On the up Saturday, N ove m be r 25, 2017 w w w.nationalist.ie Limerick - Limerick Leader City
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Saturday, November 25, 2017 www.nationalist.ie LIMERICK LEADER 1
Limerick
on the up
LIMERICK NOVEMBER 2017
LEADER
Special Leader supplement
turning the spotlight
on a resurgent Limerick
COVER IMAGE COURTESY OF NICK
MCDONOGH/SHUTTERNINJA PHOTOGRAPHY
2 LIMERICK LEADER www.limerickleader.ie Saturday, November 25, 2017
Limerick
on the up
If there is something good to be said for adversity, it’s
SPACE
Odyssey
that it forces you to look in the mirror.
In Limerick we’re coming up on nine years since Dell
made the announcement it was shedding nearly 2,000
manufacturing jobs at its Raheen facility. Many more jobs
would soon follow in one of the deepest recessions the
country has ever seen.
In the context of the time and place it was a devastating
blow. Limerick’s reputation had been hard hit by headline
crime; the Fitzgerald Report that led to the Regeneration
programme had highlighted terrible deprivation in pockets
of the city and competing local authorities were getting in
one another’s way.
It was time for some introspection and to ask where we
were going as a city, county and region - a process led by the
Mid-West Regional Task Force under Denis Brosnan.
One of its key recommendations was the merging of the
two local authorities which took place in 2014; that and the
subsequent creation of Limerick Twenty Thirty to drive in-
vestment have been two important factors in setting us on
the right path.
The collaboration between industry, third level, the local
authorities and various other service providers is now plain
to see and is very attractive to outside investors.
A recent survey of 13,000 expats ranked Dublin 47th in a
survey of the top 51 cities in the world to emigrate to.
This isn’t mentioned to disparage the capital, but
Dublin’s high cost of living and creaking infrastructure does
highlight one of the main advantages Limerick has in at-
tracting foreign direct investment.
Companies want a talented work force, but those em-
ployees must be able to enjoy a good quality of life, with all
that term implies. Limerick clearly ticks both boxes. And so,
more than 12,000 jobs have been announced here since 2013,
much of it from foreign direct investment.
But there have been extraordinary local success stories
as well. Such as Arralis, which in four years has gone from
being a small start-up to a global leader in an exciting cutting Caherconlish native Barry Lunn whose company
edge sector, showing that you can be a player on the world Arralis is leading the way in the technology that
stage from Limerick. will enable autonomous vehicles
Limerick also has the scope and ambition to expand. Late
last month the draft national planning framework for Ire-
land 2040 was published and it envisaged Limerick’s popu-
lation growing from 100,000 to 140,000.
Before this might have been met with pleased acquies-
ence; instead Council CEO Conn Murray criticised it as lim-
iting Limerick’s potential.
From modest beginnings in UL’s Nexus centre in 2014, Arralis has
Ambition is critical and that was one of the key points
made by Andrew McDowell of the European Investment
become a global player pioneering cutting edge technology with
Bank when in town last week to announce the €85m loan to
LCCC to develop the opera site in the city centre.
some of the most exciting applications in the world today. CEO
Mr Murray added that the loan was a statement of the
confidence and sense of ambition that Limerick has today.
Barry Lunn tells Kevin Corbett about space, timing, and how Analog
He’s right about that.
When it was down, if not out, Limerick took a look at itself
Devices has served as an inspiration to base a business in Limerick
and decided where it was going. It hasn’t got there yet, but it the ESA for landing systems,
As it is in heaven, so shall it which is now leading the
is most certainly on the up. now we’re using that same
be on earth. I don’t know if world in one of the key pieces
Kevin Corbett technology to build radars
of technology that will enable
Barry Lunn is religious, I driverless cars. for cars and that’s what we
didn’t ask, but that little line Having slipped the field in have to get to. Our mantra from
INDEX
of scripture sums up the developing MMW, Arralis “The most sophisticated
pathway his company Ar- has brougt that technology radars in the world are on the the beginning has
ralis has taken to becoming back down to earth - in the front of missiles, and as we
move into autonomous
been you have to
best possible way.
one of the most exciting Such has been their suc- vehicles we essentially have bring that space
2-4 - Arralis 18-19 - Education
success stories in Ireland.
Towards the end of its first
cess that a round of funding missiles on wheels going
around on the road, so you
technology down to
that closed this year yielded
6-7 - Infrastructure 20-21 - SteveHall/LCFC year in existence in 2014, an eyewatering €50m. So have to have that level of earth
8 - Jobs growth 22 - Tourism Arralis signed a deal with great was the investment that sophistication on your radar,
that’s what we’re doing.”
- Barry Lunn
10-11 - Workbench 23 - Thomond Park the European Space Agency many at first assumed the
and applied its millimetre company had simply been Arralis has got the techno-
12 - Troy Studios 24-25 - Retail/ wave (MMW) technology to sold. Not so. But it will give logy to a point where it could
14-15 - Sports academies nightlife/CPL radars used for guidance you an idea of just how luc- be scaled and so started
16 - Housing/Absolute 26 - Engineering and landing systems in or- rative this field is. selling it to the aerospace in-
Hotel 28 - Local government bital installations. And it all started with dustry for helicopter landing
Far from being the final those ESA contracts, ex- systems in dust clouds and
17 - Hartnett Enterprise 29 - Ripplecom other such weather events.
frontier, however, space has plains the 39-year-old from
Acceleration 30 - Volunteering merely been the launchpad Caherconlish. Now it is at a price point
Centre/Bernal Institute 31 - Cube Printing to bigger things for Arralis, “We developed a radar for where it can be put into cars.
