over-700-students-showcase-steam-projects/ A series of awards were presented across all three Municipal Districts, and this year's overall Rising Star award was presented to St Mary's NS, Edgeworthstown, for their unique project 'Coding to Communicate.' The students used their newly acquired coding skills to help communicate with non-verbal classmates and children with Autism.
This year's Microsoft Dream Space Showcase event also welcomed some of the most prestigious and respected names in the industry, including Ericsson, MTU Cork, EY, KPMG, Storm Technologies and Global Logic. Their presence underscored the high regard and esteem in which this pioneering event is held.
The Ambassador of Hungary to Ireland, Gergely Bánhegyi, was one of the special guests on the day as part of a series of cultural events and collaborative projects linking County Longford with Hungary as part of Ireland's EU Presidency community engagement programme.
YouTube star Farmer Phil was also in attendance, and he visited a number of agricultural-related projects on the day with children from primary schools all over the county, delighted to meet the social media influencer.
Longford's Microsoft Dream Space Showcase is the culmination of months of engagement with primary schools in County Longford, which included the delivery of hands-on STEAM sessions by the Microsoft Dream Space teaching team as part of a 10-week Dream Space programme. The programme provided students with the opportunity to enhance their STEM and AI skills through the development of innovative STEM projects addressing sustainability challenges.
Over a 10-week period, students worked with their teachers, Longford County Council's STEM Engagement Officer, Siobhan Grealy, and Microsoft's teaching team to develop the STEAM and coding skills they needed for their projects. These newly acquired skills were then put into action by developing an innovative project addressing various challenges related to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.
The students celebrated their learnings and presented their projects at the Microsoft Dream Space Showcase event. Now in its fourth year, this initiative provides an opportunity for primary school children to enhance their STEM and AI skills through immersive experiences that help unlock their full potential, while also showing them the possibilities of a future career in the STEM sector. Ultimately, it is hoped that this will lead to all County Longford secondary schools offering computer science as a Leaving Certificate subject.
The collaboration with Microsoft, empowering local schools to participate in the Microsoft Dream Space Showcase, builds on a series of targeted interventions in the area of STEAM education spearheaded by Longford County Council.
Funding received by Longford County Council from the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the EU Just Transition Fund Programme 2021-2027 has been invested into local schools with a focus on accelerating interest and engagement in Computer Science and STEAM-related subjects as students transition from primary to post-primary level.
The ongoing support of primary school teachers throughout County Longford has been vital to the success of the programme while thanks was also extended to secondary school teachers who acted as adjudicators on the day.
Creative Ireland is also funding the building blocks of creativity for this project.
Chief Executive of Longford County Council, Paddy Mahon, said, "What we witnessed at this year's Microsoft Dream Space Showcase event exceeded every expectation. Longford County Council's commitment to pioneering STEAM education has created something extraordinary. We're not ...]]> Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:00:01 +0000 Over 700 students showcase groundbreaking STEAM projects at Longford's Microsoft Dream Space Showcase Event A series of awards were presented across all three Municipal Districts, and this year's overall Rising Star award was presented to St Mary's NS, Edgeworthstown, for their unique project 'Coding to Communicate.' The students used their newly acquired coding skills to help communicate with non-verbal classmates and children with Autism.
This year's Microsoft Dream Space Showcase event also welcomed some of the most prestigious and respected names in the industry, including Ericsson, MTU Cork, EY, KPMG, Storm Technologies and Global Logic. Their presence underscored the high regard and esteem in which this pioneering event is held.
The Ambassador of Hungary to Ireland, Gergely Bánhegyi, was one of the special guests on the day as part of a series of cultural events and collaborative projects linking County Longford with Hungary as part of Ireland's EU Presidency community engagement programme.
YouTube star Farmer Phil was also in attendance, and he visited a number of agricultural-related projects on the day with children from primary schools all over the county, delighted to meet the social media influencer.
Longford's Microsoft Dream Space Showcase is the culmination of months of engagement with primary schools in County Longford, which included the delivery of hands-on STEAM sessions by the Microsoft Dream Space teaching team as part of a 10-week Dream Space programme. The programme provided students with the opportunity to enhance their STEM and AI skills through the development of innovative STEM projects addressing sustainability challenges.
Over a 10-week period, students worked with their teachers, Longford County Council's STEM Engagement Officer, Siobhan Grealy, and Microsoft's teaching team to develop the STEAM and coding skills they needed for their projects. These newly acquired skills were then put into action by developing an innovative project addressing various challenges related to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.
The students celebrated their learnings and presented their projects at the Microsoft Dream Space Showcase event. Now in its fourth year, this initiative provides an opportunity for primary school children to enhance their STEM and AI skills through immersive experiences that help unlock their full potential, while also showing them the possibilities of a future career in the STEM sector. Ultimately, it is hoped that this will lead to all County Longford secondary schools offering computer science as a Leaving Certificate subject.
The collaboration with Microsoft, empowering local schools to participate in the Microsoft Dream Space Showcase, builds on a series of targeted interventions in the area of STEAM education spearheaded by Longford County Council.
Funding received by Longford County Council from the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the EU Just Transition Fund Programme 2021-2027 has been invested into local schools with a focus on accelerating interest and engagement in Computer Science and STEAM-related subjects as students transition from primary to post-primary level.
The ongoing support of primary school teachers throughout County Longford has been vital to the success of the programme while thanks was also extended to secondary school teachers who acted as adjudicators on the day.
Creative Ireland is also funding the building blocks of creativity for this project.
Chief Executive of Longford County Council, Paddy Mahon, said, "What we witnessed at this year's Microsoft Dream Space Showcase event exceeded every expectation. Longford County Council's commitment to pioneering STEAM education has created something extraordinary. We're not ...]]> Irish Tech News 11:06 false full 23 08c46b52-6efc-4a2e-beec-e0bb2811aa05 The collaboration allows fleets to manage their entire portfolio of Hyundai vehicles—including internal combustion engines (ICE) and electric vehicles (EV)—within a single, unified environment. By harmonising native vehicle data with Geotab's advanced analytics, managers of mixed fleets gain a consolidated view of their operations to drive more informed business decisions.
Key Advantages for Fleet Managers:
Proactive Maintenance & Uptime: Monitoring of engine health, including oil pressure, coolant temperatures, and specific DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) status, prevents costly breakdowns.
Near Real Time GPS: Newer Hyundai vehicles will be able to transmit GPS every 10 seconds (older vehicles will send data at ignition on/off)
Precision Safety Management: Managers can now track driver and passenger seatbelt usage, airbag deployment, ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) forward vehicle distance, hood status and door locks to ensure a safer working environment.
Comprehensive Tire Intelligence: Beyond basic alerts, fleets receive specific tire pressure readings and status indicators for every wheel, significantly improving fuel efficiency and safety.
Future-Ready EV Insights: For electric fleets, the solution tracks state of charge, charging states (AC/DC), and battery cell temperatures, allowing for optimized route planning based on "time to fully charged" metrics.
This deep integration allows fleet managers to transition from reactive monitoring to proactive optimization by leveraging high-resolution insights directly from Hyundai's factory-fitted sensors.
"Adding Hyundai to our OEM partner network strengthens the breadth of manufacturers European fleet operators can manage through a single platform," said Christoph Ludewig, Vice President of OEM, EMEA at Geotab. "Our partnership with Hyundai provides our customers with instant access to high-quality vehicle data, from precision safety metrics to critical battery insights. By removing the barriers of hardware installation, we are helping fleets improve their operational efficiency and safety while simplifying the transition to an electrified future."
"Our collaboration with Geotab brings Hyundai fleets a seamless, hardware-free telematics experience that turns factory-fitted data services and connectivity into tangible value. From 10-second GPS to predictive maintenance and deep EV insights, operators gain a clearer, faster and more actionable view of their vehicles — all activated remotely and ready to scale." added Marcus Welz, CEO Hyundai Connected Mobility
The Geotab Integrated Solution for Hyundai is available across more than 40 European markets, including Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Norway, Sweden, and Ireland, among others.
For more information, visit https://www.geotab.com/ie/oem-telematics/
See more stories here.
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, ...]]> https://irishtechnews.ie/geotab-and-hyundai-partner-to-deliver-hardware-free-native-telematics-integration/ The collaboration allows fleets to manage their entire portfolio of Hyundai vehicles—including internal combustion engines (ICE) and electric vehicles (EV)—within a single, unified environment. By harmonising native vehicle data with Geotab's advanced analytics, managers of mixed fleets gain a consolidated view of their operations to drive more informed business decisions.
Key Advantages for Fleet Managers:
Proactive Maintenance & Uptime: Monitoring of engine health, including oil pressure, coolant temperatures, and specific DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) status, prevents costly breakdowns.
Near Real Time GPS: Newer Hyundai vehicles will be able to transmit GPS every 10 seconds (older vehicles will send data at ignition on/off)
Precision Safety Management: Managers can now track driver and passenger seatbelt usage, airbag deployment, ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) forward vehicle distance, hood status and door locks to ensure a safer working environment.
Comprehensive Tire Intelligence: Beyond basic alerts, fleets receive specific tire pressure readings and status indicators for every wheel, significantly improving fuel efficiency and safety.
Future-Ready EV Insights: For electric fleets, the solution tracks state of charge, charging states (AC/DC), and battery cell temperatures, allowing for optimized route planning based on "time to fully charged" metrics.
This deep integration allows fleet managers to transition from reactive monitoring to proactive optimization by leveraging high-resolution insights directly from Hyundai's factory-fitted sensors.
"Adding Hyundai to our OEM partner network strengthens the breadth of manufacturers European fleet operators can manage through a single platform," said Christoph Ludewig, Vice President of OEM, EMEA at Geotab. "Our partnership with Hyundai provides our customers with instant access to high-quality vehicle data, from precision safety metrics to critical battery insights. By removing the barriers of hardware installation, we are helping fleets improve their operational efficiency and safety while simplifying the transition to an electrified future."
"Our collaboration with Geotab brings Hyundai fleets a seamless, hardware-free telematics experience that turns factory-fitted data services and connectivity into tangible value. From 10-second GPS to predictive maintenance and deep EV insights, operators gain a clearer, faster and more actionable view of their vehicles — all activated remotely and ready to scale." added Marcus Welz, CEO Hyundai Connected Mobility
The Geotab Integrated Solution for Hyundai is available across more than 40 European markets, including Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Norway, Sweden, and Ireland, among others.
For more information, visit https://www.geotab.com/ie/oem-telematics/
See more stories here.
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, ...]]> Tue, 31 Mar 2026 09:30:18 +0000 Geotab and Hyundai Partner to Deliver Hardware-Free, Native Telematics Integration The collaboration allows fleets to manage their entire portfolio of Hyundai vehicles—including internal combustion engines (ICE) and electric vehicles (EV)—within a single, unified environment. By harmonising native vehicle data with Geotab's advanced analytics, managers of mixed fleets gain a consolidated view of their operations to drive more informed business decisions.
Key Advantages for Fleet Managers:
Proactive Maintenance & Uptime: Monitoring of engine health, including oil pressure, coolant temperatures, and specific DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) status, prevents costly breakdowns.
Near Real Time GPS: Newer Hyundai vehicles will be able to transmit GPS every 10 seconds (older vehicles will send data at ignition on/off)
Precision Safety Management: Managers can now track driver and passenger seatbelt usage, airbag deployment, ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) forward vehicle distance, hood status and door locks to ensure a safer working environment.
Comprehensive Tire Intelligence: Beyond basic alerts, fleets receive specific tire pressure readings and status indicators for every wheel, significantly improving fuel efficiency and safety.
Future-Ready EV Insights: For electric fleets, the solution tracks state of charge, charging states (AC/DC), and battery cell temperatures, allowing for optimized route planning based on "time to fully charged" metrics.
This deep integration allows fleet managers to transition from reactive monitoring to proactive optimization by leveraging high-resolution insights directly from Hyundai's factory-fitted sensors.
"Adding Hyundai to our OEM partner network strengthens the breadth of manufacturers European fleet operators can manage through a single platform," said Christoph Ludewig, Vice President of OEM, EMEA at Geotab. "Our partnership with Hyundai provides our customers with instant access to high-quality vehicle data, from precision safety metrics to critical battery insights. By removing the barriers of hardware installation, we are helping fleets improve their operational efficiency and safety while simplifying the transition to an electrified future."
"Our collaboration with Geotab brings Hyundai fleets a seamless, hardware-free telematics experience that turns factory-fitted data services and connectivity into tangible value. From 10-second GPS to predictive maintenance and deep EV insights, operators gain a clearer, faster and more actionable view of their vehicles — all activated remotely and ready to scale." added Marcus Welz, CEO Hyundai Connected Mobility
The Geotab Integrated Solution for Hyundai is available across more than 40 European markets, including Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Norway, Sweden, and Ireland, among others.
For more information, visit https://www.geotab.com/ie/oem-telematics/
See more stories here.
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, ...]]> Ronan Leonard 04:30 false full 22 fd4dac15-bae0-4529-9f95-3d319b999289 Why I Walked Away from Corporate Marketing, Beyond Palatable explained
For ten years, I worked inside the engine room of modern marketing.
Major brands. High-pressure agency environments. Campaigns built to move people at scale, at speed, and often at all costs. By every conventional measure, it was going well.
Then I started paying closer attention to what I was actually doing.
The Persuasion Machine
Marketing has always been about persuasion. That's not new. What is new is the sophistication and the subtlety with which that persuasion now operates.
It's no longer just about selling a product. It's about shaping identity, manufacturing desire, and engineering the feeling that something is missing from your life until you buy the thing that fills it. I know this because I was part of building the persuasion machine. After a while, it started to consume my life.
The people I worked with in corporate weren't bad actors. Most were sharp, motivated, and genuinely trying to do good work. But the system itself has one primary directive: growth at all costs. When commercial outcomes take precedence over everything else, the gap between influence and ethics closes.
When the Career Works But the Work Doesn't
From the outside, my career looked enviably good. I climbed the agency ladder fast, had recognisable clients and a skill set that the market rewards well. But there was a persistent internal question I kept pushing aside: Do I actually believe in what I'm doing?
That's a harder question to sit with than most people will admit, particularly in environments where pace is celebrated, which often leads to no time for reflection.
Over time, I became increasingly disconnected and exhausted, reaching for anything that would 'take the edge off'. I was miserable, despite having done everything 'right' to build the career I thought I desired.
It all came to a head one day in spring 2017, when I had one of those sliding-door moments that changed the trajectory of my entire career.
I met a woman through a networking group, hit it off, and bonded over our shared belief that the marketing industry needs reform, and decided to start our own agency together to use communication tools to grow businesses committed to positive impact.
That summer, I quit my corporate career and started Electric Peach, a brand storytelling agency for impact-driven businesses.
What Leaving Actually Costs You
Stepping away from corporate culture isn't just a career decision; it's a psychological one. It's deeply entwined with identity, and for me, the transition was extremely rocky. Who was I without the flashy title and well-known brand clients? How on earth do I run a business, particularly one that is committed to doing things differently, with no blueprint?
If you choose to make this leap, you're not only leaving behind structure and a guaranteed salary. You're leaving a system that has been defining success for you—progression, status, external validation—and stepping into a space where you have to define it yourself.
That's genuinely uncomfortable. For me, it meant sitting with some blunt questions:
What does meaningful work actually look like?
What should communication be for?
And what kind of impact do I want my work to have?
Building Electric Peach
Electric Peach was my answer to those questions. Not a rejection of business or growth, but a different approach to both.
The core principle is straightforward: communication should create clarity, not confusion. It should build trust, not manufacture dependency. And it should respect the audience, not exploit them.
In practice, that means working with founders to articulate what they genuinely stand for, building messaging that's honest rather than over-engineered, and creating visibility that's sustainab...]]> https://irishtechnews.ie/beyond-palatable-manifesto-for-unapologetic-women/ Why I Walked Away from Corporate Marketing, Beyond Palatable explained
For ten years, I worked inside the engine room of modern marketing.
Major brands. High-pressure agency environments. Campaigns built to move people at scale, at speed, and often at all costs. By every conventional measure, it was going well.
Then I started paying closer attention to what I was actually doing.
The Persuasion Machine
Marketing has always been about persuasion. That's not new. What is new is the sophistication and the subtlety with which that persuasion now operates.
It's no longer just about selling a product. It's about shaping identity, manufacturing desire, and engineering the feeling that something is missing from your life until you buy the thing that fills it. I know this because I was part of building the persuasion machine. After a while, it started to consume my life.
The people I worked with in corporate weren't bad actors. Most were sharp, motivated, and genuinely trying to do good work. But the system itself has one primary directive: growth at all costs. When commercial outcomes take precedence over everything else, the gap between influence and ethics closes.
When the Career Works But the Work Doesn't
From the outside, my career looked enviably good. I climbed the agency ladder fast, had recognisable clients and a skill set that the market rewards well. But there was a persistent internal question I kept pushing aside: Do I actually believe in what I'm doing?
That's a harder question to sit with than most people will admit, particularly in environments where pace is celebrated, which often leads to no time for reflection.
Over time, I became increasingly disconnected and exhausted, reaching for anything that would 'take the edge off'. I was miserable, despite having done everything 'right' to build the career I thought I desired.
It all came to a head one day in spring 2017, when I had one of those sliding-door moments that changed the trajectory of my entire career.
I met a woman through a networking group, hit it off, and bonded over our shared belief that the marketing industry needs reform, and decided to start our own agency together to use communication tools to grow businesses committed to positive impact.
That summer, I quit my corporate career and started Electric Peach, a brand storytelling agency for impact-driven businesses.
What Leaving Actually Costs You
Stepping away from corporate culture isn't just a career decision; it's a psychological one. It's deeply entwined with identity, and for me, the transition was extremely rocky. Who was I without the flashy title and well-known brand clients? How on earth do I run a business, particularly one that is committed to doing things differently, with no blueprint?
If you choose to make this leap, you're not only leaving behind structure and a guaranteed salary. You're leaving a system that has been defining success for you—progression, status, external validation—and stepping into a space where you have to define it yourself.
That's genuinely uncomfortable. For me, it meant sitting with some blunt questions:
What does meaningful work actually look like?
What should communication be for?
And what kind of impact do I want my work to have?
Building Electric Peach
Electric Peach was my answer to those questions. Not a rejection of business or growth, but a different approach to both.
The core principle is straightforward: communication should create clarity, not confusion. It should build trust, not manufacture dependency. And it should respect the audience, not exploit them.
In practice, that means working with founders to articulate what they genuinely stand for, building messaging that's honest rather than over-engineered, and creating visibility that's sustainab...]]> Tue, 31 Mar 2026 08:00:18 +0000 Beyond Palatable: A Manifesto For Unapologetic Women Why I Walked Away from Corporate Marketi...]]> Why I Walked Away from Corporate Marketing, Beyond Palatable explained
For ten years, I worked inside the engine room of modern marketing.
Major brands. High-pressure agency environments. Campaigns built to move people at scale, at speed, and often at all costs. By every conventional measure, it was going well.
Then I started paying closer attention to what I was actually doing.
The Persuasion Machine
Marketing has always been about persuasion. That's not new. What is new is the sophistication and the subtlety with which that persuasion now operates.
It's no longer just about selling a product. It's about shaping identity, manufacturing desire, and engineering the feeling that something is missing from your life until you buy the thing that fills it. I know this because I was part of building the persuasion machine. After a while, it started to consume my life.
The people I worked with in corporate weren't bad actors. Most were sharp, motivated, and genuinely trying to do good work. But the system itself has one primary directive: growth at all costs. When commercial outcomes take precedence over everything else, the gap between influence and ethics closes.
When the Career Works But the Work Doesn't
From the outside, my career looked enviably good. I climbed the agency ladder fast, had recognisable clients and a skill set that the market rewards well. But there was a persistent internal question I kept pushing aside: Do I actually believe in what I'm doing?
That's a harder question to sit with than most people will admit, particularly in environments where pace is celebrated, which often leads to no time for reflection.
Over time, I became increasingly disconnected and exhausted, reaching for anything that would 'take the edge off'. I was miserable, despite having done everything 'right' to build the career I thought I desired.
It all came to a head one day in spring 2017, when I had one of those sliding-door moments that changed the trajectory of my entire career.
I met a woman through a networking group, hit it off, and bonded over our shared belief that the marketing industry needs reform, and decided to start our own agency together to use communication tools to grow businesses committed to positive impact.
That summer, I quit my corporate career and started Electric Peach, a brand storytelling agency for impact-driven businesses.
What Leaving Actually Costs You
Stepping away from corporate culture isn't just a career decision; it's a psychological one. It's deeply entwined with identity, and for me, the transition was extremely rocky. Who was I without the flashy title and well-known brand clients? How on earth do I run a business, particularly one that is committed to doing things differently, with no blueprint?
If you choose to make this leap, you're not only leaving behind structure and a guaranteed salary. You're leaving a system that has been defining success for you—progression, status, external validation—and stepping into a space where you have to define it yourself.
That's genuinely uncomfortable. For me, it meant sitting with some blunt questions:
What does meaningful work actually look like?
What should communication be for?
And what kind of impact do I want my work to have?
Building Electric Peach
Electric Peach was my answer to those questions. Not a rejection of business or growth, but a different approach to both.
The core principle is straightforward: communication should create clarity, not confusion. It should build trust, not manufacture dependency. And it should respect the audience, not exploit them.
In practice, that means working with founders to articulate what they genuinely stand for, building messaging that's honest rather than over-engineered, and creating visibility that's sustainab...]]> Simon Cocking 08:43 false full 21 35c7a163-af6c-4738-b866-60571c3c3170 Invoice redirection and CEO impersonation scams remain top threats to businesses
Speaking on today's launch and outlining the types of scams targeted at SMEs, Niamh Davenport, Head of Financial Crime, BPFI, commented:
"The scale of email-related scams targeting Irish SMEs is deeply concerning, with FraudSMART members seeing average losses of over €22,000 per incident. The majority of cases we are seeing are invoice-redirection scams, which often start with, what appears to be, a legitimate email from a supplier known to the business, but which has been hacked or closely copied by fraudsters.