Saturday, November 25, 2017 www.limerickleader.ie LIMERICK LEADER 3
‘Timing is everything...’
He isn't the first one to make the Barry points out.
observation and he won't be the “Many start-ups fail and a huge
last, but Barry Lunn is especially amount of that is timing it’s not the
appreciative of good timing. people themselves not doing the
“Timing is everything, you know. I right thing.
wanted to do this company a few “Some of the best start-ups I've
years ago, I’d written up the busi- seen, like Movidius, they got the
ness plan, but things being the way timing wrong. The company was
they were (the recession) I didn't going to the wall, then they got
do it. rescued and went in a new direc-
“If I had done it then, it would tion and the market just hit for
have been a struggle. We were them.
very lucky with the timing of when David Moloney and Sean “Then they went from a company
we did it. We started looking at Mitchell, Movidius that was essentially valueless,
scaling millimetre wave (MMW) factor that I'd be very nervous to after seven or eight years of really
just before a lot of other people, so overlook because otherwise you hard work, to being sold three or
that gave us a headstart and now start to think you're a genius.” four years later for nearly €400m.
the market is ready. Everyone can identify some point in “That's pure timing, same people,
“Obviously we identified it and that their lives, often more than one, same guys driving it, Sean, David,
was our business plan, 5G and where timing was the critical two fantastic entrepreneurs.
autonomy was our plan, but the factor. “They were lucky that they found
best laid plans, and all that... But people don’t always appreciate an investor that came in and res-
“If the market doesn't hit you at it in the context of failure. For cued them, so I'm very conscious
the right time...that's the luck start-ups this effect is amplified, as of that.”
product development so that you have to bring that space around the globe.
was a huge thing. technology down to earth and Its central location is es-
“Now we’re on our fourth that’s what we’ve been about sential for a man who has
ESA contract, with a fifth one and that’s the big conversion spent such a huge amount of
to be announced shortly and that’s going on right now. the past year up in the air.
they’re getting bigger and They still drive a lot of our IP Between January and the end
bigger all the time as we prove development and our R&D of July he was in a different
ourselves and become a more but it’s bringing that down to country every single week.
critical supplier to ESA, so earth.” Now things have eased up a
that has been a big part of our We’re speaking on what is bit, it’s only every second
path. a gloomy winter’s day in Lim- week. Much of it involved
“But, that space stuff we erick, though for Barry it is a pitching to investors in that
do, you can’t build a big com- crisp one in Vienna, where he aforementioned funding
pany out of that, our mantra is currently based in one of a
from the beginning has been number of Arralis offices Continues on p4
Absolute Hotel, Sir Harry’s Mall, Limerick
+353 61 463610 events@absolutehotel.com www.absolutehotel.com
“Yeah, that represents a that is connected mobility. cretive. The stuff you’re
simple explanation of our For example if you look at a hearing about now is the level
business plan: when it’s drone, it’s connecting to three autonomy, the Tesla
bulky and expensive it goes satellites and also identifying stuff and that, but all the big
into space; when it becomes where its flight path is going guys are trying to work on the
more affordable it goes into to be and where it lands and if next generation, but they’re
aerospace and when it be- you look at a car it’s the exact doing that very stealthily.”
comes more commoditised it same thing. He’s not averse to a bit of
goes into the car,” says Barry. “You need to be connected cloak and dagger stuff him-
“The big vision joining all all the time and you need to self - “you’ll get to work on
know where you’re going. some of the coolest stuff I
That’s our sweet spot. can’t talk about,” is one tan-
“Instead of selling ten talising recruitment tweet
radars to the ESA we could be from his twitter feed.
selling hundreds of thou- Level five autonomy
sands to the automotive in- where we’re being chau-
dustry, so that’s where the ferred by the car, is, however,
scale-up is.” an enormous leap - “If you
That is where the money is think you’re going to be
and why investors were so picked up from the pub by
keen to get on board with Ar- 2022 then forget about it, it’s
ralis. And with big money not going to happen,” he Winner of Best Business Hotel at the
comes bigger secrecy.
The car companies are on
adds.
These opportunities
Gold Medal Awards 2017
the cusp of testing level 4 stemmed from Arralis’ work
autonomy, where the vehicle
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4 LIMERICK LEADER www.limerickleader.ie Saturday, November 25, 2017
As it is in heaven, so shall it be on earth
Continued from p3 in a lot of different countries, was a big part of it.
Barry and wife Michelle “Everything we needed
round which closed off to- moved back to rear their chil- was there available for us and
wards the end of January. dren Oisin and Oscar, (the it’s there for everyone. UL and
Now he’s putting that double O Lunns) and his love Nexus were superb to us. We
money to work setting up and for the home place was a big said we needed a bigger office
managing new supply chains part of basing the company and they sorted that, but we
and supervising the outfit- here. went to them with a clear idea
ting of a new factory in China. “Another major thing was of what we needed.”
The company has set up a new we were looking down the Managing the company’s
office in Beijing, another in road at Analog Devices and scale-up is keeping him busy,
Hong Kong, a new sales office OM Semiconductor and but if it’s fazing him it would
in LA and is looking at a loca- you’re talking about the be hard to tell.
tion in the US for another ability to get people. The transition from small
factory. With all of that, the “Analog Devices in Lim- start-up to genuine global
headquarters in Limerick, erick is delivering over 30% of player means some people get
and design centres in Belfast the intellectual property of less responsibility, others get
and Manchester, there is a lot ADI international which is in- more and that requires the
of moving around supporting credible. They’ve built an in- right reaction, he says.
customers. credible company, they’re “It’s unusual, I’ve never
Gaining new customers is quiet, but in- been one to let
the other reason for the ternationally stuff get on top
globetrotting lifestyle - “you they’re a beast “I would have been of me, I’m good
can’t build stuff if you can’t and we’re one of the nerdier at switching off
sell it”. looking at that too, so the
Whatever his skills as a de- and thinking art college people. challenge is
signer and engineer, he is, in ‘if they can get There was a little there, but in
his own words, a born people then the work day.
salesman and his provenance we can get gang of us that used And it’s not
as such is not in doubt. people’. That's to sit in the just me
“My father was a a big part of everyone in the
salesman, my two brothers it.” computer room late organisation
are in sales, I’m in sales it was The com- at night building has to adapt
bred into us,” Barry says. pany started and I think
So when the time came, it off in the websites” everyone has
meant going down the CEO Nexus Centre reacted very
path, which held little fear for in UL: “I think we were the well, which is good.
him. Still, his career has fol- first client, pre-Arralis, we “But we were lucky in that
lowed a remarkable tra- were in there before we got it we had a good core team of 10
jectory. Few tech company up and running”, and it people, and those people have
CEOs, after all, would have proved a good environment to now scaled up each of their
started out in art college, but start. own sectors. Everyone has re-
Barry went to LSAD where he “I like the buzz of a sponded well and from my
did the core year and then Barry Lunn: ‘UL is one of the best campuses I’ve ever been on, a lovely place to work’ building like that. I worked in point of view you’re looking
specialised in graphic a lot of different countries for just that. It’s new ter-
design. unusual. under construction - back. That money has to be and I’ve always like these ritory, but it’s exciting.
“It was the late ‘90s so I got “I was building front end awaiting mass production, put to work but it also has to shared office environments. “You set out at the start of
big into web design and web for aerospace systems and got the challenges are different. have a return so there is a big “As well as that being near the company and you say
development and that to enjoy the hardware end of “It’s not just the actual scale-up going on and that’s a university usually helps for you’re going to do ‘this’, but at
brought me into where I am it, so started studying up on product, it feeds into your en- across the board, not just the the technical work that we do, the back of your mind you
now. I would have been one of millimetre waves and doing tire sales and marketing factory side, but people too. even though we weren’t a know the odds of you actually
the nerdier art college some weird stuff in there, so strategy and the types of cus- Headcount has tripled within spinout from UL, we were succeeding are quite high,
people. There was a little gang it’s one of those things, you tomers youre going for. An in- a year so it’s interesting times more of a spin-in. And look, I but now we’re doing it I’m
of us that used to sit in the never finish your career jection of that magnitude for sure.” don’t care where you go, UL is sure as hell not going to com-
computer room late at night doing what you started.” changes the type of company The company is just four one of the best campuses I’ve plain about it.
building websites,” he says. A common thread along entirely. years in existence and des- ever been on, a lovely place to “What I’ve wanted to do
“So once I got into that I the way would always have “We’re a very different pite its numerous global out- work and that’s what you’re for the last 10 years is hap-
started developing software been sales. Now, with the in- company to what we were lets it remains very much a looking for as well, that pening so I’m just going to
and that brought me into the jection of venture capital and prior to that investment Limerick success story. people will want to go there, hold on to the reins and keep
hardware space which was the factories - planned and you’ve more money to pay Having lived and worked will want to work there. That going.”
‘EI’s overseas offices are the jewel in the crown that don’t get talked about enough’
Enterprise Ireland’s support is crit- ously, but their overseas offices their rolodex and it’s not a case of “Really we should be putting more
ical to the success of start-ups and are really impressive, I think that's just turning up expecting to be en- money in.
its funding ladder will be familiar to the jewel in the crown that doesn't tertained. You go there explain “Tell me any other area of invest-
most entrepreneurs. get talked about enough. what you’re trying to do and then ment of the taxpayer’s money
First, €15k, no-strings-attached for “Money is money, you can get that they have the contacts to do that. where you’re getting between four
the new frontiers programme; everywhere, but the overseas of- “So when I was going raising and seven euro out for every one
next, €50k for the competitive fices are huge, especially the co- money, they had the contacts to fa- you put in? It's incredible.
start-up fund, in which it takes a location with the embassies. cilitate that. “Those first contracts we got from
5% equity stake, that it eventually “In the early days we were six “It mightn’t be their contacts, but ESA for €250k, what that has de-
sells; then validation for high poten- people and we were trying to go through their contacts I was in livered in terms of the company
tial start-up unit at which point it is out and close big deals in China and with the top 10 VCs in the Valley and also for EI, in terms of their in-
trying to match companies with ac- places like that. And just a simple from zero start. vestment in the company - because
tual investors willing to put in a six- thing like, they brought the cus- Brian Rodgers ESA Delegate (Enterprise Ireland), Barry Lunn “Now, you have to have something they got bought out in the last in-
figure seed investment. tomer to the embassy; the cus- Arralis CEO and Mike Gleaves, Arralis CTO that’s spangly and interesting for vestment round - they got a huge
With Arralis, Enterprise Ireland tomer mightn't know where the Ireland is committed to China. there, we would hear them say to those guys, but at that same time, return and I’m bloody delighted for
was on board early, but as Barry hell Ireland is, but he knows what a That's the big fear in these sort of the customer, ‘The Irish govern- that’s the kind of facilitation you’re them.