They usually don't request any payment up front but claim to have moved to a new bank account and ask for their payment details to be updated on the system for future invoices. When a legitimate invoice is issued by the supplier at a later date, the business ends up paying it into the 'new account' controlled by the fraudster. CEO impersonation scams, while not as prevalent, can be even more deceptive, where fraudsters impersonate a company's senior executive in order to convince an employee to disclose sensitive information or make an unauthorised financial transaction."
More than two-thirds of SMEs have been targeted with scams in the last 12 months, but less than half have any fraud awareness guidelines and training programmes in place for employees
Ms Davenport added: "According to a recent survey we conducted with ISME, 67% of SMEs say they've been targeted by a financial scam in the last 12 months, while 78% have received an unexpected or urgent request that raised suspicion. Most attempted scams are coming through email (88.4%), as well as phone calls (51.2%) and text messages (48.8%). Increasingly, fraudsters combine these channels – for example, following up an email with a phone call or text message – to create a greater sense of urgency and legitimacy."
"Reassuringly, the majority (80%) of businesses who have received unexpected or urgent requests report taking actions to independently verify the requests before taking any action – for example, by contacting the person or organisation who has sent the request using a phone number or email address already on file, rather than using the contact details in the message received. However, of concern is that more than half (53%) of businesses report not having fraud awareness guidelines and training in place for employees, leaving their business exposed."
Neil McDonnell, CEO of ISME, added:
"These findings are a stark reminder that fraud is now a day?to?day business risk for SMEs. More than three-quarters (77%) of ISME members who took part in the survey believe that financial fraud is a moderate or serious threat to their business. Falling victim to scams is not only financially damaging but can also fundamentally undermine trust within a business.
Employees, in particular, are often the ones targeted by fraudsters and therefore need to be supported to play a key role in fraud prevention. The good news is that prevention doesn't have to be complicated. Putting in place simple controls such as verifying any change to supplier bank details, introducing dual approval for higher?value payments, and making sure every member of staff knows the warning signs can make a real difference.
I would encourage all SMEs to put regular fraud training in place for their workforce. FraudSMART also provides a free guide with information and tips on business fraud, and that's a good place to start."
Tánaiste Simon Harris launches FraudSMART SME fraud awareness c...]]> https://irishtechnews.ie/e19-million-lost-by-smes-to-email-related-scams/ Invoice redirection and CEO impersonation scams remain top threats to businesses
Speaking on today's launch and outlining the types of scams targeted at SMEs, Niamh Davenport, Head of Financial Crime, BPFI, commented:
"The scale of email-related scams targeting Irish SMEs is deeply concerning, with FraudSMART members seeing average losses of over €22,000 per incident. The majority of cases we are seeing are invoice-redirection scams, which often start with, what appears to be, a legitimate email from a supplier known to the business, but which has been hacked or closely copied by fraudsters.
They usually don't request any payment up front but claim to have moved to a new bank account and ask for their payment details to be updated on the system for future invoices. When a legitimate invoice is issued by the supplier at a later date, the business ends up paying it into the 'new account' controlled by the fraudster. CEO impersonation scams, while not as prevalent, can be even more deceptive, where fraudsters impersonate a company's senior executive in order to convince an employee to disclose sensitive information or make an unauthorised financial transaction."
More than two-thirds of SMEs have been targeted with scams in the last 12 months, but less than half have any fraud awareness guidelines and training programmes in place for employees
Ms Davenport added: "According to a recent survey we conducted with ISME, 67% of SMEs say they've been targeted by a financial scam in the last 12 months, while 78% have received an unexpected or urgent request that raised suspicion. Most attempted scams are coming through email (88.4%), as well as phone calls (51.2%) and text messages (48.8%). Increasingly, fraudsters combine these channels – for example, following up an email with a phone call or text message – to create a greater sense of urgency and legitimacy."
"Reassuringly, the majority (80%) of businesses who have received unexpected or urgent requests report taking actions to independently verify the requests before taking any action – for example, by contacting the person or organisation who has sent the request using a phone number or email address already on file, rather than using the contact details in the message received. However, of concern is that more than half (53%) of businesses report not having fraud awareness guidelines and training in place for employees, leaving their business exposed."
Neil McDonnell, CEO of ISME, added:
"These findings are a stark reminder that fraud is now a day?to?day business risk for SMEs. More than three-quarters (77%) of ISME members who took part in the survey believe that financial fraud is a moderate or serious threat to their business. Falling victim to scams is not only financially damaging but can also fundamentally undermine trust within a business.
Employees, in particular, are often the ones targeted by fraudsters and therefore need to be supported to play a key role in fraud prevention. The good news is that prevention doesn't have to be complicated. Putting in place simple controls such as verifying any change to supplier bank details, introducing dual approval for higher?value payments, and making sure every member of staff knows the warning signs can make a real difference.
I would encourage all SMEs to put regular fraud training in place for their workforce. FraudSMART also provides a free guide with information and tips on business fraud, and that's a good place to start."
Tánaiste Simon Harris launches FraudSMART SME fraud awareness c...]]> Mon, 30 Mar 2026 15:00:21 +0000 Almost €19 million lost by SMEs to email related scams over the past 2 years Invoice redirection and CEO impersonation scams remain top threats to businesses
Speaking on today's launch and outlining the types of scams targeted at SMEs, Niamh Davenport, Head of Financial Crime, BPFI, commented:
"The scale of email-related scams targeting Irish SMEs is deeply concerning, with FraudSMART members seeing average losses of over €22,000 per incident. The majority of cases we are seeing are invoice-redirection scams, which often start with, what appears to be, a legitimate email from a supplier known to the business, but which has been hacked or closely copied by fraudsters.
They usually don't request any payment up front but claim to have moved to a new bank account and ask for their payment details to be updated on the system for future invoices. When a legitimate invoice is issued by the supplier at a later date, the business ends up paying it into the 'new account' controlled by the fraudster. CEO impersonation scams, while not as prevalent, can be even more deceptive, where fraudsters impersonate a company's senior executive in order to convince an employee to disclose sensitive information or make an unauthorised financial transaction."
More than two-thirds of SMEs have been targeted with scams in the last 12 months, but less than half have any fraud awareness guidelines and training programmes in place for employees
Ms Davenport added: "According to a recent survey we conducted with ISME, 67% of SMEs say they've been targeted by a financial scam in the last 12 months, while 78% have received an unexpected or urgent request that raised suspicion. Most attempted scams are coming through email (88.4%), as well as phone calls (51.2%) and text messages (48.8%). Increasingly, fraudsters combine these channels – for example, following up an email with a phone call or text message – to create a greater sense of urgency and legitimacy."
"Reassuringly, the majority (80%) of businesses who have received unexpected or urgent requests report taking actions to independently verify the requests before taking any action – for example, by contacting the person or organisation who has sent the request using a phone number or email address already on file, rather than using the contact details in the message received. However, of concern is that more than half (53%) of businesses report not having fraud awareness guidelines and training in place for employees, leaving their business exposed."
Neil McDonnell, CEO of ISME, added:
"These findings are a stark reminder that fraud is now a day?to?day business risk for SMEs. More than three-quarters (77%) of ISME members who took part in the survey believe that financial fraud is a moderate or serious threat to their business. Falling victim to scams is not only financially damaging but can also fundamentally undermine trust within a business.
Employees, in particular, are often the ones targeted by fraudsters and therefore need to be supported to play a key role in fraud prevention. The good news is that prevention doesn't have to be complicated. Putting in place simple controls such as verifying any change to supplier bank details, introducing dual approval for higher?value payments, and making sure every member of staff knows the warning signs can make a real difference.
I would encourage all SMEs to put regular fraud training in place for their workforce. FraudSMART also provides a free guide with information and tips on business fraud, and that's a good place to start."
Tánaiste Simon Harris launches FraudSMART SME fraud awareness c...]]> Irish Tech News 07:59 false full 20 bef56aad-2d47-4945-8f2d-1db73e1abee2 HyperPath was founded on pioneering research conducted within Tyndall's Wireless Communications Laboratory by Dr Kariem Fahmi and Professor Holger Claussen, which solves the problem of continuous connectivity through an AI-powered software platform that seamlessly fuses and orchestrates multiple unreliable wireless networks into a single ultra-reliable connection.
As cars and autonomous systems become more connected, uninterrupted communication is essential for safety and operational efficiency. However, current networks have limitations, such as cellular coverage gaps, satellite line-of-sight issues, and high costs, which can lead to service interruptions, safety risks, and reduced performance.
HyperPath removes reliance on any single network, providing a stronger and more resilient connection:
— For automotive manufacturers: Always-on connectivity to support advanced vehicle features, autonomy, and safety systems across urban, rural, and remote environments.
— For satellite and virtual network operators: New opportunities to deliver hybrid services that combine satellite and terrestrial networks.
The development of HyperPath's technology was supported through an Enterprise Ireland–funded Commercialisation Fund project, which enabled the team to translate their research into a market-ready solution. HyperPath also benefitted from Enterprise Ireland's Business Partners Programme and has secured Pre-Seed Start Fund investment, providing crucial support as the company moves into the next phase of growth.
With this foundation in place, HyperPath is now entering a growth phase that will see the expansion of its engineering and commercial teams. The company's plans for high-value job creation will contribute to Ireland's growing deep-tech and semiconductor-adjacent ecosystem, adding further momentum to the region's reputation as a hub for advanced connectivity and mobility technologies.
Dr Patrick Morrissey, Director of Innovation and Industry Engagement, Tyndall, said: "HyperPath represents the type of innovative, high-impact software company that complements and reinforces Ireland's rapidly scaling semiconductor ecosystem. Its success showcases the Semiconductor Strategy, Silicon Island, in practice, and aligns with Tyndall's mission to support companies that add capability, depth, and competitiveness to Ireland's national semiconductor landscape."
Professor Holger Claussen, Head of Tyndall's Wireless Communications Laboratory and Professor of Wireless Communications at University College Cork and Trinity College Dublin, said: "With HyperPath, we solved the very hard technical problem to efficiently combine multiple unreliable wireless networks into an ultra-reliable and highly efficient link. We approach the theoretical maximum bonding performance, which currently no other existing link-bonding solution can do with variable wireless links."
Ger Mc Namara, CEO, HyperPath, said: "We are at a pivotal point in time for resilient, on-the-move wireless connectivity, be it autonomous vehicles, mobile robotics, drone operations or emergency services. The challenges and business impacts associated with single wireless network use can no longer be tolerated. HyperPath is leading the way in delivering AI-optimised, resilient wireless hybrid connectivity"]]> https://irishtechnews.ie/hyperpath-enables-uninterrupted-connectivity/ HyperPath was founded on pioneering research conducted within Tyndall's Wireless Communications Laboratory by Dr Kariem Fahmi and Professor Holger Claussen, which solves the problem of continuous connectivity through an AI-powered software platform that seamlessly fuses and orchestrates multiple unreliable wireless networks into a single ultra-reliable connection.
As cars and autonomous systems become more connected, uninterrupted communication is essential for safety and operational efficiency. However, current networks have limitations, such as cellular coverage gaps, satellite line-of-sight issues, and high costs, which can lead to service interruptions, safety risks, and reduced performance.
HyperPath removes reliance on any single network, providing a stronger and more resilient connection:
— For automotive manufacturers: Always-on connectivity to support advanced vehicle features, autonomy, and safety systems across urban, rural, and remote environments.
— For satellite and virtual network operators: New opportunities to deliver hybrid services that combine satellite and terrestrial networks.
The development of HyperPath's technology was supported through an Enterprise Ireland–funded Commercialisation Fund project, which enabled the team to translate their research into a market-ready solution. HyperPath also benefitted from Enterprise Ireland's Business Partners Programme and has secured Pre-Seed Start Fund investment, providing crucial support as the company moves into the next phase of growth.
With this foundation in place, HyperPath is now entering a growth phase that will see the expansion of its engineering and commercial teams. The company's plans for high-value job creation will contribute to Ireland's growing deep-tech and semiconductor-adjacent ecosystem, adding further momentum to the region's reputation as a hub for advanced connectivity and mobility technologies.
Dr Patrick Morrissey, Director of Innovation and Industry Engagement, Tyndall, said: "HyperPath represents the type of innovative, high-impact software company that complements and reinforces Ireland's rapidly scaling semiconductor ecosystem. Its success showcases the Semiconductor Strategy, Silicon Island, in practice, and aligns with Tyndall's mission to support companies that add capability, depth, and competitiveness to Ireland's national semiconductor landscape."
Professor Holger Claussen, Head of Tyndall's Wireless Communications Laboratory and Professor of Wireless Communications at University College Cork and Trinity College Dublin, said: "With HyperPath, we solved the very hard technical problem to efficiently combine multiple unreliable wireless networks into an ultra-reliable and highly efficient link. We approach the theoretical maximum bonding performance, which currently no other existing link-bonding solution can do with variable wireless links."
Ger Mc Namara, CEO, HyperPath, said: "We are at a pivotal point in time for resilient, on-the-move wireless connectivity, be it autonomous vehicles, mobile robotics, drone operations or emergency services. The challenges and business impacts associated with single wireless network use can no longer be tolerated. HyperPath is leading the way in delivering AI-optimised, resilient wireless hybrid connectivity"]]> Mon, 30 Mar 2026 14:00:12 +0000 New Irish Spin-Out HyperPath Enables Uninterrupted Connectivity on the Move HyperPath was founded ...]]> HyperPath was founded on pioneering research conducted within Tyndall's Wireless Communications Laboratory by Dr Kariem Fahmi and Professor Holger Claussen, which solves the problem of continuous connectivity through an AI-powered software platform that seamlessly fuses and orchestrates multiple unreliable wireless networks into a single ultra-reliable connection.
As cars and autonomous systems become more connected, uninterrupted communication is essential for safety and operational efficiency. However, current networks have limitations, such as cellular coverage gaps, satellite line-of-sight issues, and high costs, which can lead to service interruptions, safety risks, and reduced performance.
HyperPath removes reliance on any single network, providing a stronger and more resilient connection:
— For automotive manufacturers: Always-on connectivity to support advanced vehicle features, autonomy, and safety systems across urban, rural, and remote environments.
— For satellite and virtual network operators: New opportunities to deliver hybrid services that combine satellite and terrestrial networks.
The development of HyperPath's technology was supported through an Enterprise Ireland–funded Commercialisation Fund project, which enabled the team to translate their research into a market-ready solution. HyperPath also benefitted from Enterprise Ireland's Business Partners Programme and has secured Pre-Seed Start Fund investment, providing crucial support as the company moves into the next phase of growth.
With this foundation in place, HyperPath is now entering a growth phase that will see the expansion of its engineering and commercial teams. The company's plans for high-value job creation will contribute to Ireland's growing deep-tech and semiconductor-adjacent ecosystem, adding further momentum to the region's reputation as a hub for advanced connectivity and mobility technologies.
Dr Patrick Morrissey, Director of Innovation and Industry Engagement, Tyndall, said: "HyperPath represents the type of innovative, high-impact software company that complements and reinforces Ireland's rapidly scaling semiconductor ecosystem. Its success showcases the Semiconductor Strategy, Silicon Island, in practice, and aligns with Tyndall's mission to support companies that add capability, depth, and competitiveness to Ireland's national semiconductor landscape."
Professor Holger Claussen, Head of Tyndall's Wireless Communications Laboratory and Professor of Wireless Communications at University College Cork and Trinity College Dublin, said: "With HyperPath, we solved the very hard technical problem to efficiently combine multiple unreliable wireless networks into an ultra-reliable and highly efficient link. We approach the theoretical maximum bonding performance, which currently no other existing link-bonding solution can do with variable wireless links."
Ger Mc Namara, CEO, HyperPath, said: "We are at a pivotal point in time for resilient, on-the-move wireless connectivity, be it autonomous vehicles, mobile robotics, drone operations or emergency services. The challenges and business impacts associated with single wireless network use can no longer be tolerated. HyperPath is leading the way in delivering AI-optimised, resilient wireless hybrid connectivity"]]> Irish Tech News 03:38 false full 19 fcc82697-43fd-4fb0-a437-68939871e866 Headlining the 2026 festival is the Irish premiere of Once Was Too Much, a new documentary from Dublin director Ray Hegarty that offers an unflinching window into the activism of Flames Not Flowers, a Dublin-based feminist collective dedicated to raising awareness of Gender-Based Domestic Violence and honouring the women who have lost their lives to it in Ireland.
"We've always believed that mobile filmmaking democratises storytelling," says Festival Director Robert Fitzhugh. "This year, Once Was Too Much is the embodiment of that belief. These are Irish stories, Irish women, and a Dublin filmmaker using the most accessible tool available to give them a voice. That's exactly what this festival exists to amplify."
The 2026 programme also includes the European Premiere of Squashbox, the award-winning short documentary from acclaimed South African filmmaker SJ Van Breda. The film, shot entirely on mobile devices across KwaZulu-Natal and Ireland, tells the story of SAMA-winning Maskandi duo Qadasi & Maqhinga, and made its world premiere at the Sydney Opera House in January, where it took home five major awards. Its European debut in Dublin is a testament to the global reach of mobile cinema.
Now in its 9th year, DubSmartFF remains Ireland's only international film festival dedicated exclusively to mobile filmmaking. The 2026 programme features over 25 short films across categories, including Best Documentary, Animation, Music Video, and more
Dublin Smartphone Film Festival Event Details
The Pearse Centre, Dublin
April 11th, 2026
12 pm – 5 pm
Tickets from €16 — www.
dublinsmartphonefilmfestival.
com
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.]]> https://irishtechnews.ie/dublin-smartphone-film-festival-returns/ Headlining the 2026 festival is the Irish premiere of Once Was Too Much, a new documentary from Dublin director Ray Hegarty that offers an unflinching window into the activism of Flames Not Flowers, a Dublin-based feminist collective dedicated to raising awareness of Gender-Based Domestic Violence and honouring the women who have lost their lives to it in Ireland.
"We've always believed that mobile filmmaking democratises storytelling," says Festival Director Robert Fitzhugh. "This year, Once Was Too Much is the embodiment of that belief. These are Irish stories, Irish women, and a Dublin filmmaker using the most accessible tool available to give them a voice. That's exactly what this festival exists to amplify."
The 2026 programme also includes the European Premiere of Squashbox, the award-winning short documentary from acclaimed South African filmmaker SJ Van Breda. The film, shot entirely on mobile devices across KwaZulu-Natal and Ireland, tells the story of SAMA-winning Maskandi duo Qadasi & Maqhinga, and made its world premiere at the Sydney Opera House in January, where it took home five major awards. Its European debut in Dublin is a testament to the global reach of mobile cinema.
Now in its 9th year, DubSmartFF remains Ireland's only international film festival dedicated exclusively to mobile filmmaking. The 2026 programme features over 25 short films across categories, including Best Documentary, Animation, Music Video, and more
Dublin Smartphone Film Festival Event Details
The Pearse Centre, Dublin
April 11th, 2026
12 pm – 5 pm
Tickets from €16 — www.
dublinsmartphonefilmfestival.
com
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.]]> Mon, 30 Mar 2026 13:00:06 +0000 Dublin Smartphone Film Festival Returns for Its 9th Year With a Programme That Hits Close to Home Headlining the 2026 festival is the Irish premiere of Once Was Too Much, a new documentary from Dublin director Ray Hegarty that offers an unflinching window into the activism of Flames Not Flowers, a Dublin-based feminist collective dedicated to raising awareness of Gender-Based Domestic Violence and honouring the women who have lost their lives to it in Ireland.
"We've always believed that mobile filmmaking democratises storytelling," says Festival Director Robert Fitzhugh. "This year, Once Was Too Much is the embodiment of that belief. These are Irish stories, Irish women, and a Dublin filmmaker using the most accessible tool available to give them a voice. That's exactly what this festival exists to amplify."
The 2026 programme also includes the European Premiere of Squashbox, the award-winning short documentary from acclaimed South African filmmaker SJ Van Breda. The film, shot entirely on mobile devices across KwaZulu-Natal and Ireland, tells the story of SAMA-winning Maskandi duo Qadasi & Maqhinga, and made its world premiere at the Sydney Opera House in January, where it took home five major awards. Its European debut in Dublin is a testament to the global reach of mobile cinema.
Now in its 9th year, DubSmartFF remains Ireland's only international film festival dedicated exclusively to mobile filmmaking. The 2026 programme features over 25 short films across categories, including Best Documentary, Animation, Music Video, and more
Dublin Smartphone Film Festival Event Details
The Pearse Centre, Dublin
April 11th, 2026
12 pm – 5 pm
Tickets from €16 — www.
dublinsmartphonefilmfestival.
com
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.]]> Irish Tech News 03:02 false full 18 446fde9a-6cd7-4990-9528-838182044967 Cryptocurrencies have finally crossed into the financial mainstream, with numerous industries now considering them to be a legitimate payment option. The online gaming sector was an early adopter of crypto, bringing them into the equation alongside other options such as debit cards and digital wallets. Established iGaming markets such as the Republic of Ireland offer an excellent insight into how crypto has become firmly embedded in the sector.
Crypto Payments and the Evolution of iGaming
Ireland is a renowned gambling market worth around $1.5 billion. Its success has been built on a willingness to embrace innovative technological developments. Many of the reputable platforms listed on Casino.com Ireland offer players the opportunity to make deposits and withdrawals via crypto. The recognised its speed and cross-border relevance.
Crypto transactions are faster than traditional bank transfers handled by Irish legacy institutions, typically being processed within a few minutes. Operational costs are also lower. Privacy is another key reason why players and operators have adopted crypto payments. Crypto allows players to transact without sharing extensive, personal or financial details. Blockchain technology can be also used to prove that online casino games are fair, giving users much greater confidence in the game outcomes they experience.
True Digital Ownership and the Rise of In-Game Economies
The concept of true ownership of crypto in gaming has been a serious topic of debate for the industry in Ireland and the rest of the world. Developers generally control all in-game items, such as skins, weapons, outfits and other collectables. This model never sat well with players who invested time and money to assemble assets but never truly owned them.
Blockchain technology has changed that dynamic. Through tokenisation and non-fungible tokens (NFTs), players can now trade, own and sell their in-game items across different marketplaces. The widespread use of blockchain technology has given rise to player-driven economies in which virtual goods have real-world value.
According to Grand View Research, global gaming revenue will grow from $184 billion in 2024 to a projected $205bn this year. In-game purchases covering microtransactions, downloadable content, battle passes and subscriptions are projected to contribute to 61 percent of that total in 2026.
Crypto enables these trades in an actual, open, tradable financial ecosystem. It appeals to the younger, digitally-versed audience who want flexibility and control. Players can now monetise their time and assets with crypto, transforming the gaming experience into something remarkably more.
Play-to-Earn Models and New Incentive Structures
The emergence of crypto has introduced entirely new gaming models, the most popular of which is play-to-earn (P2E). They are unlike traditional games, where rewards are based on in-game progression. The P2E model allows players to earn cryptocurrencies or tokens that carry real-world value. This model gained traction recently, with millions of users participating in blockchain-based games.
The market was projected to achieve a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 21.3% and reach an estimated market size of $1110.88 million by the end of last year. It has found a particular niche in emerging markets, providing a dual-purpose experience. Players are gaming for entertainment and income.
The P2E model encourages players to play for longer periods. Developers also benefit. Embedding the token economy helps build an ecosystem where users contribute to growth, creating a feedback loop as more players drive more value, which then attracts more participants. P2E is still taking shape, but it is prompting a serious rethink of expectations about what gaming can offer.
Interoperability of the Metaverse, Community Governance and Decentralised Gaming Models
Interoperability is another key reason for crypto's ...]]> https://irishtechnews.ie/crypto-a-game-changer-for-igaming-in-ireland/ Cryptocurrencies have finally crossed into the financial mainstream, with numerous industries now considering them to be a legitimate payment option. The online gaming sector was an early adopter of crypto, bringing them into the equation alongside other options such as debit cards and digital wallets. Established iGaming markets such as the Republic of Ireland offer an excellent insight into how crypto has become firmly embedded in the sector.
Crypto Payments and the Evolution of iGaming
Ireland is a renowned gambling market worth around $1.5 billion. Its success has been built on a willingness to embrace innovative technological developments. Many of the reputable platforms listed on Casino.com Ireland offer players the opportunity to make deposits and withdrawals via crypto. The recognised its speed and cross-border relevance.
Crypto transactions are faster than traditional bank transfers handled by Irish legacy institutions, typically being processed within a few minutes. Operational costs are also lower. Privacy is another key reason why players and operators have adopted crypto payments. Crypto allows players to transact without sharing extensive, personal or financial details. Blockchain technology can be also used to prove that online casino games are fair, giving users much greater confidence in the game outcomes they experience.
True Digital Ownership and the Rise of In-Game Economies
The concept of true ownership of crypto in gaming has been a serious topic of debate for the industry in Ireland and the rest of the world. Developers generally control all in-game items, such as skins, weapons, outfits and other collectables. This model never sat well with players who invested time and money to assemble assets but never truly owned them.
Blockchain technology has changed that dynamic. Through tokenisation and non-fungible tokens (NFTs), players can now trade, own and sell their in-game items across different marketplaces. The widespread use of blockchain technology has given rise to player-driven economies in which virtual goods have real-world value.
According to Grand View Research, global gaming revenue will grow from $184 billion in 2024 to a projected $205bn this year. In-game purchases covering microtransactions, downloadable content, battle passes and subscriptions are projected to contribute to 61 percent of that total in 2026.
Crypto enables these trades in an actual, open, tradable financial ecosystem. It appeals to the younger, digitally-versed audience who want flexibility and control. Players can now monetise their time and assets with crypto, transforming the gaming experience into something remarkably more.
Play-to-Earn Models and New Incentive Structures
The emergence of crypto has introduced entirely new gaming models, the most popular of which is play-to-earn (P2E). They are unlike traditional games, where rewards are based on in-game progression. The P2E model allows players to earn cryptocurrencies or tokens that carry real-world value. This model gained traction recently, with millions of users participating in blockchain-based games.
The market was projected to achieve a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 21.3% and reach an estimated market size of $1110.88 million by the end of last year. It has found a particular niche in emerging markets, providing a dual-purpose experience. Players are gaming for entertainment and income.
The P2E model encourages players to play for longer periods. Developers also benefit. Embedding the token economy helps build an ecosystem where users contribute to growth, creating a feedback loop as more players drive more value, which then attracts more participants. P2E is still taking shape, but it is prompting a serious rethink of expectations about what gaming can offer.
Interoperability of the Metaverse, Community Governance and Decentralised Gaming Models
Interoperability is another key reason for crypto's ...]]> Mon, 30 Mar 2026 12:51:02 +0000 Could Crypto iGaming be a game changer in Ireland? Cryptocurrencies have finally crossed into the financial mainstream, with numerous industries now considering them to be a legitimate payment option. The online gaming sector was an early adopter o...]]> Cryptocurrencies have finally crossed into the financial mainstream, with numerous industries now considering them to be a legitimate payment option. The online gaming sector was an early adopter of crypto, bringing them into the equation alongside other options such as debit cards and digital wallets. Established iGaming markets such as the Republic of Ireland offer an excellent insight into how crypto has become firmly embedded in the sector.
Crypto Payments and the Evolution of iGaming
Ireland is a renowned gambling market worth around $1.5 billion. Its success has been built on a willingness to embrace innovative technological developments. Many of the reputable platforms listed on Casino.com Ireland offer players the opportunity to make deposits and withdrawals via crypto. The recognised its speed and cross-border relevance.
Crypto transactions are faster than traditional bank transfers handled by Irish legacy institutions, typically being processed within a few minutes. Operational costs are also lower. Privacy is another key reason why players and operators have adopted crypto payments. Crypto allows players to transact without sharing extensive, personal or financial details. Blockchain technology can be also used to prove that online casino games are fair, giving users much greater confidence in the game outcomes they experience.
True Digital Ownership and the Rise of In-Game Economies
The concept of true ownership of crypto in gaming has been a serious topic of debate for the industry in Ireland and the rest of the world. Developers generally control all in-game items, such as skins, weapons, outfits and other collectables. This model never sat well with players who invested time and money to assemble assets but never truly owned them.
Blockchain technology has changed that dynamic. Through tokenisation and non-fungible tokens (NFTs), players can now trade, own and sell their in-game items across different marketplaces. The widespread use of blockchain technology has given rise to player-driven economies in which virtual goods have real-world value.
According to Grand View Research, global gaming revenue will grow from $184 billion in 2024 to a projected $205bn this year. In-game purchases covering microtransactions, downloadable content, battle passes and subscriptions are projected to contribute to 61 percent of that total in 2026.
Crypto enables these trades in an actual, open, tradable financial ecosystem. It appeals to the younger, digitally-versed audience who want flexibility and control. Players can now monetise their time and assets with crypto, transforming the gaming experience into something remarkably more.
Play-to-Earn Models and New Incentive Structures
The emergence of crypto has introduced entirely new gaming models, the most popular of which is play-to-earn (P2E). They are unlike traditional games, where rewards are based on in-game progression. The P2E model allows players to earn cryptocurrencies or tokens that carry real-world value. This model gained traction recently, with millions of users participating in blockchain-based games.
The market was projected to achieve a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 21.3% and reach an estimated market size of $1110.88 million by the end of last year. It has found a particular niche in emerging markets, providing a dual-purpose experience. Players are gaming for entertainment and income.
The P2E model encourages players to play for longer periods. Developers also benefit. Embedding the token economy helps build an ecosystem where users contribute to growth, creating a feedback loop as more players drive more value, which then attracts more participants. P2E is still taking shape, but it is prompting a serious rethink of expectations about what gaming can offer.
Interoperability of the Metaverse, Community Governance and Decentralised Gaming Models
Interoperability is another key reason for crypto's ...]]> Irish Tech News 05:32 false full 17 b07f253e-d649-461b-954c-c61c3290b9af Guinness Enterprise Centre is a non-profit organisation, founded in 2000 by Diageo, Furthr (formerly Dublin BIC), Dublin City Council, Enterprise Ireland, Local Enterprise Office Dublin City and the Guinness Workers Enterprise Fund. Once a warehouse attached to the famous Guinness brewery in Dublin's Liberties, the Guinness Enterprise Centre now encompasses a five-storey campus, hosting 160 start-ups who benefit from a vibrant ecosystem that provides access to investors, mentors, events and scaling programmes.
The organisation reinvests all revenues into this ecosystem and its facility. In doing so, it has supported start-ups like video game development studio, Black Shamrock, which now employs almost 140 on site at Guinness Enterprise Centre. Other success stories include Astatine, which last year signed an €800M partnership with Aviva Investors to develop a renewables platform, and Circle Internet Group, a Goldman Sachs-backed payments technology company.
Revenues at the Guinness Enterprise Centre reached almost €2.56M last year. The non-profit expects to exceed €3M in revenues in 2026 and by 2030, it expects to reach annual revenues of €4M. Over the next five years, the Guinness Enterprise Centre expects to reinvest €18M in revenues in its campus.
Income is primarily generated through office and co-working space fees, which are kept below market rates to reduce barriers to entry for start-ups. Additional income is generated through conference and event space rentals, further supporting the Guinness Enterprise Centre's mission to support early-stage companies.
Niamh Collins, Centre Director, Guinness Enterprise Centre, said: "Since the beginning, every euro we have generated has been reinvested back into our ecosystem. When a company pays rent here, they're not just securing desk space; they're funding the mentor network, the investor connections, and the programmes that will benefit them, along with future generations of entrepreneurs walking through our doors. This has a compounding impact and underlines why our non-profit status is so important to Ireland's start-up ecosystem. By tying our own success to the success of our start-ups, we breed more success."
David Varian, Chairperson, Guinness Enterprise Centre, said: "Few European start-up campuses can point to a comparable level of long-term, self-financed reinvestment, and that distinction matters enormously in an era where entrepreneurial infrastructure is increasingly commercialised or state-dependent. What we have built is genuinely rare: a self-sustaining model that has weathered multiple economic cycles – the dot-com crash, the financial crisis, Brexit, a pandemic – while never wavering from our core mission.
"Twenty-five years ago, Ireland had little formal start-up infrastructure and entrepreneurs often had to look abroad for resources and credibility. Today, Ireland is exporting start-ups globally, and the Guinness Enterprise Centre has been instrumental in that transformation."
See more stories here.
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can a...]]> https://irishtechnews.ie/non-profit-guinness-enterprise-centre-celebrates-e50m-investment-milestone/ Guinness Enterprise Centre is a non-profit organisation, founded in 2000 by Diageo, Furthr (formerly Dublin BIC), Dublin City Council, Enterprise Ireland, Local Enterprise Office Dublin City and the Guinness Workers Enterprise Fund. Once a warehouse attached to the famous Guinness brewery in Dublin's Liberties, the Guinness Enterprise Centre now encompasses a five-storey campus, hosting 160 start-ups who benefit from a vibrant ecosystem that provides access to investors, mentors, events and scaling programmes.
The organisation reinvests all revenues into this ecosystem and its facility. In doing so, it has supported start-ups like video game development studio, Black Shamrock, which now employs almost 140 on site at Guinness Enterprise Centre. Other success stories include Astatine, which last year signed an €800M partnership with Aviva Investors to develop a renewables platform, and Circle Internet Group, a Goldman Sachs-backed payments technology company.
Revenues at the Guinness Enterprise Centre reached almost €2.56M last year. The non-profit expects to exceed €3M in revenues in 2026 and by 2030, it expects to reach annual revenues of €4M. Over the next five years, the Guinness Enterprise Centre expects to reinvest €18M in revenues in its campus.
Income is primarily generated through office and co-working space fees, which are kept below market rates to reduce barriers to entry for start-ups. Additional income is generated through conference and event space rentals, further supporting the Guinness Enterprise Centre's mission to support early-stage companies.
Niamh Collins, Centre Director, Guinness Enterprise Centre, said: "Since the beginning, every euro we have generated has been reinvested back into our ecosystem. When a company pays rent here, they're not just securing desk space; they're funding the mentor network, the investor connections, and the programmes that will benefit them, along with future generations of entrepreneurs walking through our doors. This has a compounding impact and underlines why our non-profit status is so important to Ireland's start-up ecosystem. By tying our own success to the success of our start-ups, we breed more success."
David Varian, Chairperson, Guinness Enterprise Centre, said: "Few European start-up campuses can point to a comparable level of long-term, self-financed reinvestment, and that distinction matters enormously in an era where entrepreneurial infrastructure is increasingly commercialised or state-dependent. What we have built is genuinely rare: a self-sustaining model that has weathered multiple economic cycles – the dot-com crash, the financial crisis, Brexit, a pandemic – while never wavering from our core mission.
"Twenty-five years ago, Ireland had little formal start-up infrastructure and entrepreneurs often had to look abroad for resources and credibility. Today, Ireland is exporting start-ups globally, and the Guinness Enterprise Centre has been instrumental in that transformation."
See more stories here.
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can a...]]> Mon, 30 Mar 2026 12:00:54 +0000 Non-profit Guinness Enterprise Centre celebrates €50M investment milestone Guinness Enterprise Centre is a non-profit organisation, founded in 2000 by Diageo, Furthr (formerly Dublin BIC), Dublin City Council, Enterprise Ireland, Local Enterprise Office Dublin City and the Guinness Workers Enterprise Fund. Once a warehouse attached to the famous Guinness brewery in Dublin's Liberties, the Guinness Enterprise Centre now encompasses a five-storey campus, hosting 160 start-ups who benefit from a vibrant ecosystem that provides access to investors, mentors, events and scaling programmes.
The organisation reinvests all revenues into this ecosystem and its facility. In doing so, it has supported start-ups like video game development studio, Black Shamrock, which now employs almost 140 on site at Guinness Enterprise Centre. Other success stories include Astatine, which last year signed an €800M partnership with Aviva Investors to develop a renewables platform, and Circle Internet Group, a Goldman Sachs-backed payments technology company.
Revenues at the Guinness Enterprise Centre reached almost €2.56M last year. The non-profit expects to exceed €3M in revenues in 2026 and by 2030, it expects to reach annual revenues of €4M. Over the next five years, the Guinness Enterprise Centre expects to reinvest €18M in revenues in its campus.
Income is primarily generated through office and co-working space fees, which are kept below market rates to reduce barriers to entry for start-ups. Additional income is generated through conference and event space rentals, further supporting the Guinness Enterprise Centre's mission to support early-stage companies.
Niamh Collins, Centre Director, Guinness Enterprise Centre, said: "Since the beginning, every euro we have generated has been reinvested back into our ecosystem. When a company pays rent here, they're not just securing desk space; they're funding the mentor network, the investor connections, and the programmes that will benefit them, along with future generations of entrepreneurs walking through our doors. This has a compounding impact and underlines why our non-profit status is so important to Ireland's start-up ecosystem. By tying our own success to the success of our start-ups, we breed more success."
David Varian, Chairperson, Guinness Enterprise Centre, said: "Few European start-up campuses can point to a comparable level of long-term, self-financed reinvestment, and that distinction matters enormously in an era where entrepreneurial infrastructure is increasingly commercialised or state-dependent. What we have built is genuinely rare: a self-sustaining model that has weathered multiple economic cycles – the dot-com crash, the financial crisis, Brexit, a pandemic – while never wavering from our core mission.
"Twenty-five years ago, Ireland had little formal start-up infrastructure and entrepreneurs often had to look abroad for resources and credibility. Today, Ireland is exporting start-ups globally, and the Guinness Enterprise Centre has been instrumental in that transformation."
See more stories here.
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can a...]]> Ronan Leonard 04:26 false full 16 979e24c3-6ac5-405c-a4d2-bb3fd07e9805 Applications for Visa's She's Next Grant Programme will close on April 9th, providing five small Irish businesses with a total of €90,000 in business funding together with expert coaching from some of Ireland's most respected businesswomen, Aimee Connolly (founder and CEO, Sculpted by Aimee), Breege O'Donoghue (former board member, Primark) and Gráinne Mullins (founder, Grá Chocolates).
Ines Obtinalla, Head of Marketing, Ireland at Visa, said: "While progress has been made, women entrepreneurs in Ireland are still facing barriers to funding and mentorship. Visa backs small businesses with big ambitions, and this programme will deliver the resources and expertise to power our five winners' next steps."
2026 Visa She's Next – What Winners Receive
— Four women entrepreneurs will each receive €10,000; one overall winner will receive €50,000
— All winners will receive mentoring from three of Ireland's leading businesswomen: Aimee Connolly, Breege O'Donoghue and Gráinne Mullins
— Individual and group pitch preparation sessions
— Access to ongoing supports available through Visa's She's Next alumni network
How to apply
Visa's She's Next Grant Programme is open to small businesses and organisations in the Republic of Ireland that are majority owned by women, operating across all industries and sectors. To enter, applicants are asked to complete a short submission on visa.ie/shesnext by 9th April 2026.
To date, Visa's She's Next Grant Programme has awarded €215,000 in funding and coaching to 20 women entrepreneurs in Ireland to help them take their next business step. Last year's winners were:
— €50,000 grant recipient & overall winner; Claire Fullam – Remi Scalp Care
— Marian Kennedy – Anewmum
— Sinéad Ryan – Little Fitness
— Denise Walsh – Curly Co
— Lisa Kleiner – Nibbed Cacao
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.]]> https://irishtechnews.ie/final-call-women-entrepreneurs-visas-shes-next/ Applications for Visa's She's Next Grant Programme will close on April 9th, providing five small Irish businesses with a total of €90,000 in business funding together with expert coaching from some of Ireland's most respected businesswomen, Aimee Connolly (founder and CEO, Sculpted by Aimee), Breege O'Donoghue (former board member, Primark) and Gráinne Mullins (founder, Grá Chocolates).
Ines Obtinalla, Head of Marketing, Ireland at Visa, said: "While progress has been made, women entrepreneurs in Ireland are still facing barriers to funding and mentorship. Visa backs small businesses with big ambitions, and this programme will deliver the resources and expertise to power our five winners' next steps."
2026 Visa She's Next – What Winners Receive
— Four women entrepreneurs will each receive €10,000; one overall winner will receive €50,000
— All winners will receive mentoring from three of Ireland's leading businesswomen: Aimee Connolly, Breege O'Donoghue and Gráinne Mullins
— Individual and group pitch preparation sessions
— Access to ongoing supports available through Visa's She's Next alumni network
How to apply
Visa's She's Next Grant Programme is open to small businesses and organisations in the Republic of Ireland that are majority owned by women, operating across all industries and sectors. To enter, applicants are asked to complete a short submission on visa.ie/shesnext by 9th April 2026.
To date, Visa's She's Next Grant Programme has awarded €215,000 in funding and coaching to 20 women entrepreneurs in Ireland to help them take their next business step. Last year's winners were:
— €50,000 grant recipient & overall winner; Claire Fullam – Remi Scalp Care
— Marian Kennedy – Anewmum
— Sinéad Ryan – Little Fitness
— Denise Walsh – Curly Co
— Lisa Kleiner – Nibbed Cacao
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.]]> Mon, 30 Mar 2026 11:00:16 +0000 Final Call: Experts Urge Women Entrepreneurs to Back Themselves as Visa's She's Next Grant Programme Deadline Nears Applications for Visa's She's Next Grant Programme will close on April 9th, providing five small Irish businesses with a total of €90,000 in business funding together with expert coaching from some of Ireland's most respected businesswomen, Aimee Connolly (founder and CEO, Sculpted by Aimee), Breege O'Donoghue (former board member, Primark) and Gráinne Mullins (founder, Grá Chocolates).
Ines Obtinalla, Head of Marketing, Ireland at Visa, said: "While progress has been made, women entrepreneurs in Ireland are still facing barriers to funding and mentorship. Visa backs small businesses with big ambitions, and this programme will deliver the resources and expertise to power our five winners' next steps."
2026 Visa She's Next – What Winners Receive
— Four women entrepreneurs will each receive €10,000; one overall winner will receive €50,000
— All winners will receive mentoring from three of Ireland's leading businesswomen: Aimee Connolly, Breege O'Donoghue and Gráinne Mullins
— Individual and group pitch preparation sessions
— Access to ongoing supports available through Visa's She's Next alumni network
How to apply
Visa's She's Next Grant Programme is open to small businesses and organisations in the Republic of Ireland that are majority owned by women, operating across all industries and sectors. To enter, applicants are asked to complete a short submission on visa.ie/shesnext by 9th April 2026.
To date, Visa's She's Next Grant Programme has awarded €215,000 in funding and coaching to 20 women entrepreneurs in Ireland to help them take their next business step. Last year's winners were:
— €50,000 grant recipient & overall winner; Claire Fullam – Remi Scalp Care
— Marian Kennedy – Anewmum
— Sinéad Ryan – Little Fitness
— Denise Walsh – Curly Co
— Lisa Kleiner – Nibbed Cacao
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.]]> Irish Tech News 03:12 false full 15 26e53b08-a59a-493a-b249-fe6dfed5fce6 Who are we talking to? Is it a logical journey to what you are working on now?