Lunn explains, their true value high-ranking embassy official is and places: where’s the surety of ment is invested in this company. getting. “It's great to see that money go
came to light on the world stage. an ambassador is. supply? You’re a start-up, you could These guys are backed, they’re not “Then, with the ESA they managed back into the coffers and that goes
“Enterprise Ireland were a huge “And we were lucky enough that disappear, but that just gives them going to go missing on you’. that fund for Ireland which I don’t in and increases their investment
part of our development as well. they've maybe brought our cus- assurance. You’ve got Ireland Inc in “And that’s a big thing in the US as think people realise. It’s huge, what budget, they've increased the spend
They were a huge support to us. tomer to dinner with the ambas- your corner. well, they were a huge help. We that has returned. The ROI on the in ESA again this year and that will
They were an early investor obvi- sador and that ambassador has said “It's more about our partners over went out and they just opened up investment in ESA is unbelievable. get cycled again.”
Saturday, November 25, 2017 www.nationalist.ie LIMERICK LEADER 5
CRESCENT EXTENSIVE
REFURB BRINGS NEW
RETAILERS TO LIMERICK
Munster’s largest shopping destination, Crescent Shopping
Centre, Limerick, has undergone extensive refurbishment
and extension works over the past 12 months with continued
investment by the owner, Clancourt Group, to upgrade and
enhance the Centre through the refurbishment of new mall
entrances. Work has also seen the introduction of a vaulted roof
finish on the City, Shannon, Dooradoyle and Garryowen Malls, to
further enhance the shopper experience throughout the Centre,
allowing increased daylight with a sleek modern finish.
This significant investment has created the catalyst to entice
exciting new international fashion retailers to the Centre
including US fashion brands GAP Outlet & Superdry along
with Danish brand Selected Femme / Homme. These exciting
additions — all just in time for Christmas — will add to the
already exceptionally strong offering of indigenous Irish
independent brands and International retailers such as H&M,
Zara, Next, River Island, placing Crescent Shopping Centre and
Limerick firmly on the map as the premier shopping destination
in Munster.
Look out for more exciting new lettings to be announced over
the coming months.
BIG NAME
ARRIVALS
6 LIMERICK LEADER www.limerickleader.ie Saturday, November 25, 2017
Building a Looking to the future: Andrew McDowell of the
European Investment Bank with Conn Murray of
Limerick City and County Council and Denis Brosnan
of Limerick Twenty Thirty PICTURE: SEAN CURTIN
better
future for
Limerick
David Hurley on the numerous infrastructure projects planned
and underway that will help Limerick achieve its full potential
ALMOST nine years since the In the wake of numerous million to Limerick City and
devastating announcement jobs announcements by local County Council to fund the de-
that Dell was to close its and multinational companies velopment of the Opera site in
manufacturing plant in over the past two years, there the heart of the city.
Raheen, Limerick is on the is a buzz back in the city which The money will be used to
cusp of something great again - has also seen the return of start construction on the 1.68
with a number of key tower cranes to the skyline for hectare site which is located at
developments underway the first time in a decade. Patrick Street and Rutland
which will see the city cement Last week it was confirmed Street.
its status as the regional the European Investment Bank “I think there is real poten-
capital. (EIB) had agreed to loan €85 tial and you are seeing that, you
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Saturday, November 25, 2017 www.limerickleader.ie LIMERICK LEADER 7
Institute of Technology and as a game changer for Lim-
Mary Immaculate College erick and the region.
while hundreds of millions of “This now means we will
euro is also being invested have a seamless motorway
across the city and county by from Cork to Limerick and
private developers. Galway, which creates
Regeneron has invested enormous possibilities for eco-
heavily in its facility in Raheen, nomic development along this
Northern Trust is about to take Atlantic corridor,” said Dr
possession of its new state-of- James Ring, chief exective of
the-art premises at Ballysimon Limerick Chamber.
and a major expansion of the “Once delivered, people will
Crescent Shopping Centre is be able to travel between Lim-
nearing completion. erick and Cork in only 47
Planning permission is minutes which is a game
being sought for an extension changer for business, workers,
of the five-star Savoy Hotel and and tourism in the region,” he
works are expected to begin added.
shortly on a €40m 250,000 Pat Keating, CEO of Shannon
square foot development at Foynes Port Company, says
Bishop’s Quay. long overdue plans to upgrade
“It’s great news for Limerick the N69 between Limerick and
and it will rejuvenate the city Foynes will create further op-
centre and get people back portunities as will the mooted
living in the city. It will bring reopening of the Limerick to
life back into the heart of the Foynes rail line, if it gets the go
A computer generated image of how the plaza at the Opera site will look when complete city,” said developer Rudi ahead.
Butler after that project re- “A strong city makes for a
ceived the go ahead from An strong region and having the
are seeing the investments
coming in and you are seeing
“What we are doing in developing the city,” said
David Conway, CEO of Lim-
Bord Pleanala earlier this
year.
Limerick economy growing is
critical for us all. There have
projects start and develop here in Limerick is erick Twenty Thirty. Elsewhere, a new multi-mil-
lion euro courthouse at Mul-
been huge strides made over
recent years in Limerick but if
and I think it’s all coming out “We all know what’s hap-
of the 2030 programme unique and it’s pening in the Dublin Market. grave Street is set to open early the pace is to be maintained,
which has given people a
runway so they can see what’s
showing us in a It’s extremely expensive from a
residential point of view but
next year while Colbert Station
has been “future-proofed” by
and it’s essential that it is, then
there needs to be major invest-
happening,” said Pat Daly, different class” also from an office point of Iarnród Eireann following a ment in infrastructure,” he
deputy CEO with the council. view and we are looking at major facelift and the replace- said.