My name is Andrew Sheehan, and my background spans accounting, marketing, and product. I originally trained and qualified as an accountant in 2013, but moved into marketing early in my career and have since spent nearly 20 years in marketing leadership roles across Ireland, the US, and the UK.
More recently, I worked as a fractional CMO and product marketing consultant for scaling technology companies through my (now dormant) consultancy, ProductMarketing.ie. Through that work, I found myself increasingly drawn to purpose-driven and climate-focused businesses – seeing both the ambition they had and the challenges they faced in communicating and executing on that ambition.
SustainabilityExamples with Andrew Sheehan
The idea for SustainabilityExamples.com started back in 2021, when I kept coming back to the same question: why is it so hard for companies to see what good looks like in practice…and which solutions can actually help them get there?
After several years of hands-on experience implementing a sustainability strategy with a previous employer, combined with working closely with GreenTech and other purpose-driven companies, that question turned into a clear opportunity.
What are you working on now?
I launched SustainabilityExamples.com in 2025 to help close that gap – making real-world climate action more visible, accessible, and easier to adopt and learn from. Since launching, we've already helped over 100 companies share their sustainability journey (progress, not perfection) while also showcasing the solutions enabling that progress. That's been incredibly rewarding and reinforces that this is a problem worth solving.
As a qualified accountant in addition to 20 years of marketing experience, I recently went back to the classroom to study corporate sustainability before leaving my job and pivoting fully into the world of climate entrepreneurship to bring a rare blend of marketing strategy and storytelling to drive progress in this space through SustainabilityExamples.com.
What is SustainabilityExamples.com?
SustainabilityExamples.com is a corporate sustainability engagement platform – think of it as the "Product Hunt for Sustainability". The place to launch and discover examples of solutions and initiatives driving real progress, every day. At it's core, it's about making sustainability action visible, adoptable, and commercially rewarding.
We're primarily speaking to founders and operators building GreenTech and CleanTech companies, as well as sustainability leaders driving the sustainability strategy inside mid-to-large organisations. They're all trying to answer the same questions: "What are other companies doing, who are they doing it with…and is it working?"
The journey to building SustainabilityExamples.com came from seeing how fragmented and siloed that process is. Companies don't lack intent…they lack visibility into credible, verified and real-world examples they can trust and act on.
We also recognise how terrifying it is for companies to openly talk about their progress out of fear of greenwashing and beyond. Companies can communicate with confidence among like-minded peers and stakeholders who value progress over perfection while instilling trust on the platform through built in verification and accountability tools.
What are you currently working on now?
Right now, we're focused on growing the platforms ecosystem – one companies solution is another companies initiative: Increasing the volume of high-quality corporate initiatives and case studies of solutions being shared for business leaders to learn from, champion, and adopt. Improving discovery features so business leaders can quickly find relevant, actionable examples of initiatives and case studies to impleme...]]> https://irishtechnews.ie/sustainabilityexamples-with-andrew-sheehan/ Who are we talking to? Is it a logical journey to what you are working on now?
My name is Andrew Sheehan, and my background spans accounting, marketing, and product. I originally trained and qualified as an accountant in 2013, but moved into marketing early in my career and have since spent nearly 20 years in marketing leadership roles across Ireland, the US, and the UK.
More recently, I worked as a fractional CMO and product marketing consultant for scaling technology companies through my (now dormant) consultancy, ProductMarketing.ie. Through that work, I found myself increasingly drawn to purpose-driven and climate-focused businesses – seeing both the ambition they had and the challenges they faced in communicating and executing on that ambition.
SustainabilityExamples with Andrew Sheehan
The idea for SustainabilityExamples.com started back in 2021, when I kept coming back to the same question: why is it so hard for companies to see what good looks like in practice…and which solutions can actually help them get there?
After several years of hands-on experience implementing a sustainability strategy with a previous employer, combined with working closely with GreenTech and other purpose-driven companies, that question turned into a clear opportunity.
What are you working on now?
I launched SustainabilityExamples.com in 2025 to help close that gap – making real-world climate action more visible, accessible, and easier to adopt and learn from. Since launching, we've already helped over 100 companies share their sustainability journey (progress, not perfection) while also showcasing the solutions enabling that progress. That's been incredibly rewarding and reinforces that this is a problem worth solving.
As a qualified accountant in addition to 20 years of marketing experience, I recently went back to the classroom to study corporate sustainability before leaving my job and pivoting fully into the world of climate entrepreneurship to bring a rare blend of marketing strategy and storytelling to drive progress in this space through SustainabilityExamples.com.
What is SustainabilityExamples.com?
SustainabilityExamples.com is a corporate sustainability engagement platform – think of it as the "Product Hunt for Sustainability". The place to launch and discover examples of solutions and initiatives driving real progress, every day. At it's core, it's about making sustainability action visible, adoptable, and commercially rewarding.
We're primarily speaking to founders and operators building GreenTech and CleanTech companies, as well as sustainability leaders driving the sustainability strategy inside mid-to-large organisations. They're all trying to answer the same questions: "What are other companies doing, who are they doing it with…and is it working?"
The journey to building SustainabilityExamples.com came from seeing how fragmented and siloed that process is. Companies don't lack intent…they lack visibility into credible, verified and real-world examples they can trust and act on.
We also recognise how terrifying it is for companies to openly talk about their progress out of fear of greenwashing and beyond. Companies can communicate with confidence among like-minded peers and stakeholders who value progress over perfection while instilling trust on the platform through built in verification and accountability tools.
What are you currently working on now?
Right now, we're focused on growing the platforms ecosystem – one companies solution is another companies initiative: Increasing the volume of high-quality corporate initiatives and case studies of solutions being shared for business leaders to learn from, champion, and adopt. Improving discovery features so business leaders can quickly find relevant, actionable examples of initiatives and case studies to impleme...]]> Mon, 30 Mar 2026 09:30:47 +0000 Promoting Irish green innovation with SustainabilityExamples, Andrew Sheehan explains more Who are we talking to? Is it a logical journey to what you are working on now?
My nam...]]> Who are we talking to? Is it a logical journey to what you are working on now?
My name is Andrew Sheehan, and my background spans accounting, marketing, and product. I originally trained and qualified as an accountant in 2013, but moved into marketing early in my career and have since spent nearly 20 years in marketing leadership roles across Ireland, the US, and the UK.
More recently, I worked as a fractional CMO and product marketing consultant for scaling technology companies through my (now dormant) consultancy, ProductMarketing.ie. Through that work, I found myself increasingly drawn to purpose-driven and climate-focused businesses – seeing both the ambition they had and the challenges they faced in communicating and executing on that ambition.
SustainabilityExamples with Andrew Sheehan
The idea for SustainabilityExamples.com started back in 2021, when I kept coming back to the same question: why is it so hard for companies to see what good looks like in practice…and which solutions can actually help them get there?
After several years of hands-on experience implementing a sustainability strategy with a previous employer, combined with working closely with GreenTech and other purpose-driven companies, that question turned into a clear opportunity.
What are you working on now?
I launched SustainabilityExamples.com in 2025 to help close that gap – making real-world climate action more visible, accessible, and easier to adopt and learn from. Since launching, we've already helped over 100 companies share their sustainability journey (progress, not perfection) while also showcasing the solutions enabling that progress. That's been incredibly rewarding and reinforces that this is a problem worth solving.
As a qualified accountant in addition to 20 years of marketing experience, I recently went back to the classroom to study corporate sustainability before leaving my job and pivoting fully into the world of climate entrepreneurship to bring a rare blend of marketing strategy and storytelling to drive progress in this space through SustainabilityExamples.com.
What is SustainabilityExamples.com?
SustainabilityExamples.com is a corporate sustainability engagement platform – think of it as the "Product Hunt for Sustainability". The place to launch and discover examples of solutions and initiatives driving real progress, every day. At it's core, it's about making sustainability action visible, adoptable, and commercially rewarding.
We're primarily speaking to founders and operators building GreenTech and CleanTech companies, as well as sustainability leaders driving the sustainability strategy inside mid-to-large organisations. They're all trying to answer the same questions: "What are other companies doing, who are they doing it with…and is it working?"
The journey to building SustainabilityExamples.com came from seeing how fragmented and siloed that process is. Companies don't lack intent…they lack visibility into credible, verified and real-world examples they can trust and act on.
We also recognise how terrifying it is for companies to openly talk about their progress out of fear of greenwashing and beyond. Companies can communicate with confidence among like-minded peers and stakeholders who value progress over perfection while instilling trust on the platform through built in verification and accountability tools.
What are you currently working on now?
Right now, we're focused on growing the platforms ecosystem – one companies solution is another companies initiative: Increasing the volume of high-quality corporate initiatives and case studies of solutions being shared for business leaders to learn from, champion, and adopt. Improving discovery features so business leaders can quickly find relevant, actionable examples of initiatives and case studies to impleme...]]> Simon Cocking 10:56 false full 14 809c7c6c-f1e0-4676-8701-4bad3034d1e3 There is a recent report on NBC News, Iran fires missiles at remote U.K.-U.S. base, claiming long-range capabilities it previously denied, stating that, "Iran has fired missiles at the joint U.K.-U.S. Diego Garcia military base in the Indian Ocean, claiming the strike shows it is capable of longer-distance attacks than previously known."
What is the impact of Iran War on AI Safety, Alignment?
"The distance of the attempted strike could indicate that Iran has capabilities for long-distance attacks that it has previously denied, with the base the same distance from Iran as much of central Europe. It is unclear, however, if the missiles carried a payload or how far such an attack could truly reach, as neither missile reached its target."
Iran is not as powerful as the United States militarily, but in this war, Iran is showing that it has the capacity to hurt. And it is still unclear, to what extent, as the conflict ploughs on.
If Iran is able to hit specific targets in the Middle East, causing damages, losses and disruptions, it indicates that the protective coverage of a military superpower may not be as thorough, as sophisticated weapons become more ubiquitous.
There are several nations in a number of continents that the United States can hit, and they would not be able to respond in any consequential way, which may result in them surrendering early enough.
However, for Iran, that is not the case, given its military facilities and coveted geography of overseeing a chokepoint — the Strait of Hormuz.
If precision missiles are leveling up countries that should not stand a chance against a superpower, what does it mean in an era of artificial intelligence?
AI
There are lots of governments and corporations that can now build AI base models, with capabilities of all kinds — positive or otherwise. This means that all the risks that major AI companies warn about can be obtained by some AI model of some country or company, even if they do not allow access [for public use.]
So, it is possible to have private AI models [be able to] do many of the things [that are not allowed] under guardrails by the leading AI chatbots.
It means those private AIs can suggest, recommend, refer, connect dots and do so much negativity, without any regulation or outrage.
The datasets to build AI models are already public. The processors to build it are obtainable one way or the other. The architecture and deep learning libraries are public knowledge, so there is nothing that says it cannot be done, however intensive, so long the team has resources.
Now, while there is often an outcry, when some AI model is misused in public, and then adjustments follow, it does not seem like there is a need to make any AI model safe or aligned to certain values, if it will not be used in public. So, the raison d'être, for AI safety and alignment are principally business prudent.
Also, there is no safety architecture that means that an AI base model cannot be trained unless it is safe or aligned. Most safety and alignment are done, post-training.
This makes it obvious that general AI safety and alignment may not exist.
Is AI Safety and Alignment Futile?
AI is already used in war and will continue to be a tool of combat. Humans have factions. Tensions will often flare sometimes resulting in conflagrations like the Iran war.
Because there is no foundation training architecture for safety for AI, it cannot refuse to be used at war, as its decision [or its non-existent agency]. Also, there are ways to have misaligned and unsafe AI cause problems, if suddenly made accessible to the public, in some situations.
The erstwhile rush towards benchmarks and evaluations may not be as necessary, since even lower tier AI can cause substantial damage when unsafe, unaligned and used as targets for certain outcomes.
The whole AI safety interest has been largely driven commercially and now, it is shown that except some new innovation can match training with safety, track AI m...]]> https://irishtechnews.ie/impact-of-iran-war-on-ai-safety-alignment/ There is a recent report on NBC News, Iran fires missiles at remote U.K.-U.S. base, claiming long-range capabilities it previously denied, stating that, "Iran has fired missiles at the joint U.K.-U.S. Diego Garcia military base in the Indian Ocean, claiming the strike shows it is capable of longer-distance attacks than previously known."
What is the impact of Iran War on AI Safety, Alignment?
"The distance of the attempted strike could indicate that Iran has capabilities for long-distance attacks that it has previously denied, with the base the same distance from Iran as much of central Europe. It is unclear, however, if the missiles carried a payload or how far such an attack could truly reach, as neither missile reached its target."
Iran is not as powerful as the United States militarily, but in this war, Iran is showing that it has the capacity to hurt. And it is still unclear, to what extent, as the conflict ploughs on.
If Iran is able to hit specific targets in the Middle East, causing damages, losses and disruptions, it indicates that the protective coverage of a military superpower may not be as thorough, as sophisticated weapons become more ubiquitous.
There are several nations in a number of continents that the United States can hit, and they would not be able to respond in any consequential way, which may result in them surrendering early enough.
However, for Iran, that is not the case, given its military facilities and coveted geography of overseeing a chokepoint — the Strait of Hormuz.
If precision missiles are leveling up countries that should not stand a chance against a superpower, what does it mean in an era of artificial intelligence?
AI
There are lots of governments and corporations that can now build AI base models, with capabilities of all kinds — positive or otherwise. This means that all the risks that major AI companies warn about can be obtained by some AI model of some country or company, even if they do not allow access [for public use.]
So, it is possible to have private AI models [be able to] do many of the things [that are not allowed] under guardrails by the leading AI chatbots.
It means those private AIs can suggest, recommend, refer, connect dots and do so much negativity, without any regulation or outrage.
The datasets to build AI models are already public. The processors to build it are obtainable one way or the other. The architecture and deep learning libraries are public knowledge, so there is nothing that says it cannot be done, however intensive, so long the team has resources.
Now, while there is often an outcry, when some AI model is misused in public, and then adjustments follow, it does not seem like there is a need to make any AI model safe or aligned to certain values, if it will not be used in public. So, the raison d'être, for AI safety and alignment are principally business prudent.
Also, there is no safety architecture that means that an AI base model cannot be trained unless it is safe or aligned. Most safety and alignment are done, post-training.
This makes it obvious that general AI safety and alignment may not exist.
Is AI Safety and Alignment Futile?
AI is already used in war and will continue to be a tool of combat. Humans have factions. Tensions will often flare sometimes resulting in conflagrations like the Iran war.
Because there is no foundation training architecture for safety for AI, it cannot refuse to be used at war, as its decision [or its non-existent agency]. Also, there are ways to have misaligned and unsafe AI cause problems, if suddenly made accessible to the public, in some situations.
The erstwhile rush towards benchmarks and evaluations may not be as necessary, since even lower tier AI can cause substantial damage when unsafe, unaligned and used as targets for certain outcomes.
The whole AI safety interest has been largely driven commercially and now, it is shown that except some new innovation can match training with safety, track AI m...]]> Mon, 30 Mar 2026 08:00:22 +0000 Does the Iran War Indicate that AI Safety, Alignment is Futile? There is a recent report on NBC News, Iran fires missiles at remote U.K.-U.S. base, claiming long-range capabilities it previously denied, stating that, "Iran has fired missiles at the joint U.K.-U.S. Diego Garcia military base in the ...]]> There is a recent report on NBC News, Iran fires missiles at remote U.K.-U.S. base, claiming long-range capabilities it previously denied, stating that, "Iran has fired missiles at the joint U.K.-U.S. Diego Garcia military base in the Indian Ocean, claiming the strike shows it is capable of longer-distance attacks than previously known."
What is the impact of Iran War on AI Safety, Alignment?
"The distance of the attempted strike could indicate that Iran has capabilities for long-distance attacks that it has previously denied, with the base the same distance from Iran as much of central Europe. It is unclear, however, if the missiles carried a payload or how far such an attack could truly reach, as neither missile reached its target."
Iran is not as powerful as the United States militarily, but in this war, Iran is showing that it has the capacity to hurt. And it is still unclear, to what extent, as the conflict ploughs on.
If Iran is able to hit specific targets in the Middle East, causing damages, losses and disruptions, it indicates that the protective coverage of a military superpower may not be as thorough, as sophisticated weapons become more ubiquitous.
There are several nations in a number of continents that the United States can hit, and they would not be able to respond in any consequential way, which may result in them surrendering early enough.
However, for Iran, that is not the case, given its military facilities and coveted geography of overseeing a chokepoint — the Strait of Hormuz.
If precision missiles are leveling up countries that should not stand a chance against a superpower, what does it mean in an era of artificial intelligence?
AI
There are lots of governments and corporations that can now build AI base models, with capabilities of all kinds — positive or otherwise. This means that all the risks that major AI companies warn about can be obtained by some AI model of some country or company, even if they do not allow access [for public use.]
So, it is possible to have private AI models [be able to] do many of the things [that are not allowed] under guardrails by the leading AI chatbots.
It means those private AIs can suggest, recommend, refer, connect dots and do so much negativity, without any regulation or outrage.
The datasets to build AI models are already public. The processors to build it are obtainable one way or the other. The architecture and deep learning libraries are public knowledge, so there is nothing that says it cannot be done, however intensive, so long the team has resources.
Now, while there is often an outcry, when some AI model is misused in public, and then adjustments follow, it does not seem like there is a need to make any AI model safe or aligned to certain values, if it will not be used in public. So, the raison d'être, for AI safety and alignment are principally business prudent.
Also, there is no safety architecture that means that an AI base model cannot be trained unless it is safe or aligned. Most safety and alignment are done, post-training.
This makes it obvious that general AI safety and alignment may not exist.
Is AI Safety and Alignment Futile?
AI is already used in war and will continue to be a tool of combat. Humans have factions. Tensions will often flare sometimes resulting in conflagrations like the Iran war.
Because there is no foundation training architecture for safety for AI, it cannot refuse to be used at war, as its decision [or its non-existent agency]. Also, there are ways to have misaligned and unsafe AI cause problems, if suddenly made accessible to the public, in some situations.
The erstwhile rush towards benchmarks and evaluations may not be as necessary, since even lower tier AI can cause substantial damage when unsafe, unaligned and used as targets for certain outcomes.
The whole AI safety interest has been largely driven commercially and now, it is shown that except some new innovation can match training with safety, track AI m...]]> Simon Cocking 06:27 false full 13 2359a74a-4196-4830-89ad-a6d2df292f73 This is refurbed's first major consumer electronics (CE) brand partnership in the camera category, which shows the growth in demand for refurbished goods beyond smartphones and laptops. The partnership builds on a successful pilot phase, during which sales of GoPro products on refurbed increased by 195%, demonstrating strong consumer demand for high-quality refurbished cameras.
This demand was particularly evident in Ireland last year. refurbed, now marking its 5th year in Ireland, saw an increased demand for refurbished cameras among its Irish consumers in 2025. Compared to 2024, there was a year on year growth of 329%. Refurbished devices typically cost up to 40% less than their brand-new counterparts, so customers are getting a high-quality product at a fraction of the price.
From now on, customers in Ireland, Denmark and Sweden can purchase refurbished GoPro HERO9, HERO10 and HERO11 models exclusively through refurbed. All devices originate from customer and channel returns and are professionally refurbished by GoPro and its partners. The refurbishment process includes thorough inspection, functional testing, cleaning, and quality assurance, with key components such as batteries replaced where necessary. All products meet original performance standards, including full waterproof functionality.
"With GoPro, we are expanding our offering into an exciting new product category and showing that refurbished can go far beyond smartphones," says Kilian Kaminski, Co-Founder of refurbed. "This partnership allows us to bring highly attractive, premium products to more consumers, while making them more accessible and sustainable at the same time. It also serves as a strong example of how brands can successfully collaborate with refurbished marketplaces."
GoPro also emphasised the importance of the collaboration, stating: "We partnered with refurbed to make GoPro products available to more customers through a trusted refurbished marketplace, with a strong focus on quality and sustainability."
The partnership underlines a broader industry shift, with more leading brands embracing refurbishment as a way to extend product lifecycles and reach new customer segments.
See more stories here.
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.]]> https://irishtechnews.ie/refurbed-and-gopro-announce-exclusive-partnership-in-ireland/ This is refurbed's first major consumer electronics (CE) brand partnership in the camera category, which shows the growth in demand for refurbished goods beyond smartphones and laptops. The partnership builds on a successful pilot phase, during which sales of GoPro products on refurbed increased by 195%, demonstrating strong consumer demand for high-quality refurbished cameras.
This demand was particularly evident in Ireland last year. refurbed, now marking its 5th year in Ireland, saw an increased demand for refurbished cameras among its Irish consumers in 2025. Compared to 2024, there was a year on year growth of 329%. Refurbished devices typically cost up to 40% less than their brand-new counterparts, so customers are getting a high-quality product at a fraction of the price.
From now on, customers in Ireland, Denmark and Sweden can purchase refurbished GoPro HERO9, HERO10 and HERO11 models exclusively through refurbed. All devices originate from customer and channel returns and are professionally refurbished by GoPro and its partners. The refurbishment process includes thorough inspection, functional testing, cleaning, and quality assurance, with key components such as batteries replaced where necessary. All products meet original performance standards, including full waterproof functionality.
"With GoPro, we are expanding our offering into an exciting new product category and showing that refurbished can go far beyond smartphones," says Kilian Kaminski, Co-Founder of refurbed. "This partnership allows us to bring highly attractive, premium products to more consumers, while making them more accessible and sustainable at the same time. It also serves as a strong example of how brands can successfully collaborate with refurbished marketplaces."
GoPro also emphasised the importance of the collaboration, stating: "We partnered with refurbed to make GoPro products available to more customers through a trusted refurbished marketplace, with a strong focus on quality and sustainability."