Through its wholly-owned David Conway, CEO of giving an alternative in Lim- ment of two historic signal Led by the local au-
subsidiary Limerick Twenty Limerick Twenty Thirty erick - with its proximity to an cabins.
Other transport initiatives
thority, multi-million
plans to rejuvenate O’Connell
euro
Thirty DAC the local au- international airport, its prox-
thority is overseeing the de- imity to good residential ac- include construction of the Street, which will be unveiled
velopment of several key O’Callaghan Strand. commodation and a good work Northern Distributor Road in the coming weeks, will be
strategic sites such as the “What we are doing here in life balance,” he added. which will open up the north- another key development as
Opera site, Gardens Interna- Limerick is unique and it’s There are significant pro- side of the city for develop- Limerick seeks to achieve its
tional at Henry Street, Troy showing us in a different class jects in the pipeline at the Uni- ment and the development of full potential – a decade after
Studios and the Cleeves site at in that we are being proactive versity of Limerick, Limerick the M20 which has been hailed one of its blackest days.
TAILORED PROACTIVE BUSINESS CUSTOMISED
NETWORKING LOBBYING GROWTH TRAINING
SUPPORT
Call: 061 415180 or visit www.limerickchamber.ie
8 LIMERICK LEADER www.limerickleader.ie Saturday, November 25, 2017
Collaborative efforts driving
the ‘jobs miracle’ in Limerick
‘Standing together, that’s how you’ll get places and that’s what Limerick is doing,’ says Chamber CEO
NICK RABBITTS
e-mail: nick@limerickleader.ie
Twitter: @nick468official
CHAMBER chief executive Dr
James Ring has hailed the “mir-
acle” of Limerick when reflecting
on the progress in the city over
the last few years.
Dr Ring said going back to 2009,
when Dell shed 1,900 jobs, very few
people would have foreseen the
improvements since then.
Thousands of IDA-backed jobs
have been created - including at Dell
EMC - in the last two years, including
one period last year when it ap-
peared the job creation agency was
announcing roles for the city almost
every week.
The site where Dell had its main
European manufacturing plant is
now biopharmaceutical firm Regen-
eron’s main hub on the continent,
and will be home to more than 700
workers.
And there have been other,
smaller jobs boosts right across the
city, with foreign direct investment
(FDI) in Limerick at an all time high.
“It’s amazing. I remember
coming back to Limerick in the
midst of the recession. It was really
not a good place to be. It’s not an ex-
aggeration to state it’s a bit of a mir-
acle. We were down and out.
Limerick wasn’t on its knees - it was Dr James Ring, CEO Limerick Chamber, Deputy Michael Noonan TD, and Catherine Duffy, Northern Trust, and former Limerick Chamber President
on the floor. And we’ve picked
ourselves up. When you hear head-
lines that we’re outperforming Daniel Van Plew, Regeneron: of a clear message. This time, all the
other regions, when you hear a 43% The site where Dell had its public bodies came together to write
job creation, you have to just main European a submission. The Chamber also
wonder: has this actually manufacturing plant is now aligned with it. That’s what I mean
happened? It’s not just a good story the biopharmaceutical firm’s about togetherness: standing to-
nationally, it’s a good story interna- main hub on the continent, gether, and that’s how you’ll get
tionally,” the Chamber boss said. and will be home to more places. And that’s what Limerick is
Limerick can count a number of than 700 workers doing.”
high-profile multi-national com- It also appears the transport
panies among its business portfolio, sector is chiming in with the growth
as well as a number of smaller start- of Northern Trust - with improved
up firms providing thousands of bus connections both to the National
jobs to the local population. Technology Park and the Ballysimon
In this roll of honour is the fund Road.
administration firm Northern Ms Duffy explains: “We could do
Trust, which employs more than with improving on the public trans-
1,000 people across two offices, one port. We need to make sure it’s reg-
in Plassey, the other at the ular and current. Public transport
What’s coming out of the University Dublin for many years, and I never into the city is important: people
Ballysimon Road.
The firm is headed in Limerick by of Limerick, Mary Immaculate Col- “We were down and out. saw as much collaboration there. don’t want to have cars anymore.
former Chamber president Cath- lege and Limerick Institute of Tech- Limerick wasn’t on its We’re fortunate here," she added. This young generation, the millen-
nology is just super - and that’s the On this subject, Dr Ring gives a nials can live in the city and commute
erine Duffy, who herself came to
Shannonside in the early stages of kind of graduates we need. We have knees - it was on the prime example - noting how in and out. Bus Eireann have put on a
the recession back in 2008. people ready to go,” she said. floor. And we’ve picked Shannon Airport, Limerick double decker on the 304 service [to
Ms Duffy also hails the collabora- Chamber, Limerick City and County Plassey], and what I like too is they
Back then, she says, the condi-
tions were not in place to attract for- tion between education, council and ourselves up” Council and other bodies all joined are watching the traffic. They are
eign direct investment into the industry as “fantastic”. James Ring, Chamber CEO up to provide a comprehensive sub- listening to the employers in the re-
county. Things are different now “Within the city, and with us out mission to the government’s na- gion. We asked for changes in the bus
though. here: ourselves, Johnson and tional planning framework which routes, and that has happened.”
"When a foreign direct invest- Johnson, Cook Medical, you see they felt is too ‘Dublin-centric’. As well as the local work force,
ment (FDI) agenda comes around, great collaboration. That’s what “Before, everyone would have put Northern Trust employs many
we are very fortunate to get to meet people see when they come to the re- in their own submission, and would people from overseas on short term
them. I’ve seen when they come gion. That we’re able to collaborate have been blind to each others. What contracts, or sabbatical.
around, we’re able to talk about the between the higher education au- you would have seen in Dublin is a Bus services are key for them, the
excellent calibre of staff we have. thority and businesses. I worked in lack of joined-up thinking, and a lack firm’s general manager adds.
Saturday, November 25, 2017 www.nationalist.ie LIMERICK LEADER 9
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10 LIMERICK LEADER www.limerickleader.ie Saturday, November 25, 2017
Social network: Pat speaking
Sharing the stories of Limerick weekly meet-up and there
was lots of self employed
entrepreneurs and supporting people, entrepreneurs in-
volved in new frontiers pro-
start-ups has proven rewarding grammes starting their own
companies, looking for sup-
work for Pat Carroll in Bank Of port from one another.”
Ireland Workbench Many of these entrepren-
eurs were in the tech space, so
Open Coffee “morphed into”
Silicon Valley social media gi- Mid-West Start-Ups, says Pat.
KEVIN CORBETT
e-mail: kevin.corbett@limerickleader.ie ants, but the path had been lit Entrepreneurs repeatedly
Twitter: @kilteery and Pat followed it make the point that the moral
“It was a very interesting support received at these
experience and gave me a real gatherings is every bit as im-
We’re social creatures, hu- portant to them as the
baptism of fire in that whole
mans, we do better together funding they we receive.
area of online/offline net-
- a point that has defined the working,” he told the Lim- “That’s so true,” says Pat,
career of Pat Carroll. erick Leader. “the funding is fine but it’s
Forced to reinvent himself Though it folded, he found also talking to like-minded
when the recession struck, a lot of people were looking people and finding out what
Pat, who had spent years in for help with their online they did and what they did
sales and marketing, joined presence, so he started his wrong and how to avoid that,
a start-up in Limerick in own company called Touch what they did right, so maybe
2010 called Rendevous353, Communications, and for to copy that and just give each
an online network for ex- five years did consultancy other support.
pats that attracted 15,000 work and digital marketing, “It was a very open com-
Irish people to its platform helping people with their on- munity, there is a generosity
at its peak. line presence - a role which between people, and when
Suddenly the Corbally meant he really had to put you mix that with the Silicon
man was living and breathing himself out there. Valley spirit of helping each
Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, “When you’re self-em- other you get a nice eco-
blogs and email marketing to ployed you need to network, system where people aren’t
get people to join the online and I was always interested in competing with each other
network. technology and start-ups, so especially some place like
Inevitably Rendevous 353 back then I was actively in- Limerick where they want to
withered in the shadow of the volved in Open Coffee. It was a It’s good to talk; Pat Carroll says Limerick should promote itself more proudly PICTURE: ADRIAN BUTLER help each other, so the net-
Arralis saw a gap We helped them
in the market. fill the space.
Arralis had the ambition to meet the growing demand
for the advanced electronic systems that work in space.
Partnering with Enterprise Ireland secured them an
invaluable introduction to the European Space Agency
and enabled them to pioneer technology that’s out
of this world.
If your business has the ambition, we’ll help you
take it global. Go to ambition.enterprise-ireland.com
#GlobalAmbitionSaturday, November 25, 2017 www.limerickleader.ie LIMERICK LEADER 11
- and listening - for Limerick
working is really important.” erick Workbench as the vestor or whatever. I have Hugh O’Donnell who
Meanwhile, Pat continued innovation community man- “So I heard about this and sold a company for €135m, so
to expand his own connec- ager. He hasn’t looked back. applied for it for Ireland, but to be able to get someone like
tions, getting appointed to the “It’s very interesting work, was told Ireland was too small him talking about their story,
national board of the Irish In- it's great to be able to help de- to have one. These things are it brings people together,
ternational Business Net- liver a project right in the in London, New York, Frank- brings the city together, it in-
work, the IIBN, whose heart of Limerick city - you’ve furt, they're in 200 cities, so I spires people to think ‘look, if
London and New York offices a free facility for everybody persevered and explained the he could do it, I could do it’.”
are close to consulates, the and I think it’s really crucial situation and dug deep Pat says between New
embassies, and the Depart- that you don’t have to be a through all my contacts and Frontiers, Enterprise Ire-
ment of Foreign Affairs. Bank of Ireland customer. In said I could get this going. land, the LEOs, there is plenty
It was at an American fact, I’d love to put a sign up in “So they awarded me the early stage support for people
chamber event in Dublin that the window, saying you don’t Start-Up Grind Limerick who want to start a business
he first came across Work- have to be a customer. chapter director and I think and the likes of Workbench,
bench, in a Bank of Ireland “You don't have to book a it's a great asset for Limerick, and Start-up Grind and
place, you can come in for an it allows us highlight the great Founder Friday and the Start-
“We need to go out in hour, a week or a month, so it's
classic hotdesking, there are
talent we have here.
One example he gives is
up weekend are all different
entry levels to the start-up
Dublin, London and desks there, there is wifi, Austin Ryan of AMCS. If you scene and ways to access sup-
New York and shout there is coffee, there is a
meeting room which you can
hadn't heard of them they're a
firm in Crecora that’s the
port. The Workbench gather-
ings of the past year have
from the rooftops use to bring in clients.
Pat celebrating the first birthday of Workbench with Maria Walsh,
world leader in the techno- heard so many success stories
that it’s happening in “So during the day, it’s for
start-ups and SMEs and self- Maria Kelly, Deirdre Twomey and David Wallace PICTURE: OISIN MCHUGH
logy that reads and records
your bin every time it’s emp-
and Pat believes we could be
broadcasting it more.