The partnership underlines a broader industry shift, with more leading brands embracing refurbishment as a way to extend product lifecycles and reach new customer segments.
See more stories here.
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.]]> Fri, 27 Mar 2026 17:00:34 +0000 refurbed and GoPro announce exclusive partnership in Ireland This is refurbed's first major consumer electronics (CE) brand partnership in the camera category, which shows the growth in demand for refurbished goods beyond smartphones and laptops. The partnership builds on a successful pilot phase, during which sales of GoPro products on refurbed increased by 195%, demonstrating strong consumer demand for high-quality refurbished cameras.
This demand was particularly evident in Ireland last year. refurbed, now marking its 5th year in Ireland, saw an increased demand for refurbished cameras among its Irish consumers in 2025. Compared to 2024, there was a year on year growth of 329%. Refurbished devices typically cost up to 40% less than their brand-new counterparts, so customers are getting a high-quality product at a fraction of the price.
From now on, customers in Ireland, Denmark and Sweden can purchase refurbished GoPro HERO9, HERO10 and HERO11 models exclusively through refurbed. All devices originate from customer and channel returns and are professionally refurbished by GoPro and its partners. The refurbishment process includes thorough inspection, functional testing, cleaning, and quality assurance, with key components such as batteries replaced where necessary. All products meet original performance standards, including full waterproof functionality.
"With GoPro, we are expanding our offering into an exciting new product category and showing that refurbished can go far beyond smartphones," says Kilian Kaminski, Co-Founder of refurbed. "This partnership allows us to bring highly attractive, premium products to more consumers, while making them more accessible and sustainable at the same time. It also serves as a strong example of how brands can successfully collaborate with refurbished marketplaces."
GoPro also emphasised the importance of the collaboration, stating: "We partnered with refurbed to make GoPro products available to more customers through a trusted refurbished marketplace, with a strong focus on quality and sustainability."
The partnership underlines a broader industry shift, with more leading brands embracing refurbishment as a way to extend product lifecycles and reach new customer segments.
See more stories here.
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.]]> Ronan Leonard 03:32 false full 12 4249f9ad-cdf4-4766-8178-71ed7f282dd2 The deployment forms part of the IrelandQCI project, the country's national quantum communications initiative and a key contributor to EuroQCI, the EU-wide federated quantum communications infrastructure.
Operating over Ireland's existing fibre infrastructure, the telecom-grade network transitions quantum security from research environments into live national infrastructure. It safeguards research, education and critical systems while enabling interoperable quantum connectivity across Ireland and Europe.
Importantly, it has been designed from the start with an expandable architecture in mind, so that any additional Q*Bird QKD Node can connect to the network with a single fibre link and then gain full quantum connectivity around the network.
A major milestone for Ireland's national quantum infrastructure
''This multi-node deployment represents a major milestone for Ireland's national quantum infrastructure," said Dr Deirdre Kilbane, Director of Research at Walton Institute at SETU and Coordinator of the €10 M IrelandQCI project, which is co-funded by the European Commission and the Irish Government's Department of Communications, Culture and Sport.
"By integrating Q*Bird's operational MDI-QKD Falqon® Series across research institutions, data centres and national networks, we are enabling secure, interoperable quantum communication while also creating a platform for other research institutions to join. It strengthens Ireland's sovereignty over critical communications and contributes directly to EuroQCI and Europe's federated quantum network vision."
The hub-and-spoke architectural network comprises of four End Nodes, one Center Hub and one Quantum Optical Switch for a scalable metropolitan deployment and uses ESB Telecoms dark fibre for the quantum communication channel. The End Nodes are located in two Dublin data centres, Dublin City University and Trinity College Dublin, while the Center Hub is hosted at Asiera (formerly HEAnet), Ireland's National Education and Research Network.
The collaborative expertise of Walton Institute at SETU, Asiera and Q*Bird were responsible for the successful deployment of the highly secure connection between the strategic Dublin city locations. The Q*Bird Quantum-Optimized Optical Switch enables dynamic, secure routing of qubits around the network, ensuring full multi-node connectivity of QKD keys, without relying on trusted intermediaries.
Industry-grade security for research, education and critical infrastructure
At the core of the network is Q*Bird's Falqon Series, enabling entanglement-based quantum key distribution over operational fibre networks. Detector-side exploits have been identified by security authorities, including Germany's Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), as the most critical attack vector in earlier QKD implementations. Q*Bird's devices completely remove the requirement to trust any measurement devices, thus establishing an architecture with a security model resilient against both present day cyber threats and future quantum-enabled attacks.
This ensures long-term cryptographic protection for sensitive research data, governmental communications and critical infrastructure systems, while addressing harvest-now-decrypt-later (HNDL) risk scenarios.

Interoperability by design, resilience by architecture
The network's hub-and-spoke architecture of Q*Bird devices, along with the Quantum Optical Switch, enables precise synchronisation, dynamic routing and multi-node quantum key distribution. Designed for interoperability and compatibility with existing fibre infrastructure, it provides an open foundation for future integration with eme...]]> https://irishtechnews.ie/irelands-quantum-leap-walton-institute-qbird/ The deployment forms part of the IrelandQCI project, the country's national quantum communications initiative and a key contributor to EuroQCI, the EU-wide federated quantum communications infrastructure.
Operating over Ireland's existing fibre infrastructure, the telecom-grade network transitions quantum security from research environments into live national infrastructure. It safeguards research, education and critical systems while enabling interoperable quantum connectivity across Ireland and Europe.
Importantly, it has been designed from the start with an expandable architecture in mind, so that any additional Q*Bird QKD Node can connect to the network with a single fibre link and then gain full quantum connectivity around the network.
A major milestone for Ireland's national quantum infrastructure
''This multi-node deployment represents a major milestone for Ireland's national quantum infrastructure," said Dr Deirdre Kilbane, Director of Research at Walton Institute at SETU and Coordinator of the €10 M IrelandQCI project, which is co-funded by the European Commission and the Irish Government's Department of Communications, Culture and Sport.
"By integrating Q*Bird's operational MDI-QKD Falqon® Series across research institutions, data centres and national networks, we are enabling secure, interoperable quantum communication while also creating a platform for other research institutions to join. It strengthens Ireland's sovereignty over critical communications and contributes directly to EuroQCI and Europe's federated quantum network vision."
The hub-and-spoke architectural network comprises of four End Nodes, one Center Hub and one Quantum Optical Switch for a scalable metropolitan deployment and uses ESB Telecoms dark fibre for the quantum communication channel. The End Nodes are located in two Dublin data centres, Dublin City University and Trinity College Dublin, while the Center Hub is hosted at Asiera (formerly HEAnet), Ireland's National Education and Research Network.
The collaborative expertise of Walton Institute at SETU, Asiera and Q*Bird were responsible for the successful deployment of the highly secure connection between the strategic Dublin city locations. The Q*Bird Quantum-Optimized Optical Switch enables dynamic, secure routing of qubits around the network, ensuring full multi-node connectivity of QKD keys, without relying on trusted intermediaries.
Industry-grade security for research, education and critical infrastructure
At the core of the network is Q*Bird's Falqon Series, enabling entanglement-based quantum key distribution over operational fibre networks. Detector-side exploits have been identified by security authorities, including Germany's Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), as the most critical attack vector in earlier QKD implementations. Q*Bird's devices completely remove the requirement to trust any measurement devices, thus establishing an architecture with a security model resilient against both present day cyber threats and future quantum-enabled attacks.
This ensures long-term cryptographic protection for sensitive research data, governmental communications and critical infrastructure systems, while addressing harvest-now-decrypt-later (HNDL) risk scenarios.

Interoperability by design, resilience by architecture
The network's hub-and-spoke architecture of Q*Bird devices, along with the Quantum Optical Switch, enables precise synchronisation, dynamic routing and multi-node quantum key distribution. Designed for interoperability and compatibility with existing fibre infrastructure, it provides an open foundation for future integration with eme...]]> Fri, 27 Mar 2026 16:00:54 +0000 Ireland's Quantum Leap – Walton Institute at SETU and Q*Bird deploy Ireland's first QKD network The deployment forms part of the IrelandQCI project, the country's national quantum communications initiative and a key contributor to EuroQCI, the EU-wide federated quantum communications infrastructure.
Operating over Ireland's existing fibre infrastructure, the telecom-grade network transitions quantum security from research environments into live national infrastructure. It safeguards research, education and critical systems while enabling interoperable quantum connectivity across Ireland and Europe.
Importantly, it has been designed from the start with an expandable architecture in mind, so that any additional Q*Bird QKD Node can connect to the network with a single fibre link and then gain full quantum connectivity around the network.
A major milestone for Ireland's national quantum infrastructure
''This multi-node deployment represents a major milestone for Ireland's national quantum infrastructure," said Dr Deirdre Kilbane, Director of Research at Walton Institute at SETU and Coordinator of the €10 M IrelandQCI project, which is co-funded by the European Commission and the Irish Government's Department of Communications, Culture and Sport.
"By integrating Q*Bird's operational MDI-QKD Falqon® Series across research institutions, data centres and national networks, we are enabling secure, interoperable quantum communication while also creating a platform for other research institutions to join. It strengthens Ireland's sovereignty over critical communications and contributes directly to EuroQCI and Europe's federated quantum network vision."
The hub-and-spoke architectural network comprises of four End Nodes, one Center Hub and one Quantum Optical Switch for a scalable metropolitan deployment and uses ESB Telecoms dark fibre for the quantum communication channel. The End Nodes are located in two Dublin data centres, Dublin City University and Trinity College Dublin, while the Center Hub is hosted at Asiera (formerly HEAnet), Ireland's National Education and Research Network.
The collaborative expertise of Walton Institute at SETU, Asiera and Q*Bird were responsible for the successful deployment of the highly secure connection between the strategic Dublin city locations. The Q*Bird Quantum-Optimized Optical Switch enables dynamic, secure routing of qubits around the network, ensuring full multi-node connectivity of QKD keys, without relying on trusted intermediaries.
Industry-grade security for research, education and critical infrastructure
At the core of the network is Q*Bird's Falqon Series, enabling entanglement-based quantum key distribution over operational fibre networks. Detector-side exploits have been identified by security authorities, including Germany's Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), as the most critical attack vector in earlier QKD implementations. Q*Bird's devices completely remove the requirement to trust any measurement devices, thus establishing an architecture with a security model resilient against both present day cyber threats and future quantum-enabled attacks.
This ensures long-term cryptographic protection for sensitive research data, governmental communications and critical infrastructure systems, while addressing harvest-now-decrypt-later (HNDL) risk scenarios.

Interoperability by design, resilience by architecture
The network's hub-and-spoke architecture of Q*Bird devices, along with the Quantum Optical Switch, enables precise synchronisation, dynamic routing and multi-node quantum key distribution. Designed for interoperability and compatibility with existing fibre infrastructure, it provides an open foundation for future integration with eme...]]> Irish Tech News 07:47 false full 11 18900bb3-4e57-4106-a850-969ab0a3165f According to NETSCOUT's latest DDoS Threat Intelligence Report, over 8 million attacks were recorded globally, with 3,331,570 targeting EMEA, nearly twice as many as the next most heavily targeted region. Looking at the region in greater detail, additional findings from NETSCOUT's report revealed:
— The top five targeted countries in EMEA were: Germany, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa
— Keymous+ conducted 249 DDoS attacks between February and September 2025. India, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, France and Morocco were among the nations most affected
— Wireless telecommunications carriers retained their position as the most frequently targeted industry by threat actors, as the attack count rose to 1.3 million, around an eight per cent increase from the previous six months
— Only 50 per cent of EMEA attacks in this time period contained a single vector, signifying the escalation in attack complexity as multi-vector tools become more frequently employed by adversaries
Richard Hummel, director of threat intelligence at NETSCOUT, discusses how hacktivist groups and the democratisation of cyberattacks are driving attack activity in EMEA:
"During the second half of 2025, pro-Russian hacktivist groups such as NoName057(16) and Keymous+ conducted sustained and coordinated DDoS campaigns, disrupting online services across organisations in the EMEA region. These attacks coincided with holiday traffic in Western and NATO-aligned countries, and primarily targeted the government, financial services and telecommunications sectors, reinforcing these groups' stance against nations they deem to be acting in opposition to Russia. The DDoS attack on France's national post office in December was a prime example of how European allies of Ukraine have become systematically targeted by hacktivists.
"Further to this, AI integration into DDoS-for-hire services has been a major catalyst in democratising DDoS attacks in the region. The entry barriers for unskilled and novice actors continue to be demolished as conversational AI and illicit LLM tools are incorporated into the attack development process. By using simple language prompts, novice actors can launch sophisticated, multi-vector campaigns, with malicious LLMs like KawaiiGPT offering these services for free.
"In response, enterprises across EMEA need to maintain increased vigilance. This necessitates organisations investing in automated detection and mitigation software and having access to the most up-to-date threat intelligence to safeguard themselves and combat against evolving, persistent DDoS threats."
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.]]> https://irishtechnews.ie/hacktivist-activity-ai-integration-drive-ddos/ According to NETSCOUT's latest DDoS Threat Intelligence Report, over 8 million attacks were recorded globally, with 3,331,570 targeting EMEA, nearly twice as many as the next most heavily targeted region. Looking at the region in greater detail, additional findings from NETSCOUT's report revealed:
— The top five targeted countries in EMEA were: Germany, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa
— Keymous+ conducted 249 DDoS attacks between February and September 2025. India, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, France and Morocco were among the nations most affected
— Wireless telecommunications carriers retained their position as the most frequently targeted industry by threat actors, as the attack count rose to 1.3 million, around an eight per cent increase from the previous six months
— Only 50 per cent of EMEA attacks in this time period contained a single vector, signifying the escalation in attack complexity as multi-vector tools become more frequently employed by adversaries
Richard Hummel, director of threat intelligence at NETSCOUT, discusses how hacktivist groups and the democratisation of cyberattacks are driving attack activity in EMEA:
"During the second half of 2025, pro-Russian hacktivist groups such as NoName057(16) and Keymous+ conducted sustained and coordinated DDoS campaigns, disrupting online services across organisations in the EMEA region. These attacks coincided with holiday traffic in Western and NATO-aligned countries, and primarily targeted the government, financial services and telecommunications sectors, reinforcing these groups' stance against nations they deem to be acting in opposition to Russia. The DDoS attack on France's national post office in December was a prime example of how European allies of Ukraine have become systematically targeted by hacktivists.
"Further to this, AI integration into DDoS-for-hire services has been a major catalyst in democratising DDoS attacks in the region. The entry barriers for unskilled and novice actors continue to be demolished as conversational AI and illicit LLM tools are incorporated into the attack development process. By using simple language prompts, novice actors can launch sophisticated, multi-vector campaigns, with malicious LLMs like KawaiiGPT offering these services for free.
"In response, enterprises across EMEA need to maintain increased vigilance. This necessitates organisations investing in automated detection and mitigation software and having access to the most up-to-date threat intelligence to safeguard themselves and combat against evolving, persistent DDoS threats."
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.]]> Fri, 27 Mar 2026 15:00:50 +0000 Persistent Hacktivist Activity and AI Integration Drive EMEA DDoS Activity According to NETSCOUT's latest DDoS Threat Intelligence Report, over 8 million attacks were recorded globally, with 3,331,570 targeting EMEA, nearly twice as many as the next most heavily targeted region. Looking at the region in greater detail, additional findings from NETSCOUT's report revealed:
— The top five targeted countries in EMEA were: Germany, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa
— Keymous+ conducted 249 DDoS attacks between February and September 2025. India, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, France and Morocco were among the nations most affected
— Wireless telecommunications carriers retained their position as the most frequently targeted industry by threat actors, as the attack count rose to 1.3 million, around an eight per cent increase from the previous six months
— Only 50 per cent of EMEA attacks in this time period contained a single vector, signifying the escalation in attack complexity as multi-vector tools become more frequently employed by adversaries
Richard Hummel, director of threat intelligence at NETSCOUT, discusses how hacktivist groups and the democratisation of cyberattacks are driving attack activity in EMEA:
"During the second half of 2025, pro-Russian hacktivist groups such as NoName057(16) and Keymous+ conducted sustained and coordinated DDoS campaigns, disrupting online services across organisations in the EMEA region. These attacks coincided with holiday traffic in Western and NATO-aligned countries, and primarily targeted the government, financial services and telecommunications sectors, reinforcing these groups' stance against nations they deem to be acting in opposition to Russia. The DDoS attack on France's national post office in December was a prime example of how European allies of Ukraine have become systematically targeted by hacktivists.
"Further to this, AI integration into DDoS-for-hire services has been a major catalyst in democratising DDoS attacks in the region. The entry barriers for unskilled and novice actors continue to be demolished as conversational AI and illicit LLM tools are incorporated into the attack development process. By using simple language prompts, novice actors can launch sophisticated, multi-vector campaigns, with malicious LLMs like KawaiiGPT offering these services for free.
"In response, enterprises across EMEA need to maintain increased vigilance. This necessitates organisations investing in automated detection and mitigation software and having access to the most up-to-date threat intelligence to safeguard themselves and combat against evolving, persistent DDoS threats."
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.]]> Irish Tech News 04:05 false full 10 09d526f0-f445-4867-b5be-8de2f7d24a54 Commissioned by OpenAI for its first European SME AI Accelerator in Dublin today, the Opinium survey of 200 Irish SME leaders found that almost half (48%) use AI tools regularly, with over a third (38%) of users using them daily.
Nearly two-thirds (63%) of Irish SMEs use ChatGPT, followed by Gemini (38%), Copilot (34%) and Claude (16%). SMEs use AI for everyday tasks like emails, admin and marketing, but use is broadening, with around a quarter using it for more complex tasks such as research (28%) and coding (24%). Advanced use cases are emerging, with around four in ten AI users (43%) automating tasks, while under one in three (29%) are using AI agents (advanced tools that can act autonomously).
However, SMEs cited several challenges to unlocking AI's full potential, including data privacy and security concerns (32%), lack of training and education (31%) and the cost of tools and talent (23%). Over a third (37%) of SMEs have no formal AI policy in place.
Nearly three in ten (27%) SME leaders say they are not confident in their ability to use AI effectively, and those lacking confidence are significantly less likely to adopt new use cases. This is despite almost two-thirds (63%) indicating they are likely to implement at least one new way of using AI tools in the next 90 days.
Welcoming today's SME AI Accelerator, Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation, Niamh Smyth T.D. said: "AI can significantly improve productivity and strengthen the competitiveness of Ireland's SME sector. As we work toward the goals outlined in the recently published National Digital and AI Strategy, accelerating the uptake of digital and AI solutions across businesses is a key focus.
Programmes like this play an important role in making sure companies of all sizes gain the skills and confidence they need to adopt AI quickly and effectively. This will help increase their competitiveness, boost productivity, and contribute to long?term, sustainable economic growth."
Emma Redmond, Head of OpenAI Ireland, said: "The opportunity now is to close the gap between using AI to be efficient and using it to transform. That means upskilling SMEs with the tools and structures to confidently turn everyday usage into real results and ultimately revenue."
Co-sponsored by OpenAI and Booking.com, in partnership with Retail Excellence Ireland, The Innovation Exchange and Dogpatch Labs, the AI Accelerator in Dublin sees over 120 SMEs experience hands-on AI training and advice from OpenAI Academy experts, on topics from increasing sales to managing operations. They learn how to design simple, business-ready ChatGPT workflows, especially around content generation, customer engagement, operations and even experience some light automation. Afterwards, SMEs anywhere in Ireland will have free access to the resources, 'how-to' guides and explainer videos on the OpenAI Academy online.
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.]]> https://irishtechnews.ie/almost-9-in-10-irish-sme-leaders-now-using-ai/ Commissioned by OpenAI for its first European SME AI Accelerator in Dublin today, the Opinium survey of 200 Irish SME leaders found that almost half (48%) use AI tools regularly, with over a third (38%) of users using them daily.
Nearly two-thirds (63%) of Irish SMEs use ChatGPT, followed by Gemini (38%), Copilot (34%) and Claude (16%). SMEs use AI for everyday tasks like emails, admin and marketing, but use is broadening, with around a quarter using it for more complex tasks such as research (28%) and coding (24%). Advanced use cases are emerging, with around four in ten AI users (43%) automating tasks, while under one in three (29%) are using AI agents (advanced tools that can act autonomously).
However, SMEs cited several challenges to unlocking AI's full potential, including data privacy and security concerns (32%), lack of training and education (31%) and the cost of tools and talent (23%). Over a third (37%) of SMEs have no formal AI policy in place.
Nearly three in ten (27%) SME leaders say they are not confident in their ability to use AI effectively, and those lacking confidence are significantly less likely to adopt new use cases. This is despite almost two-thirds (63%) indicating they are likely to implement at least one new way of using AI tools in the next 90 days.
Welcoming today's SME AI Accelerator, Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation, Niamh Smyth T.D. said: "AI can significantly improve productivity and strengthen the competitiveness of Ireland's SME sector. As we work toward the goals outlined in the recently published National Digital and AI Strategy, accelerating the uptake of digital and AI solutions across businesses is a key focus.
Programmes like this play an important role in making sure companies of all sizes gain the skills and confidence they need to adopt AI quickly and effectively. This will help increase their competitiveness, boost productivity, and contribute to long?term, sustainable economic growth."
Emma Redmond, Head of OpenAI Ireland, said: "The opportunity now is to close the gap between using AI to be efficient and using it to transform. That means upskilling SMEs with the tools and structures to confidently turn everyday usage into real results and ultimately revenue."