Limerick” employed, anybody. The tied. They have hundreds of “I think in Limerick we
magic is if you're working at hosted 200 events, with over Branson was speaking and we people worldwide, says Pat, need to stand tall and be
branch at Grand Canal home yourself on a laptop, it's 4,000 attendees. were in the audience. but not many people in Lim- proud. Cork and Galway are
Square - “a funky looking kind of lonely, you’re isolated, One of these events is “Then there was meet-ups erick had heard of them. great at promoting them-
space with bright colours and you might make a phone call Start-Up Grind, another net- like Open Coffee where 20-30 “To have Austin Ryan tell selves, I think we’ve been a bit
start-ups working inside it”. A or two, but when you go into work into which Pat has people would meet for coffee the story of how they grew bowed down by our recent
strange set-up for a bank, he somewhere like Workbench, plugged himself. and chat and he thought it from nothing and how he met history and we need to get
observed, but didn't think you bump into people, you “This comes from Silicon would be good to have some someone on a hurling pitch, over that.
much more about it. meet someone you know, you Valley, a guy called Derek An- kind of a hybrid. You could his partner, through sport, “We need to go out in
Until he was asked just meet someone new.” derson saw there were two have your meet-up of people and how they built a global Dublin, London and New
over two years ago by the A hotdesking space during kinds of events held in Silicon but also have a centrepiece to company, it’s great to be able York and shout from the
bank’s ‘entrepreneur-in-res- the day, it hosts events in the Valley; big keynote events the event a fireside chat with a to tell that story. rooftops that it’s happening
idence’ to head up the Lim- evening and in its first year it where someone like Richard successful entrepreneur, in- “In December, for example in Limerick”.
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through RDI all year round12 LIMERICK LEADER www.limerickleader.ie Saturday, November 25, 2017
James Hickey, CEO, Irish
Film Board, Mike
Cantwell, CEO, Innovate
Limerick, and Joe Devine,
Chairman, Troy Studios
Troy prepares for full flight
Nightflyers has been picked up for a series and will be the largest production ever made in the Republic
ALAN OWENS
“From the local authority, the
e-mail: alan.owens@limerickleader.ie reason for getting involved in it in the
Twitter: @alanowens_limk first place was because for the poten-
tial for film investment in the region
DEEP in the bowels of an enormous and that is coming through now and
soundstage, located in a non- creating jobs for people in the re-
gion,” he explained.
descript building in Castletroy, a The council, through LCO Enter-
futuristic spaceship is being built. prise Development Limited, bought
The stage, the size of several foot- and refurbished the building for
ball pitches, is one of three at Troy around €8m, with Troy taking a 20-
Studios that is gearing up for year lease. Fianna Fail councillor
filming on its first production. James Collins, a board member of
That is Nightflyers, based on Limerick Twenty Thirty, said the de-
writings by the Game of Thrones velopment of Troy Studios “could be
creator George R.R. Martin, which a game-changer for Limerick” and
has moved beyond pilot stage and was borne from a need “to diversify
One of the workshops at Troy for the production of Nightlfyers at Troy Studios, which has moved from pilot to full series
straight to full series, with filming to Limerick’s employment base”.
start early in the new year. “There’s a lot of jealousy out there
As a result, Limerick is well posi- including The Bourne Identity and straight into series, which has gone
tioned to become the film hub of the Mr & Mrs Smith, has said “it’s a big We believe it is the into production.
that Troy is in Limerick, and not in
Kilkenny or Galway or Killarney, and
country, poised for a multi-million ambitious series and I think we’ll be biggest production that “The original plan was that they we’re delighted it is here,” he said.
euro spin-off, with this sci-fi series in Ireland for many years”. would have filming completed by
likely bound for Netflix, who have There are currently six work- was ever done in the Christmas, but because the con-
“It was a leap of faith. We bought
the studios, we convinced Troy to set
been in negotiations with producers shops in use at Troy, formerly the old Republic struction phase is at a scale which is up there and the idea now is to at-
Universal Cable Productions for in- Dell building in Castletroy, now a much bigger than any of us ever tract the type of industry to Limerick
ternational and US rights. 350,000 square foot facility with Mike Cantwell, Innovate thought, they will be in construction that hasn't been here before.”
Works ongoing at Troy have three massive soundstages, one run- Limerick until end of January, February and Conn Murray, CEO of the Council,
largely been kept hush-hush and ning to 30,800 sq ft and two at 18,000 then filming will commence roughly estimated that the facility could
under wraps, but the move to full sq ft. Crucially, the height of the around then until probably around result in a €70m spin-off for the local
commissioned series is the starting ‘high bay’ area in facility rises to the end of August. And we believe it economy, creating hundreds of jobs.
point for major film and TV produc- about 60 feet, an almost unique ele- is the biggest production that was Troy, run by Siún Ní Raghallaigh,
tion to kick off in the region, the ment in this country - which is well ever done in the Republic.” Ossie Kilkenny and John Kelleher,
series proving an anchor point for covered with generous tax breaks to There are now 50 construction has so far maintained a discreet
Troy to lure more major productions attract the eye of film and TV produ- craftsmen and women from Lim- media profile but Michelle Brassil,
here. cers. All they needed was the space, erick and the wider region working who also works with the studio, said
The series is set in the future on which is now the envy of the in- in Troy on Nightflyers. The produc- that “in providing world class film
the eve of Earth’s destruction and dustry. tion is sourcing a huge amount of studio infrastructure, Troy Studios
follows a crew of explorers who Mike Cantwell of Innovate Lim- raw material locally, from local sup- will be the enabler for incoming pro-
journey on the most advanced ship erick, the council’s investment arm pliers, while about 14 engineering ductions that will seek to employ
in the galaxy, the Nightflyer. Dir- that was crucial to finalising the businesses in the Mid-West are also local production crews, trained to a
ector Doug Liman, who was previ- Troy deal, confirmed that Night- working directly with the produc- very high standard”.