Co-sponsored by OpenAI and Booking.com, in partnership with Retail Excellence Ireland, The Innovation Exchange and Dogpatch Labs, the AI Accelerator in Dublin sees over 120 SMEs experience hands-on AI training and advice from OpenAI Academy experts, on topics from increasing sales to managing operations. They learn how to design simple, business-ready ChatGPT workflows, especially around content generation, customer engagement, operations and even experience some light automation. Afterwards, SMEs anywhere in Ireland will have free access to the resources, 'how-to' guides and explainer videos on the OpenAI Academy online.
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.]]> Fri, 27 Mar 2026 14:00:27 +0000 OpenAI research reveals almost 9 in 10 Irish SME leaders now using AI, gaining 5 hours per week Commissioned by OpenAI for it...]]> Commissioned by OpenAI for its first European SME AI Accelerator in Dublin today, the Opinium survey of 200 Irish SME leaders found that almost half (48%) use AI tools regularly, with over a third (38%) of users using them daily.
Nearly two-thirds (63%) of Irish SMEs use ChatGPT, followed by Gemini (38%), Copilot (34%) and Claude (16%). SMEs use AI for everyday tasks like emails, admin and marketing, but use is broadening, with around a quarter using it for more complex tasks such as research (28%) and coding (24%). Advanced use cases are emerging, with around four in ten AI users (43%) automating tasks, while under one in three (29%) are using AI agents (advanced tools that can act autonomously).
However, SMEs cited several challenges to unlocking AI's full potential, including data privacy and security concerns (32%), lack of training and education (31%) and the cost of tools and talent (23%). Over a third (37%) of SMEs have no formal AI policy in place.
Nearly three in ten (27%) SME leaders say they are not confident in their ability to use AI effectively, and those lacking confidence are significantly less likely to adopt new use cases. This is despite almost two-thirds (63%) indicating they are likely to implement at least one new way of using AI tools in the next 90 days.
Welcoming today's SME AI Accelerator, Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation, Niamh Smyth T.D. said: "AI can significantly improve productivity and strengthen the competitiveness of Ireland's SME sector. As we work toward the goals outlined in the recently published National Digital and AI Strategy, accelerating the uptake of digital and AI solutions across businesses is a key focus.
Programmes like this play an important role in making sure companies of all sizes gain the skills and confidence they need to adopt AI quickly and effectively. This will help increase their competitiveness, boost productivity, and contribute to long?term, sustainable economic growth."
Emma Redmond, Head of OpenAI Ireland, said: "The opportunity now is to close the gap between using AI to be efficient and using it to transform. That means upskilling SMEs with the tools and structures to confidently turn everyday usage into real results and ultimately revenue."
Co-sponsored by OpenAI and Booking.com, in partnership with Retail Excellence Ireland, The Innovation Exchange and Dogpatch Labs, the AI Accelerator in Dublin sees over 120 SMEs experience hands-on AI training and advice from OpenAI Academy experts, on topics from increasing sales to managing operations. They learn how to design simple, business-ready ChatGPT workflows, especially around content generation, customer engagement, operations and even experience some light automation. Afterwards, SMEs anywhere in Ireland will have free access to the resources, 'how-to' guides and explainer videos on the OpenAI Academy online.
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.]]> Irish Tech News 04:37 false full 9 ad64bfb2-0496-461b-a344-936564121ad7 These new roles will enable Studio Ulster to meet the growing demand of Virtual Production services, a rapidly expanding area within media production in an already thriving Northern Irish film ecosystem. The Studio's most recent productions include 'No Way Off', a survivor thriller starring Maria Bakalova, David Wilmot, and Andrew Gower. No Way Off is written by Gaby Hull, and produced by Matthew James Wilkinson of the UK's Stigma Films, and Jamie Harvey. Laura Rister is executive producer through her company Esme Grace, which is financing the film alongside Head Gear Films, Northern Ireland Screen, OnSight and Altitude. Head Gear Films packaged the project, with Phil Hunt, Compton Ross and Charlie Kemball as executive producers.
This follows the release of Titanic Sinks Tonight to critical acclaim in December, a docudrama for BBC produced by Stellify Media, the first production to shoot at the studio and one of BBC iPlayer's most popular historical documentaries in 2025.
Studio Ulster is the result of a £72 million investment and partly funded through the Belfast Region City Deal. Developed by Ulster University in partnership with the Belfast Harbour Commission and supported by Northern Ireland Screen, the studio boasts large scale, virtual production facilities with the latest high-end equipment. It is designed to elevate the commercial studio capability for real-time visual effects across the UK and Ireland. It is one of five CoSTAR Screen Labs, part of a UK-wide initiative to lead global innovation in screen technologies all supported by £75.6 million of AHRC funding and £63 million of new industry investment.
Roles are across the Commercial, Stage, Finance, and Operations teams and include senior positions including Virtual Production Producer, Bidding Producer, Strategic Engagement Manager as well as entry and mid-level roles across operations and finance. The immediately posted roles include the following:
Strategic Engagement Manager – The Strategic Engagement Manager will provide senior level executive and project support to the CEO and executive team of Studio Ulster, a high-profile, publicly funded creative technology company and subsidiary of Ulster University. The post holder will operate as a trusted extension of the CEO's office, supporting governance, strategic coordination, stakeholder engagement, compliance documentation and the effective execution of complex, multi-partner activity across industry, government and academia.
Virtual Production Producer – In partnership with key production, creative and technology leadership, this role creates and executes Studio Ulster and the client's vision for Virtual Production in line with the operations teams running and maintaining Studio Ulster's Volumes, as needed.
Bidding Producer – The Bidding Producer is responsible for supporting the Commercial team in sourcing, assessing, and winning new projects; compiling detailed proposals while balancing available resources and creative project needs.
Declan Keeney, CEO said: "This is a rare opportunity to join one of the most advanced virtual production environments anywhere in the world. Studio Ulster is not simply a workplace, it is a living, evolving creative technology ecosystem where world-class talent, cutting-edge research, and global production converge under one roof.
"Demand for our facilities and services has exceeded our ambitious forecasts. As major productions and international partners look to Northern Ireland as a destination for next-generation content creation, we are scaling rapidly. We are now expanding our team to meet that demand and to ensure Studio Ulster continues to set...]]> https://irishtechnews.ie/studio-ulster-expands-due-to-high-demand-for-virtual-production/ These new roles will enable Studio Ulster to meet the growing demand of Virtual Production services, a rapidly expanding area within media production in an already thriving Northern Irish film ecosystem. The Studio's most recent productions include 'No Way Off', a survivor thriller starring Maria Bakalova, David Wilmot, and Andrew Gower. No Way Off is written by Gaby Hull, and produced by Matthew James Wilkinson of the UK's Stigma Films, and Jamie Harvey. Laura Rister is executive producer through her company Esme Grace, which is financing the film alongside Head Gear Films, Northern Ireland Screen, OnSight and Altitude. Head Gear Films packaged the project, with Phil Hunt, Compton Ross and Charlie Kemball as executive producers.
This follows the release of Titanic Sinks Tonight to critical acclaim in December, a docudrama for BBC produced by Stellify Media, the first production to shoot at the studio and one of BBC iPlayer's most popular historical documentaries in 2025.
Studio Ulster is the result of a £72 million investment and partly funded through the Belfast Region City Deal. Developed by Ulster University in partnership with the Belfast Harbour Commission and supported by Northern Ireland Screen, the studio boasts large scale, virtual production facilities with the latest high-end equipment. It is designed to elevate the commercial studio capability for real-time visual effects across the UK and Ireland. It is one of five CoSTAR Screen Labs, part of a UK-wide initiative to lead global innovation in screen technologies all supported by £75.6 million of AHRC funding and £63 million of new industry investment.
Roles are across the Commercial, Stage, Finance, and Operations teams and include senior positions including Virtual Production Producer, Bidding Producer, Strategic Engagement Manager as well as entry and mid-level roles across operations and finance. The immediately posted roles include the following:
Strategic Engagement Manager – The Strategic Engagement Manager will provide senior level executive and project support to the CEO and executive team of Studio Ulster, a high-profile, publicly funded creative technology company and subsidiary of Ulster University. The post holder will operate as a trusted extension of the CEO's office, supporting governance, strategic coordination, stakeholder engagement, compliance documentation and the effective execution of complex, multi-partner activity across industry, government and academia.
Virtual Production Producer – In partnership with key production, creative and technology leadership, this role creates and executes Studio Ulster and the client's vision for Virtual Production in line with the operations teams running and maintaining Studio Ulster's Volumes, as needed.
Bidding Producer – The Bidding Producer is responsible for supporting the Commercial team in sourcing, assessing, and winning new projects; compiling detailed proposals while balancing available resources and creative project needs.
Declan Keeney, CEO said: "This is a rare opportunity to join one of the most advanced virtual production environments anywhere in the world. Studio Ulster is not simply a workplace, it is a living, evolving creative technology ecosystem where world-class talent, cutting-edge research, and global production converge under one roof.
"Demand for our facilities and services has exceeded our ambitious forecasts. As major productions and international partners look to Northern Ireland as a destination for next-generation content creation, we are scaling rapidly. We are now expanding our team to meet that demand and to ensure Studio Ulster continues to set...]]> Fri, 27 Mar 2026 13:00:36 +0000 Studio Ulster expands due to high demand for virtual production These new roles will enable Studio Ulster to meet the growing demand of Virtual Production services, a rapidly expanding area within media production in an already thriving Northern Irish film ecosystem. The Studio's most recent productions include 'No Way Off', a survivor thriller starring Maria Bakalova, David Wilmot, and Andrew Gower. No Way Off is written by Gaby Hull, and produced by Matthew James Wilkinson of the UK's Stigma Films, and Jamie Harvey. Laura Rister is executive producer through her company Esme Grace, which is financing the film alongside Head Gear Films, Northern Ireland Screen, OnSight and Altitude. Head Gear Films packaged the project, with Phil Hunt, Compton Ross and Charlie Kemball as executive producers.
This follows the release of Titanic Sinks Tonight to critical acclaim in December, a docudrama for BBC produced by Stellify Media, the first production to shoot at the studio and one of BBC iPlayer's most popular historical documentaries in 2025.
Studio Ulster is the result of a £72 million investment and partly funded through the Belfast Region City Deal. Developed by Ulster University in partnership with the Belfast Harbour Commission and supported by Northern Ireland Screen, the studio boasts large scale, virtual production facilities with the latest high-end equipment. It is designed to elevate the commercial studio capability for real-time visual effects across the UK and Ireland. It is one of five CoSTAR Screen Labs, part of a UK-wide initiative to lead global innovation in screen technologies all supported by £75.6 million of AHRC funding and £63 million of new industry investment.
Roles are across the Commercial, Stage, Finance, and Operations teams and include senior positions including Virtual Production Producer, Bidding Producer, Strategic Engagement Manager as well as entry and mid-level roles across operations and finance. The immediately posted roles include the following:
Strategic Engagement Manager – The Strategic Engagement Manager will provide senior level executive and project support to the CEO and executive team of Studio Ulster, a high-profile, publicly funded creative technology company and subsidiary of Ulster University. The post holder will operate as a trusted extension of the CEO's office, supporting governance, strategic coordination, stakeholder engagement, compliance documentation and the effective execution of complex, multi-partner activity across industry, government and academia.
Virtual Production Producer – In partnership with key production, creative and technology leadership, this role creates and executes Studio Ulster and the client's vision for Virtual Production in line with the operations teams running and maintaining Studio Ulster's Volumes, as needed.
Bidding Producer – The Bidding Producer is responsible for supporting the Commercial team in sourcing, assessing, and winning new projects; compiling detailed proposals while balancing available resources and creative project needs.
Declan Keeney, CEO said: "This is a rare opportunity to join one of the most advanced virtual production environments anywhere in the world. Studio Ulster is not simply a workplace, it is a living, evolving creative technology ecosystem where world-class talent, cutting-edge research, and global production converge under one roof.
"Demand for our facilities and services has exceeded our ambitious forecasts. As major productions and international partners look to Northern Ireland as a destination for next-generation content creation, we are scaling rapidly. We are now expanding our team to meet that demand and to ensure Studio Ulster continues to set...]]> Ronan Leonard 05:26 false full 8 71a822ec-5166-4aae-b525-33e1e69a5afe Team members Peter McHugh and Rory Tobin from UCD's Master's of Energy Systems Engineering claimed first place for their data-driven model to reduce offshore wind dispatch down by optimally siting and sizing flexible energy storage systems, focusing on battery energy storage and hydrogen.
With a top prize of €12,000 (€6,000 for the winning student team and €6,000 for the student's third-level institute), this year's theme asked students to explore "Opportunities and challenges in accelerating offshore wind potential."
The award was presented to the winners by a panel of expert judges – Louise O'Flanagan, Head of Asset Management and Engineering at EirGrid, James Ives, CEO of XOCEAN, Dee Kehoe, Continuous Professional Development Director at Engineers Ireland, Dr. Brendan Cahill, Programme Manager for Innovation & International Research at SEAI and Dr. David Tosh, Lecturer in Terrestrial Ecology and Course Director at Ulster University.
The CleanerGrid competition run by EirGrid, the operator and developer of Ireland's electricity grid, aims to foster innovation and creativity by encouraging students to showcase their skills in solving critical energy challenges, with a focus on sustainability, efficiency and clean energy technologies.
Entrants were asked to present innovative, practical solutions that address both the opportunities and obstacles in developing Ireland's offshore electricity infrastructure.
Among the ideas put forward by the three competing teams of finalists included the use of autonomous underwater vehicles and a dashboard to monitor wind turbine outages off Ireland's coast. These teams were selected from a strong field of thirty-two submissions, involving 115 students across nine higher-level institutions.
Following the event, the students spoke positively of their experience.
"Offshore is a relatively young industry in Ireland, so to be able to learn more about it has been really interesting. We might have done a lecture or two in our course before, but we understand the landscape much better now," said McHugh.
"We started looking at the project back in October, so we had plenty of time to think about the prompt and decide what we wanted to do."
Tobin added, "There is a big drive to increase the number of renewables on our grid, and our project looked to address how that can be achieved successfully with offshore. I really enjoyed the process, and energy is an industry I would be interested in working in, in the future."
Congratulating all the teams on an engaging series of presentations, EirGrid Chief Transformation, Technology and Offshore Officer Liam Ryan said, "This is our third annual CleanerGrid completion and year-on-year it is fantastic to see the projects designed by third-level students. Offshore wind has the potential for transformative opportunities for Ireland and is essential for strengthening our energy security, reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and meeting our climate targets. Bringing students and young people with us on that journey is key.
"Through our third-level institutions, these students are immersed in the latest cutting-edge innovations, and their research and fresh thinking are more valuable than ever, as we move toward delivering Government targets for a sustainable, resilient, renewable energy system. We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who participated in the competition and to the three teams who presented in today's final."
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now ...]]> https://irishtechnews.ie/students-prize-eirgrids-cleanergrid-competition/ Team members Peter McHugh and Rory Tobin from UCD's Master's of Energy Systems Engineering claimed first place for their data-driven model to reduce offshore wind dispatch down by optimally siting and sizing flexible energy storage systems, focusing on battery energy storage and hydrogen.
With a top prize of €12,000 (€6,000 for the winning student team and €6,000 for the student's third-level institute), this year's theme asked students to explore "Opportunities and challenges in accelerating offshore wind potential."
The award was presented to the winners by a panel of expert judges – Louise O'Flanagan, Head of Asset Management and Engineering at EirGrid, James Ives, CEO of XOCEAN, Dee Kehoe, Continuous Professional Development Director at Engineers Ireland, Dr. Brendan Cahill, Programme Manager for Innovation & International Research at SEAI and Dr. David Tosh, Lecturer in Terrestrial Ecology and Course Director at Ulster University.
The CleanerGrid competition run by EirGrid, the operator and developer of Ireland's electricity grid, aims to foster innovation and creativity by encouraging students to showcase their skills in solving critical energy challenges, with a focus on sustainability, efficiency and clean energy technologies.
Entrants were asked to present innovative, practical solutions that address both the opportunities and obstacles in developing Ireland's offshore electricity infrastructure.
Among the ideas put forward by the three competing teams of finalists included the use of autonomous underwater vehicles and a dashboard to monitor wind turbine outages off Ireland's coast. These teams were selected from a strong field of thirty-two submissions, involving 115 students across nine higher-level institutions.
Following the event, the students spoke positively of their experience.
"Offshore is a relatively young industry in Ireland, so to be able to learn more about it has been really interesting. We might have done a lecture or two in our course before, but we understand the landscape much better now," said McHugh.
"We started looking at the project back in October, so we had plenty of time to think about the prompt and decide what we wanted to do."
Tobin added, "There is a big drive to increase the number of renewables on our grid, and our project looked to address how that can be achieved successfully with offshore. I really enjoyed the process, and energy is an industry I would be interested in working in, in the future."
Congratulating all the teams on an engaging series of presentations, EirGrid Chief Transformation, Technology and Offshore Officer Liam Ryan said, "This is our third annual CleanerGrid completion and year-on-year it is fantastic to see the projects designed by third-level students. Offshore wind has the potential for transformative opportunities for Ireland and is essential for strengthening our energy security, reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and meeting our climate targets. Bringing students and young people with us on that journey is key.
"Through our third-level institutions, these students are immersed in the latest cutting-edge innovations, and their research and fresh thinking are more valuable than ever, as we move toward delivering Government targets for a sustainable, resilient, renewable energy system. We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who participated in the competition and to the three teams who presented in today's final."
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now ...]]> Fri, 27 Mar 2026 12:00:27 +0000 Dublin university students claim top €12,000 prize at EirGrid's CleanerGrid competition Team members Peter McHugh and Rory Tobin from UCD's Master's of Energy Systems Engineerin...]]> Team members Peter McHugh and Rory Tobin from UCD's Master's of Energy Systems Engineering claimed first place for their data-driven model to reduce offshore wind dispatch down by optimally siting and sizing flexible energy storage systems, focusing on battery energy storage and hydrogen.
With a top prize of €12,000 (€6,000 for the winning student team and €6,000 for the student's third-level institute), this year's theme asked students to explore "Opportunities and challenges in accelerating offshore wind potential."
The award was presented to the winners by a panel of expert judges – Louise O'Flanagan, Head of Asset Management and Engineering at EirGrid, James Ives, CEO of XOCEAN, Dee Kehoe, Continuous Professional Development Director at Engineers Ireland, Dr. Brendan Cahill, Programme Manager for Innovation & International Research at SEAI and Dr. David Tosh, Lecturer in Terrestrial Ecology and Course Director at Ulster University.
The CleanerGrid competition run by EirGrid, the operator and developer of Ireland's electricity grid, aims to foster innovation and creativity by encouraging students to showcase their skills in solving critical energy challenges, with a focus on sustainability, efficiency and clean energy technologies.
Entrants were asked to present innovative, practical solutions that address both the opportunities and obstacles in developing Ireland's offshore electricity infrastructure.
Among the ideas put forward by the three competing teams of finalists included the use of autonomous underwater vehicles and a dashboard to monitor wind turbine outages off Ireland's coast. These teams were selected from a strong field of thirty-two submissions, involving 115 students across nine higher-level institutions.
Following the event, the students spoke positively of their experience.
"Offshore is a relatively young industry in Ireland, so to be able to learn more about it has been really interesting. We might have done a lecture or two in our course before, but we understand the landscape much better now," said McHugh.
"We started looking at the project back in October, so we had plenty of time to think about the prompt and decide what we wanted to do."
Tobin added, "There is a big drive to increase the number of renewables on our grid, and our project looked to address how that can be achieved successfully with offshore. I really enjoyed the process, and energy is an industry I would be interested in working in, in the future."
Congratulating all the teams on an engaging series of presentations, EirGrid Chief Transformation, Technology and Offshore Officer Liam Ryan said, "This is our third annual CleanerGrid completion and year-on-year it is fantastic to see the projects designed by third-level students. Offshore wind has the potential for transformative opportunities for Ireland and is essential for strengthening our energy security, reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and meeting our climate targets. Bringing students and young people with us on that journey is key.
"Through our third-level institutions, these students are immersed in the latest cutting-edge innovations, and their research and fresh thinking are more valuable than ever, as we move toward delivering Government targets for a sustainable, resilient, renewable energy system. We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who participated in the competition and to the three teams who presented in today's final."
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now ...]]> Irish Tech News 04:24 false full 7 dbd60abe-fcff-43e6-8705-d04cc7cfabcd The opening, attended by Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke TD and Minister of State for Trade Promotion, AI and Digital Transformation Niamh Smyth TD, represents a significant inward investment in Ireland's economy and positions Dublin as a global premier hub for enterprise AI innovation.
Alongside the new headquarters opening, Version 1 announced 250 new jobs across its operations. The company also recently shared plans at the UK-Ireland Summit to add 400 jobs in Northern Ireland following engagement with Invest NI. These investments underscore Version 1's commitment to building and retaining critical AI skills locally and strengthening the competitive advantage of the markets it serves across Ireland, the United Kingdom, mainland Europe, India and North America.
The new facility goes beyond a traditional corporate headquarters. The AI Studio has been designed as a space to harness the power of technology by co-creating solutions to complex problems alongside customers from all sectors. It will also be available to schools, universities and community groups in an effort to democratise technology, reflecting the company's view that AI must carry a social licence and be developed responsibly.
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke TD, said:
"Version 1 is a blueprint for how Ireland creates, retains and scales world-class technology companies. This new headquarters represents significant inward investment in Ireland's economy and talent base and cements our position as a premier hub for AI and business transformation services at a time when nations are competing for AI leadership. The creation of 250 new jobs is a strong vote of confidence in Ireland's skilled workforce and innovation ecosystem, and I wish the team at Version 1 all the very best."
Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation Niamh Smyth TD, said:
"Ireland's ambition is to be at the forefront of responsible AI adoption. It is fantastic to see homegrown companies like Version 1 leading the way. Version 1's new AI Studio demonstrates what is possible when an Irish enterprise combines deep technical expertise with a genuine commitment to community partnership and skills development. This investment will benefit not only Version 1's global customers but also the broader Irish economy and society. I warmly welcome Version 1's announcement of 250 new jobs, a landmark commitment to Irish talent and a powerful signal of confidence in Ireland's growing AI ecosystem."
Roop Singh, Chief Executive Officer of Version 1, said: "This is more than an office opening. It is a statement of intent. Thirty years ago, Version 1 was founded in Dublin with a commitment to making technology deliver extraordinary business outcomes and citizen welfare. That commitment has not changed, but the scale and ambition have. Our principal belief is that AI enhances human capability; it does not replace it. This studio is where we will prove that, working alongside our customers and communities to build AI solutions that are practical, governed and grounded in real business outcomes."
Enterprise Ireland has worked very closely with Version 1 over a number of years to support its international growth journey.
Kevin Sherry, Executive Director, Enterprise Ireland, said:
"Version 1's continued growth and investment in Ireland is a powerful example of an Irish company winning on the global stage. The opening of this AI Studio positions Ireland as a serious centre for AI innovation and reinforces our ability to develop and retain world-class technology talent. Supporting Irish-owned companies to achieve greater scale is a priorit...]]> https://irishtechnews.ie/version-1-new-dublin-headquarters-250-local-jobs/ The opening, attended by Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke TD and Minister of State for Trade Promotion, AI and Digital Transformation Niamh Smyth TD, represents a significant inward investment in Ireland's economy and positions Dublin as a global premier hub for enterprise AI innovation.
Alongside the new headquarters opening, Version 1 announced 250 new jobs across its operations. The company also recently shared plans at the UK-Ireland Summit to add 400 jobs in Northern Ireland following engagement with Invest NI. These investments underscore Version 1's commitment to building and retaining critical AI skills locally and strengthening the competitive advantage of the markets it serves across Ireland, the United Kingdom, mainland Europe, India and North America.
The new facility goes beyond a traditional corporate headquarters. The AI Studio has been designed as a space to harness the power of technology by co-creating solutions to complex problems alongside customers from all sectors. It will also be available to schools, universities and community groups in an effort to democratise technology, reflecting the company's view that AI must carry a social licence and be developed responsibly.
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke TD, said:
"Version 1 is a blueprint for how Ireland creates, retains and scales world-class technology companies. This new headquarters represents significant inward investment in Ireland's economy and talent base and cements our position as a premier hub for AI and business transformation services at a time when nations are competing for AI leadership. The creation of 250 new jobs is a strong vote of confidence in Ireland's skilled workforce and innovation ecosystem, and I wish the team at Version 1 all the very best."
Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation Niamh Smyth TD, said:
"Ireland's ambition is to be at the forefront of responsible AI adoption. It is fantastic to see homegrown companies like Version 1 leading the way. Version 1's new AI Studio demonstrates what is possible when an Irish enterprise combines deep technical expertise with a genuine commitment to community partnership and skills development. This investment will benefit not only Version 1's global customers but also the broader Irish economy and society. I warmly welcome Version 1's announcement of 250 new jobs, a landmark commitment to Irish talent and a powerful signal of confidence in Ireland's growing AI ecosystem."
Roop Singh, Chief Executive Officer of Version 1, said: "This is more than an office opening. It is a statement of intent. Thirty years ago, Version 1 was founded in Dublin with a commitment to making technology deliver extraordinary business outcomes and citizen welfare. That commitment has not changed, but the scale and ambition have. Our principal belief is that AI enhances human capability; it does not replace it. This studio is where we will prove that, working alongside our customers and communities to build AI solutions that are practical, governed and grounded in real business outcomes."
Enterprise Ireland has worked very closely with Version 1 over a number of years to support its international growth journey.
Kevin Sherry, Executive Director, Enterprise Ireland, said:
"Version 1's continued growth and investment in Ireland is a powerful example of an Irish company winning on the global stage. The opening of this AI Studio positions Ireland as a serious centre for AI innovation and reinforces our ability to develop and retain world-class technology talent. Supporting Irish-owned companies to achieve greater scale is a priorit...]]> Fri, 27 Mar 2026 10:30:22 +0000 Version 1 Opens New Dublin Headquarters and AI Studio and announces 250 local jobs The opening, attended by Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke TD and Minister of State for Trade Promotion, AI and Digital Transformation Niamh Smyth TD, represents a significant inward investment in Ireland's economy and positions Dublin as a global premier hub for enterprise AI innovation.
Alongside the new headquarters opening, Version 1 announced 250 new jobs across its operations. The company also recently shared plans at the UK-Ireland Summit to add 400 jobs in Northern Ireland following engagement with Invest NI. These investments underscore Version 1's commitment to building and retaining critical AI skills locally and strengthening the competitive advantage of the markets it serves across Ireland, the United Kingdom, mainland Europe, India and North America.
The new facility goes beyond a traditional corporate headquarters. The AI Studio has been designed as a space to harness the power of technology by co-creating solutions to complex problems alongside customers from all sectors. It will also be available to schools, universities and community groups in an effort to democratise technology, reflecting the company's view that AI must carry a social licence and be developed responsibly.
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke TD, said:
"Version 1 is a blueprint for how Ireland creates, retains and scales world-class technology companies. This new headquarters represents significant inward investment in Ireland's economy and talent base and cements our position as a premier hub for AI and business transformation services at a time when nations are competing for AI leadership. The creation of 250 new jobs is a strong vote of confidence in Ireland's skilled workforce and innovation ecosystem, and I wish the team at Version 1 all the very best."
Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation Niamh Smyth TD, said:
"Ireland's ambition is to be at the forefront of responsible AI adoption. It is fantastic to see homegrown companies like Version 1 leading the way. Version 1's new AI Studio demonstrates what is possible when an Irish enterprise combines deep technical expertise with a genuine commitment to community partnership and skills development. This investment will benefit not only Version 1's global customers but also the broader Irish economy and society. I warmly welcome Version 1's announcement of 250 new jobs, a landmark commitment to Irish talent and a powerful signal of confidence in Ireland's growing AI ecosystem."
Roop Singh, Chief Executive Officer of Version 1, said: "This is more than an office opening. It is a statement of intent. Thirty years ago, Version 1 was founded in Dublin with a commitment to making technology deliver extraordinary business outcomes and citizen welfare. That commitment has not changed, but the scale and ambition have. Our principal belief is that AI enhances human capability; it does not replace it. This studio is where we will prove that, working alongside our customers and communities to build AI solutions that are practical, governed and grounded in real business outcomes."
Enterprise Ireland has worked very closely with Version 1 over a number of years to support its international growth journey.
Kevin Sherry, Executive Director, Enterprise Ireland, said:
"Version 1's continued growth and investment in Ireland is a powerful example of an Irish company winning on the global stage. The opening of this AI Studio positions Ireland as a serious centre for AI innovation and reinforces our ability to develop and retain world-class technology talent. Supporting Irish-owned companies to achieve greater scale is a priorit...]]> Irish Tech News 04:54 false full 6 bfb69b27-324e-438a-a823-79a317c1ec4d The company, which already has operations in Oslo, Sweden, Finland and New York, is positioning the Irish move as a significant step in growing its provision of AI-powered solutions across Europe, with plans to hire 30 people in Dublin.
Speaking about this latest development, Maged Helmy, co-founder and CEO, said: "As we expand our international footprint, we're excited to establish our presence in Ireland, starting with 30 new hires planned in the first year as we scale and invest in one of Europe's most dynamic technology and professional services markets. With operations already across Denmark, Oslo, Sweden, Finland, Palo Alto, and New York, Dublin is the natural next step in our growth."
Newcode enables firms and enterprises to run intelligent, auditable, and context-aware workflows across their legal operations. The company is pitching its agentic AI platform as a digital co-worker for legal teams that sits between a firm's systems, data and applications. Lawyers describe the workflow and define the outcome, and Newcode's AI agents handle the reasoning and execution required to deliver the work. The company says that approach sets it apart from more conventional legal AI tools.
Agentic AI refers to autonomous systems that can think, plan, and act independently to achieve complex, multi-step goals with minimal human supervision.]]> https://irishtechnews.ie/newcode-establish-dublin-presence-create-30-jobs/ The company, which already has operations in Oslo, Sweden, Finland and New York, is positioning the Irish move as a significant step in growing its provision of AI-powered solutions across Europe, with plans to hire 30 people in Dublin.
Speaking about this latest development, Maged Helmy, co-founder and CEO, said: "As we expand our international footprint, we're excited to establish our presence in Ireland, starting with 30 new hires planned in the first year as we scale and invest in one of Europe's most dynamic technology and professional services markets. With operations already across Denmark, Oslo, Sweden, Finland, Palo Alto, and New York, Dublin is the natural next step in our growth."
Newcode enables firms and enterprises to run intelligent, auditable, and context-aware workflows across their legal operations. The company is pitching its agentic AI platform as a digital co-worker for legal teams that sits between a firm's systems, data and applications. Lawyers describe the workflow and define the outcome, and Newcode's AI agents handle the reasoning and execution required to deliver the work. The company says that approach sets it apart from more conventional legal AI tools.
Agentic AI refers to autonomous systems that can think, plan, and act independently to achieve complex, multi-step goals with minimal human supervision.]]> Fri, 27 Mar 2026 09:00:57 +0000 Newcode to establish Dublin presence and create 30 jobs The company, which already has operations...]]> The company, which already has operations in Oslo, Sweden, Finland and New York, is positioning the Irish move as a significant step in growing its provision of AI-powered solutions across Europe, with plans to hire 30 people in Dublin.
Speaking about this latest development, Maged Helmy, co-founder and CEO, said: "As we expand our international footprint, we're excited to establish our presence in Ireland, starting with 30 new hires planned in the first year as we scale and invest in one of Europe's most dynamic technology and professional services markets. With operations already across Denmark, Oslo, Sweden, Finland, Palo Alto, and New York, Dublin is the natural next step in our growth."
Newcode enables firms and enterprises to run intelligent, auditable, and context-aware workflows across their legal operations. The company is pitching its agentic AI platform as a digital co-worker for legal teams that sits between a firm's systems, data and applications. Lawyers describe the workflow and define the outcome, and Newcode's AI agents handle the reasoning and execution required to deliver the work. The company says that approach sets it apart from more conventional legal AI tools.
Agentic AI refers to autonomous systems that can think, plan, and act independently to achieve complex, multi-step goals with minimal human supervision.]]> Irish Tech News 01:42 false full 5 edc72916-0ec6-4be5-8307-165357b1a610 Unstoppable women. We build. We lead. We win, at Techstars Startup Weekend
By Billy Linehan
Techstars Startup Weekend Women Dublin 2026 took place from 20–22 March at Baseline Community in Dublin, bringing together more than 70 participants for an intensive 54-hour startup programme focused on building early-stage ideas. This was my first visit to Baseline Communities, an independent enterprise workspace in Dublin.
The event was opened by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Ray McAdam.
It followed the standard Techstars Startup Weekend format. Participants pitched ideas, formed teams, developed concepts with mentor support, and presented to a judging panel at the end of the weekend.
Early-Stage Ideas Focus on Real Problems
The range of ideas this year was broad but grounded in identifiable problems. Teams were working on concepts spanning electric vehicle support tools, mental health applications, ADHD support platforms, and solutions linked to local and agricultural needs.
Latifat Abisola Olagoke, working on a mental wellness application, described the value of the weekend in moving from idea to execution:
"I was excited for my idea to be selected and to have the chance to really flesh it out and pitch it."
Dwiparna Pal, a software engineer developing a platform to connect entrepreneurs and investors, highlighted both the intensity and the energy of the format:
"There's a lot I'm taking away from this, particularly what can be done within a short space of time. The energy here is very high."
Mentoring and Practical Input
Mentoring plays a central role in the Startup Weekend model. Structured input over a short period allows teams to test assumptions, clarify their value proposition, and improve how they communicate their ideas. In this case, teams were generally open to challenge and willing to iterate quickly.
Participants also heard from experienced contributors across the ecosystem, such as leaders of female entrepreneurship initiatives including Máirín Murray of TechFoundHer, and Denise McQuaid of Awaken Angels.
AI, Judging and Emerging Themes
Volunteer Deirdre McCarthy observed that hackathons now face a new challenge:
"All hackathons now face the AI challenge, whereby participants can produce really impressive sounding business plans and visually appealing pitch decks. The judges challenge was to delve a little deeper to determine whether the projections were realistic and could withstand some well-informed questioning."
In this case, the judging panel brought experience across sustainability, design, innovation and technology, which was evident in the depth and focus of the questions. The strongest teams used this process well, demonstrating domain knowledge and adding substance beyond what was presented in their initial pitches.
A number of recurring themes emerged across the weekend. Several teams addressed challenges linked to an always-on, resource-constrained environment, including burnout, ADHD support, mental and physical performance, and behavioural patterns such as impulsive spending. Others focused on structural issues such as housing constraints and overtourism.
Alongside these challenges, teams also identified new opportunities, including gender-specific health approaches, support tools for electric vehicle maintenance, and personalised, AI-enabled financial services.
Winning Teams Announced in Dublin
The winning teams reflected a mix of technical and social problem-solving.
First place went to EV Toolkit, developed by Lisa Ruttledge, Victoria Miller, Ciara Close and Claire Cui, a platform designed to support independent mechanics with the tools, data and diagnostics required to repair electric vehicles without relying on main dealerships.
Second place was awarded to Buddy Bee, a peer-support platform aimed at helping adults with ADHD achieve meaningful goals through structured accountability and community support.
Third place went to Spherio, an AI-driven platform offering per...]]> https://irishtechnews.ie/techstars-startup-weekend-women-ideas-to-action/ Unstoppable women. We build. We lead. We win, at Techstars Startup Weekend
By Billy Linehan
Techstars Startup Weekend Women Dublin 2026 took place from 20–22 March at Baseline Community in Dublin, bringing together more than 70 participants for an intensive 54-hour startup programme focused on building early-stage ideas. This was my first visit to Baseline Communities, an independent enterprise workspace in Dublin.
The event was opened by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Ray McAdam.
It followed the standard Techstars Startup Weekend format. Participants pitched ideas, formed teams, developed concepts with mentor support, and presented to a judging panel at the end of the weekend.
Early-Stage Ideas Focus on Real Problems
The range of ideas this year was broad but grounded in identifiable problems. Teams were working on concepts spanning electric vehicle support tools, mental health applications, ADHD support platforms, and solutions linked to local and agricultural needs.
Latifat Abisola Olagoke, working on a mental wellness application, described the value of the weekend in moving from idea to execution:
"I was excited for my idea to be selected and to have the chance to really flesh it out and pitch it."
Dwiparna Pal, a software engineer developing a platform to connect entrepreneurs and investors, highlighted both the intensity and the energy of the format:
"There's a lot I'm taking away from this, particularly what can be done within a short space of time. The energy here is very high."
Mentoring and Practical Input
Mentoring plays a central role in the Startup Weekend model. Structured input over a short period allows teams to test assumptions, clarify their value proposition, and improve how they communicate their ideas. In this case, teams were generally open to challenge and willing to iterate quickly.
Participants also heard from experienced contributors across the ecosystem, such as leaders of female entrepreneurship initiatives including Máirín Murray of TechFoundHer, and Denise McQuaid of Awaken Angels.
AI, Judging and Emerging Themes
Volunteer Deirdre McCarthy observed that hackathons now face a new challenge:
"All hackathons now face the AI challenge, whereby participants can produce really impressive sounding business plans and visually appealing pitch decks. The judges challenge was to delve a little deeper to determine whether the projections were realistic and could withstand some well-informed questioning."
In this case, the judging panel brought experience across sustainability, design, innovation and technology, which was evident in the depth and focus of the questions. The strongest teams used this process well, demonstrating domain knowledge and adding substance beyond what was presented in their initial pitches.
A number of recurring themes emerged across the weekend. Several teams addressed challenges linked to an always-on, resource-constrained environment, including burnout, ADHD support, mental and physical performance, and behavioural patterns such as impulsive spending. Others focused on structural issues such as housing constraints and overtourism.
Alongside these challenges, teams also identified new opportunities, including gender-specific health approaches, support tools for electric vehicle maintenance, and personalised, AI-enabled financial services.
Winning Teams Announced in Dublin
The winning teams reflected a mix of technical and social problem-solving.
First place went to EV Toolkit, developed by Lisa Ruttledge, Victoria Miller, Ciara Close and Claire Cui, a platform designed to support independent mechanics with the tools, data and diagnostics required to repair electric vehicles without relying on main dealerships.
Second place was awarded to Buddy Bee, a peer-support platform aimed at helping adults with ADHD achieve meaningful goals through structured accountability and community support.
Third place went to Spherio, an AI-driven platform offering per...]]> Fri, 27 Mar 2026 08:00:17 +0000 Techstars Startup Weekend Women Dublin 2026: From Ideas to Action in 54 Hours Unstoppable women. We build. We lead. We win, at Techstars Startup Weekend
By Billy Linehan
Techstars Startup Weekend Women Dublin 2026 took place from 20–22 March at Baseline Community in Dublin, bringing together more than 7...]]> Unstoppable women. We build. We lead. We win, at Techstars Startup Weekend
By Billy Linehan
Techstars Startup Weekend Women Dublin 2026 took place from 20–22 March at Baseline Community in Dublin, bringing together more than 70 participants for an intensive 54-hour startup programme focused on building early-stage ideas. This was my first visit to Baseline Communities, an independent enterprise workspace in Dublin.
The event was opened by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Ray McAdam.
It followed the standard Techstars Startup Weekend format. Participants pitched ideas, formed teams, developed concepts with mentor support, and presented to a judging panel at the end of the weekend.
Early-Stage Ideas Focus on Real Problems
The range of ideas this year was broad but grounded in identifiable problems. Teams were working on concepts spanning electric vehicle support tools, mental health applications, ADHD support platforms, and solutions linked to local and agricultural needs.
Latifat Abisola Olagoke, working on a mental wellness application, described the value of the weekend in moving from idea to execution:
"I was excited for my idea to be selected and to have the chance to really flesh it out and pitch it."
Dwiparna Pal, a software engineer developing a platform to connect entrepreneurs and investors, highlighted both the intensity and the energy of the format:
"There's a lot I'm taking away from this, particularly what can be done within a short space of time. The energy here is very high."
Mentoring and Practical Input
Mentoring plays a central role in the Startup Weekend model. Structured input over a short period allows teams to test assumptions, clarify their value proposition, and improve how they communicate their ideas. In this case, teams were generally open to challenge and willing to iterate quickly.
Participants also heard from experienced contributors across the ecosystem, such as leaders of female entrepreneurship initiatives including Máirín Murray of TechFoundHer, and Denise McQuaid of Awaken Angels.
AI, Judging and Emerging Themes
Volunteer Deirdre McCarthy observed that hackathons now face a new challenge:
"All hackathons now face the AI challenge, whereby participants can produce really impressive sounding business plans and visually appealing pitch decks. The judges challenge was to delve a little deeper to determine whether the projections were realistic and could withstand some well-informed questioning."
In this case, the judging panel brought experience across sustainability, design, innovation and technology, which was evident in the depth and focus of the questions. The strongest teams used this process well, demonstrating domain knowledge and adding substance beyond what was presented in their initial pitches.
A number of recurring themes emerged across the weekend. Several teams addressed challenges linked to an always-on, resource-constrained environment, including burnout, ADHD support, mental and physical performance, and behavioural patterns such as impulsive spending. Others focused on structural issues such as housing constraints and overtourism.
Alongside these challenges, teams also identified new opportunities, including gender-specific health approaches, support tools for electric vehicle maintenance, and personalised, AI-enabled financial services.
Winning Teams Announced in Dublin
The winning teams reflected a mix of technical and social problem-solving.
First place went to EV Toolkit, developed by Lisa Ruttledge, Victoria Miller, Ciara Close and Claire Cui, a platform designed to support independent mechanics with the tools, data and diagnostics required to repair electric vehicles without relying on main dealerships.
Second place was awarded to Buddy Bee, a peer-support platform aimed at helping adults with ADHD achieve meaningful goals through structured accountability and community support.
Third place went to Spherio, an AI-driven platform offering per...]]> Billy Linehan 07:49 false full 4 2564e798-9068-4eff-8568-d0b6b2aa1cae Organisations in Europe are under pressure to adopt AI at speed, all the while operating in a highly complex and ever-changing regulatory and risk environment. Even now, the EU's AI Act is shifting the landscape for organisations operating in the region, with Article 72 of the AI Act coming into force and creating new regulations on the monitoring of high-risk AI systems. For these organisations, scaling AI safely in this complex regulatory environment is a constant challenge. They face the risk of fragmenting systems, as well as losing visibility of how AI is used or introducing unmanaged risk.
The real opportunity is not to be found in buying new yet disconnected AI tools, but when AI is embedded directly into secure, governed workflows from the very start. For those facing regulation headaches, integrating governance tools into a workflow alongside data is becoming increasingly vital. Forward-thinking companies are even adopting a predictive approach when it comes to AI, anticipating risks and regulatory changes and mitigating them before they occur.
Building AI that lasts
Taking a more thoughtful, measured approach pays off when it comes to AI. Companies who hold back from 'rushing in' to AI and adopt a more thoughtful approach can actually accelerate faster over the medium to long term. Imagine it as something like an 'AI factory' – business leaders need to qualify which processes will benefit, assess the 'right' level of AI, then deploy that within governed workflows. An important part of that is 'qualifying out' which processes are not suitable due to AI due to factors such as risk. Having a data model and AI integrated deeply into governed workflows means that governance can scale without fragmenting. In today's world, this is crucial.
The EU AI act has made it urgent to find a path between embracing AI too rapidly and feeling paralysed by fears around risk and compliance. Over-cautious companies are set to fall behind, but rushing blindly into AI carries the risk of creating governance debt: organisations without adequate governance cannot demonstrate compliance, and will not be able to scale and reap the benefits of AI.
Many organisations are still stuck in this gulf between responsiveness and responsibility: business leaders need responsiveness from generative AI, delivering insights rapidly, but also must keep regulators happy by behaving responsibly. Having workflow-native AI means that requirements such as transparency and oversight in the EU AI Act become architectural, with governance built in, rather than bolted on, after the fact, to disparate AI tools.
Combatting future risk
As I see it: reactive AI governance is a hindrance; proactive AI governance is an accelerator to business value. The next challenge is operationalising this through what I call 'governed acceleration'. With new AI regulations emerging in different regions and adherence reaching across borders, forward-thinking organisations are turning to AI tools themselves to be prepared for this evolving governance landscape. Chosen correctly, the right AI technology can help organisations stay ahead of the systems that govern AI, by enforcing compliance, for example. This means that the right technology choices deliver a self-reinforcing, circular advantage. Governance is growing in importance, with the role of the CIO now encompassing issues such as model training, algorithmic bias and organisational culture.
As a result, a clear governance structure is key. There should be a single, well-defined owner of AI governance, be that the legal department, the chief data officer, the CIO or a chief AI officer. This person or team takes responsibility to implement consistent frameworks around third-party AI tools, assessing and managing risks and regulatory compliance. This enables organisations to innovate quickly and confidently, while maintaining control.
When governance becomes invisible
W...]]> https://irishtechnews.ie/the-regulation-dilemma-balancing-ai-innovation-with-european-complexity/ Organisations in Europe are under pressure to adopt AI at speed, all the while operating in a highly complex and ever-changing regulatory and risk environment. Even now, the EU's AI Act is shifting the landscape for organisations operating in the region, with Article 72 of the AI Act coming into force and creating new regulations on the monitoring of high-risk AI systems. For these organisations, scaling AI safely in this complex regulatory environment is a constant challenge. They face the risk of fragmenting systems, as well as losing visibility of how AI is used or introducing unmanaged risk.
The real opportunity is not to be found in buying new yet disconnected AI tools, but when AI is embedded directly into secure, governed workflows from the very start. For those facing regulation headaches, integrating governance tools into a workflow alongside data is becoming increasingly vital. Forward-thinking companies are even adopting a predictive approach when it comes to AI, anticipating risks and regulatory changes and mitigating them before they occur.
Building AI that lasts
Taking a more thoughtful, measured approach pays off when it comes to AI. Companies who hold back from 'rushing in' to AI and adopt a more thoughtful approach can actually accelerate faster over the medium to long term. Imagine it as something like an 'AI factory' – business leaders need to qualify which processes will benefit, assess the 'right' level of AI, then deploy that within governed workflows. An important part of that is 'qualifying out' which processes are not suitable due to AI due to factors such as risk. Having a data model and AI integrated deeply into governed workflows means that governance can scale without fragmenting. In today's world, this is crucial.
The EU AI act has made it urgent to find a path between embracing AI too rapidly and feeling paralysed by fears around risk and compliance. Over-cautious companies are set to fall behind, but rushing blindly into AI carries the risk of creating governance debt: organisations without adequate governance cannot demonstrate compliance, and will not be able to scale and reap the benefits of AI.
Many organisations are still stuck in this gulf between responsiveness and responsibility: business leaders need responsiveness from generative AI, delivering insights rapidly, but also must keep regulators happy by behaving responsibly. Having workflow-native AI means that requirements such as transparency and oversight in the EU AI Act become architectural, with governance built in, rather than bolted on, after the fact, to disparate AI tools.
Combatting future risk
As I see it: reactive AI governance is a hindrance; proactive AI governance is an accelerator to business value. The next challenge is operationalising this through what I call 'governed acceleration'. With new AI regulations emerging in different regions and adherence reaching across borders, forward-thinking organisations are turning to AI tools themselves to be prepared for this evolving governance landscape. Chosen correctly, the right AI technology can help organisations stay ahead of the systems that govern AI, by enforcing compliance, for example. This means that the right technology choices deliver a self-reinforcing, circular advantage. Governance is growing in importance, with the role of the CIO now encompassing issues such as model training, algorithmic bias and organisational culture.
As a result, a clear governance structure is key. There should be a single, well-defined owner of AI governance, be that the legal department, the chief data officer, the CIO or a chief AI officer. This person or team takes responsibility to implement consistent frameworks around third-party AI tools, assessing and managing risks and regulatory compliance. This enables organisations to innovate quickly and confidently, while maintaining control.
When governance becomes invisible
W...]]> Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:00:30 +0000 The Regulation Dilemma: Balancing AI Innovation with European Complexity Organisations in Europe are under pressure to adopt AI at speed, all the while operating in a highly complex and ever-changing regulatory and risk environment. Even now, the EU's AI Act is s...]]> Organisations in Europe are under pressure to adopt AI at speed, all the while operating in a highly complex and ever-changing regulatory and risk environment. Even now, the EU's AI Act is shifting the landscape for organisations operating in the region, with Article 72 of the AI Act coming into force and creating new regulations on the monitoring of high-risk AI systems. For these organisations, scaling AI safely in this complex regulatory environment is a constant challenge. They face the risk of fragmenting systems, as well as losing visibility of how AI is used or introducing unmanaged risk.
The real opportunity is not to be found in buying new yet disconnected AI tools, but when AI is embedded directly into secure, governed workflows from the very start. For those facing regulation headaches, integrating governance tools into a workflow alongside data is becoming increasingly vital. Forward-thinking companies are even adopting a predictive approach when it comes to AI, anticipating risks and regulatory changes and mitigating them before they occur.
Building AI that lasts
Taking a more thoughtful, measured approach pays off when it comes to AI. Companies who hold back from 'rushing in' to AI and adopt a more thoughtful approach can actually accelerate faster over the medium to long term. Imagine it as something like an 'AI factory' – business leaders need to qualify which processes will benefit, assess the 'right' level of AI, then deploy that within governed workflows. An important part of that is 'qualifying out' which processes are not suitable due to AI due to factors such as risk. Having a data model and AI integrated deeply into governed workflows means that governance can scale without fragmenting. In today's world, this is crucial.
The EU AI act has made it urgent to find a path between embracing AI too rapidly and feeling paralysed by fears around risk and compliance. Over-cautious companies are set to fall behind, but rushing blindly into AI carries the risk of creating governance debt: organisations without adequate governance cannot demonstrate compliance, and will not be able to scale and reap the benefits of AI.
Many organisations are still stuck in this gulf between responsiveness and responsibility: business leaders need responsiveness from generative AI, delivering insights rapidly, but also must keep regulators happy by behaving responsibly. Having workflow-native AI means that requirements such as transparency and oversight in the EU AI Act become architectural, with governance built in, rather than bolted on, after the fact, to disparate AI tools.
Combatting future risk
As I see it: reactive AI governance is a hindrance; proactive AI governance is an accelerator to business value. The next challenge is operationalising this through what I call 'governed acceleration'. With new AI regulations emerging in different regions and adherence reaching across borders, forward-thinking organisations are turning to AI tools themselves to be prepared for this evolving governance landscape. Chosen correctly, the right AI technology can help organisations stay ahead of the systems that govern AI, by enforcing compliance, for example. This means that the right technology choices deliver a self-reinforcing, circular advantage. Governance is growing in importance, with the role of the CIO now encompassing issues such as model training, algorithmic bias and organisational culture.
As a result, a clear governance structure is key. There should be a single, well-defined owner of AI governance, be that the legal department, the chief data officer, the CIO or a chief AI officer. This person or team takes responsibility to implement consistent frameworks around third-party AI tools, assessing and managing risks and regulatory compliance. This enables organisations to innovate quickly and confidently, while maintaining control.
When governance becomes invisible
W...]]> Ronan Leonard 07:43 false full 3 833935ae-31d2-4425-8d71-be222b226cd5 These insights come from Geotab's fifth annual Sustainability and Impact Report. In the report, Geotab examines how organisations across five continents are using connected vehicle data to lower emissions, reduce fuel costs and improve road safety.
"Fuel volatility is a reminder that sustainability is a business strategy," said Neil Cawse, Founder and CEO of Geotab. "When integrated with a pragmatic focus on short-term value, sustainability measures can drive both efficiency and profitability. Every operational improvement is an immediate, measurable step toward resilience and growth."
Real-World Impact: How Global Fleets Are Using Data to Decarbonise
Across industries and geographies, organisations are already translating fleet data into measurable environmental and financial outcomes. In 2025 alone, Geotab-connected electric vehicles travelled more than 870 million miles (1.4 billion kilometres), as fleets used data to make more informed decisions about vehicle efficiency, driver behavior and electrification strategy.
Postal & Logistics (Belgium): bpost SA saved €1.6 million in fuel costs — equivalent to 1 million liters of diesel — by using EV data from Geotab to right-size its 10,000-van fleet and optimize charging schedules as it targets 100% CO2 neutrality by 2030.
Construction & Infrastructure (UK): Tarmac reduced idling by 30% within three months, achieved 25% improved fuel economy, and cut speeding violations by 50%.
Public Transit (Italy): Autolinee Federico achieved a 20% fuel reduction and approximately 40% decrease in violations and fines through driving behavior optimization and tachograph compliance.
Wholesale Distribution (U.S.): Richards Building Supply projected $195,000+ in annual savings from a 90-day pilot with Geotab Vitality, with a 41% improvement in safe driving behavior and 8% reduction in collision risk.
Municipal Government (U.S.):The City of Carmel, 2025 Geotab Innovation Award Winner for Sustainability, used a custom dashboard to validate emissions reductions from a biodiesel fuel pilot program.
As fleets face pressure from energy costs, emissions regulations and operational risk, many are turning to connected vehicle data to identify efficiency gains and guide long-term electrification strategies.
"Geotab's greatest contribution to sustainability is helping the transportation industry optimise operations. Everyday we see businesses reduce fuel use, cut emissions and make more strategic choices around electrification using data and AI insights. But sustainability is a collective effort, so we must also hold ourselves accountable. This report highlights both the progress of our customers and the steps we are taking as a company to reduce our own impact," added Cawse.
Geotab's Sustainability Progress
Alongside customer impact, the report also outlines Geotab's own progress.
CDP Climate Change score improved to B, reflecting strong performance in environmental policies, risk disclosure, and industry collaboration.
EcoVadis Silver Medal sustainability rating, placing Geotab in the top 15% of companies assessed.
Reduced Scope 2 emissions by 42.5% year-over-year (location-based) — an 87.5% reduction from the 2019 baseline.
Reduced Scope 3 emissions by 14% through supplier engagement and the adoption of primary activity-based data, providing a more accurate reflection of its true value chain impact.
First Climate-Related Disclosure Report published, voluntarily evaluating climate risks and opportunities under different future climate pathways.
Product Carbon Footprint baseline established for the G...]]> https://irishtechnews.ie/geotabs-2025-sustainability-and-impact-report/ These insights come from Geotab's fifth annual Sustainability and Impact Report. In the report, Geotab examines how organisations across five continents are using connected vehicle data to lower emissions, reduce fuel costs and improve road safety.
"Fuel volatility is a reminder that sustainability is a business strategy," said Neil Cawse, Founder and CEO of Geotab. "When integrated with a pragmatic focus on short-term value, sustainability measures can drive both efficiency and profitability. Every operational improvement is an immediate, measurable step toward resilience and growth."
Real-World Impact: How Global Fleets Are Using Data to Decarbonise
Across industries and geographies, organisations are already translating fleet data into measurable environmental and financial outcomes. In 2025 alone, Geotab-connected electric vehicles travelled more than 870 million miles (1.4 billion kilometres), as fleets used data to make more informed decisions about vehicle efficiency, driver behavior and electrification strategy.
Postal & Logistics (Belgium): bpost SA saved €1.6 million in fuel costs — equivalent to 1 million liters of diesel — by using EV data from Geotab to right-size its 10,000-van fleet and optimize charging schedules as it targets 100% CO2 neutrality by 2030.
Construction & Infrastructure (UK): Tarmac reduced idling by 30% within three months, achieved 25% improved fuel economy, and cut speeding violations by 50%.
Public Transit (Italy): Autolinee Federico achieved a 20% fuel reduction and approximately 40% decrease in violations and fines through driving behavior optimization and tachograph compliance.
Wholesale Distribution (U.S.): Richards Building Supply projected $195,000+ in annual savings from a 90-day pilot with Geotab Vitality, with a 41% improvement in safe driving behavior and 8% reduction in collision risk.
Municipal Government (U.S.):The City of Carmel, 2025 Geotab Innovation Award Winner for Sustainability, used a custom dashboard to validate emissions reductions from a biodiesel fuel pilot program.
As fleets face pressure from energy costs, emissions regulations and operational risk, many are turning to connected vehicle data to identify efficiency gains and guide long-term electrification strategies.
"Geotab's greatest contribution to sustainability is helping the transportation industry optimise operations. Everyday we see businesses reduce fuel use, cut emissions and make more strategic choices around electrification using data and AI insights. But sustainability is a collective effort, so we must also hold ourselves accountable. This report highlights both the progress of our customers and the steps we are taking as a company to reduce our own impact," added Cawse.
Geotab's Sustainability Progress
Alongside customer impact, the report also outlines Geotab's own progress.
CDP Climate Change score improved to B, reflecting strong performance in environmental policies, risk disclosure, and industry collaboration.
EcoVadis Silver Medal sustainability rating, placing Geotab in the top 15% of companies assessed.
Reduced Scope 2 emissions by 42.5% year-over-year (location-based) — an 87.5% reduction from the 2019 baseline.
Reduced Scope 3 emissions by 14% through supplier engagement and the adoption of primary activity-based data, providing a more accurate reflection of its true value chain impact.
First Climate-Related Disclosure Report published, voluntarily evaluating climate risks and opportunities under different future climate pathways.
Product Carbon Footprint baseline established for the G...]]> Thu, 26 Mar 2026 16:00:20 +0000 Geotab's 2025 Sustainability and Impact Report These insights come from Geotab's fifth annual Sustainability and Impact Report. In the report, Geotab examines how organisations across five continents are using connected vehicle data to lower emissions, reduce fuel costs and improve road safety.
"Fuel volatility is a reminder that sustainability is a business strategy," said Neil Cawse, Founder and CEO of Geotab. "When integrated with a pragmatic focus on short-term value, sustainability measures can drive both efficiency and profitability. Every operational improvement is an immediate, measurable step toward resilience and growth."
Real-World Impact: How Global Fleets Are Using Data to Decarbonise
Across industries and geographies, organisations are already translating fleet data into measurable environmental and financial outcomes. In 2025 alone, Geotab-connected electric vehicles travelled more than 870 million miles (1.4 billion kilometres), as fleets used data to make more informed decisions about vehicle efficiency, driver behavior and electrification strategy.
Postal & Logistics (Belgium): bpost SA saved €1.6 million in fuel costs — equivalent to 1 million liters of diesel — by using EV data from Geotab to right-size its 10,000-van fleet and optimize charging schedules as it targets 100% CO2 neutrality by 2030.
Construction & Infrastructure (UK): Tarmac reduced idling by 30% within three months, achieved 25% improved fuel economy, and cut speeding violations by 50%.
Public Transit (Italy): Autolinee Federico achieved a 20% fuel reduction and approximately 40% decrease in violations and fines through driving behavior optimization and tachograph compliance.
Wholesale Distribution (U.S.): Richards Building Supply projected $195,000+ in annual savings from a 90-day pilot with Geotab Vitality, with a 41% improvement in safe driving behavior and 8% reduction in collision risk.
Municipal Government (U.S.):The City of Carmel, 2025 Geotab Innovation Award Winner for Sustainability, used a custom dashboard to validate emissions reductions from a biodiesel fuel pilot program.
As fleets face pressure from energy costs, emissions regulations and operational risk, many are turning to connected vehicle data to identify efficiency gains and guide long-term electrification strategies.
"Geotab's greatest contribution to sustainability is helping the transportation industry optimise operations. Everyday we see businesses reduce fuel use, cut emissions and make more strategic choices around electrification using data and AI insights. But sustainability is a collective effort, so we must also hold ourselves accountable. This report highlights both the progress of our customers and the steps we are taking as a company to reduce our own impact," added Cawse.
Geotab's Sustainability Progress
Alongside customer impact, the report also outlines Geotab's own progress.
CDP Climate Change score improved to B, reflecting strong performance in environmental policies, risk disclosure, and industry collaboration.
EcoVadis Silver Medal sustainability rating, placing Geotab in the top 15% of companies assessed.
Reduced Scope 2 emissions by 42.5% year-over-year (location-based) — an 87.5% reduction from the 2019 baseline.
Reduced Scope 3 emissions by 14% through supplier engagement and the adoption of primary activity-based data, providing a more accurate reflection of its true value chain impact.
First Climate-Related Disclosure Report published, voluntarily evaluating climate risks and opportunities under different future climate pathways.
Product Carbon Footprint baseline established for the G...]]> Ronan Leonard 07:51 false full 2 091a7799-4c29-48dd-9787-e3c82619fe53 Through this collaboration, acquirers connected to the Visa Acceptance Platform can now enable DCC using Fexco's proven technology and Visa's in house cross-border solutions. DCC allows cardholders to see the transaction amount in their home currency at point of sale and online checkout, helping them better understand the cost of their purchase before transaction is completed.
The integration is designed for scale and efficiency, supporting more than 200 acquirers globally by integrating Fexco's DCC solution, the Visa Acceptance Platform and Visa's CyberSource payment gateway. It enables acquirers to add DCC with minimal complexity, while creating opportunities to support international spend and enhance the payment experience for international customers. For cardholders, the solution provides greater clarity and choice when paying abroad or online.
Sean Crowe, CEO of Fexco Financial Services, commented:
"This partnership with Visa marks a significant milestone for Fexco and the payments industry. By combining Fexco's expertise in DCC with Visa's global acceptance infrastructure, we are delivering a first-of-its-kind integration that empowers acquirers and merchants to offer enhanced customer experiences while driving growth."
Andre Machicao, Senior Vice President, Visa Acceptance Solutions added:
"Cross-border commerce continues to grow, and consumers increasingly expect clear and predictable payment experiences wherever they choose to pay. By combining Fexco's expertise and Visa's world?class FX and treasury capabilities across multiple markets and currencies, we are extending Dynamic Currency Conversion across the Visa Acceptance Platform, giving acquirers and merchants a straightforward way to meet these expectations while supporting global commerce."
See more stories here.
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.]]> https://irishtechnews.ie/fexco-and-visa-partner-enhacing-global-access/ Through this collaboration, acquirers connected to the Visa Acceptance Platform can now enable DCC using Fexco's proven technology and Visa's in house cross-border solutions. DCC allows cardholders to see the transaction amount in their home currency at point of sale and online checkout, helping them better understand the cost of their purchase before transaction is completed.
The integration is designed for scale and efficiency, supporting more than 200 acquirers globally by integrating Fexco's DCC solution, the Visa Acceptance Platform and Visa's CyberSource payment gateway. It enables acquirers to add DCC with minimal complexity, while creating opportunities to support international spend and enhance the payment experience for international customers. For cardholders, the solution provides greater clarity and choice when paying abroad or online.
Sean Crowe, CEO of Fexco Financial Services, commented:
"This partnership with Visa marks a significant milestone for Fexco and the payments industry. By combining Fexco's expertise in DCC with Visa's global acceptance infrastructure, we are delivering a first-of-its-kind integration that empowers acquirers and merchants to offer enhanced customer experiences while driving growth."
Andre Machicao, Senior Vice President, Visa Acceptance Solutions added:
"Cross-border commerce continues to grow, and consumers increasingly expect clear and predictable payment experiences wherever they choose to pay. By combining Fexco's expertise and Visa's world?class FX and treasury capabilities across multiple markets and currencies, we are extending Dynamic Currency Conversion across the Visa Acceptance Platform, giving acquirers and merchants a straightforward way to meet these expectations while supporting global commerce."
See more stories here.
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.]]> Thu, 26 Mar 2026 15:00:25 +0000 Fexco and Visa Partner to Enhance Global Access to Dynamic Currency Conversion Through this collaboration, acquirers connected to the Visa...]]> Through this collaboration, acquirers connected to the Visa Acceptance Platform can now enable DCC using Fexco's proven technology and Visa's in house cross-border solutions. DCC allows cardholders to see the transaction amount in their home currency at point of sale and online checkout, helping them better understand the cost of their purchase before transaction is completed.
The integration is designed for scale and efficiency, supporting more than 200 acquirers globally by integrating Fexco's DCC solution, the Visa Acceptance Platform and Visa's CyberSource payment gateway. It enables acquirers to add DCC with minimal complexity, while creating opportunities to support international spend and enhance the payment experience for international customers. For cardholders, the solution provides greater clarity and choice when paying abroad or online.
Sean Crowe, CEO of Fexco Financial Services, commented:
"This partnership with Visa marks a significant milestone for Fexco and the payments industry. By combining Fexco's expertise in DCC with Visa's global acceptance infrastructure, we are delivering a first-of-its-kind integration that empowers acquirers and merchants to offer enhanced customer experiences while driving growth."
Andre Machicao, Senior Vice President, Visa Acceptance Solutions added:
"Cross-border commerce continues to grow, and consumers increasingly expect clear and predictable payment experiences wherever they choose to pay. By combining Fexco's expertise and Visa's world?class FX and treasury capabilities across multiple markets and currencies, we are extending Dynamic Currency Conversion across the Visa Acceptance Platform, giving acquirers and merchants a straightforward way to meet these expectations while supporting global commerce."
See more stories here.
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.]]> Ronan Leonard 02:58 false full 1