ously behind box-office films flyers was now “past pilot and are tion company, Mr Cantwell said. It is now ready to take flight.Saturday, November 25, 2017 www.nationalist.ie LIMERICK LEADER 13
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Contact: +353 1614 6000 info@cpl.ie14 LIMERICK LEADER www.limerickleader.ie Saturday, November 25, 2017
Sowing
the seeds
of future
success
Sports editor Donn O’Sullivan on the efforts being made by Munster
Rugby, Limerick FC and Limerick GAA to foster the young talent in
the county with an eye to glory days ahead
“Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh Few members of the based at a custom built High
sí”- The modern day transla- public might realise that Performance Centre in the
tion of that proverb is invest there are two full time profes- University of Limerick.
in youth and you will be suc- sional sports teams operating The new facility also
cessful. out of the city on a weekly houses the Greencore Mun-
That is exactly what the basis. ster Rugby Academy and part
three largest sporting en- Munster Rugby this of the Domestic Game, with
tities on the Limerick area season relocated their entire Munster players, coaches and
have done in recent times. squad to Limerick and are not staff all operating from one
MEETINGS & EVENTS CENTRE
- tpstadium
- @thomondparkstadium
- @thomondstadium
CONFERENCING
TEAM BUILDING SEMINARS
FUNDRAISERS EVENTS
MEETING ROOMS PRODUCT LAUNCHES
GALA DINNERSSaturday, November 25, 2017 www.limerickleader.ie LIMERICK LEADER 15
Limerick's second profes- strong that Limerck hurling
Limerick U-21 hurlers sional sports team, Limerick fans can remain confident
celebrate winning the All FC. that the green shoots of suc-
Ireland title against Under the guidance of cess are here to stay.
Kilkenny earlier this year CEO Pat O’Sullivan and As recently as this week,
through the practices of their the Limerick Senior hurling
community work and un- squad for 2018 was named.
derage teams, Limerick FC In total, 16 players from
are now also able to compete this year’s All Ireland U-21
on the pitch with players of winning panel are included –
their own ‘making’. five getting a first senior call-
With the FAI working hard up.
on the ground with all clubs, On top of this season’s U-
coaches such as Jason 21 All Ireland winners, there
O’Connor of the FAI and are also seven from the 2015
Willie Boland of Limerick FC All Ireland U-21 side.
have seen that local talent is In total 10 of the panel are
well able to perform on the two-time All Ireland U-21
national and indeed interna- winners.
tional scene. A further five players can
In the last week, Limerick be traced back to the 2011
underage duo of Jake Pren- Munster U-21 winning side,
dergast and Joseph Rushe while the three elder
have represented Ireland at statesman are Seamus
Munster Rugby's new look High Performance Centre which was custom built for them on the UL campus. under 15 level, while Lim- Hickey, Richie McCarthy and
The new one-centre training base has already added to both on and off field performances erick FC themselves have Tom Condon – who all from
long been built around a the 2005 All Ireland minor
centre.
The state-of-the-art
‘All things considered, particularly in terms of re-
cruitment.
spine of local talent such as
Shane Duggan and Shane
final.
Eight of the new-look
training facilities incor- amateur or Former Munster Director Tracy. senior panel will be eligible
porate an extensive gym,
medical and physiotherapy
professional, Limerick of Rugby Rassie Erasmus ad-
mitted that he would not have
With Limerick FC now
having a side in the under 15
for the U-21 grade next season
– Peter Casey, Kyle Hayes and
treatment rooms, offices, sport is most joined the province from national league, a pathway to six of the newcomers;
changing rooms, analysis
suite, meeting rooms and a
definitely on the up’ South Africa were it not for
the single training base and
the top of the game is open for
all local players.
O’Loughlin, Grimes, Boylan,
O’Reilly, Murphy and
65-seat auditorium. the advantages associated Arguably one of the best Flanagan.
The centre, located adja- with being next to the ‘production lines’ for Lim- There are 18 different
cent to the existing UL campus of UL. erick sport is the Limerick clubs represented in the
Arena, is part of an overall squad had worked out of two In an ever expanding hurling academy. panel which shows the suc-
€15m construction designed bases in Cork and Limerick. transfer market, Munster Granted there will be a cess levels of the academy, if it
by architect David Lennon The new central focus has Rugby can now be confident new man at the helm next was needed. All things con-
of Reddy Architects & Urb- lead to improvements in per- of being able to ‘grow their season as Anthony Daly has sidered, amateur or profes-
anism. formance on the pitch as well own’ when it comes to talent. stepped aside, but the pro- sional, Limerick sport is most
Previously the Munster as more success of the field, The same can be said for cess of the academy is so definitely on the up.
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www.mic.ie16 LIMERICK LEADER www.limerickleader.ie Saturday, November 25, 2017
City housing
must come
before jobs
Residential to catch up with office announcements
MARIA FLANNERY The same website brings ‘we want to have 1,000 em-
e-mail: maria.flannery@limerickleader.ie up just over 100 properties ployees in Limerick’, could
Twitter: @mariaflan for sale in the city — with we take the company? We
prices increasing as the de- couldn’t. We just couldn’t be-
THE AVAILABILITY of mand creeps up. cause of a lack of housing,” he
housing — or lack thereof — Dr James Ring, CEO of said.
Limerick Chamber of Com- There was a step in the
is one of the defining de- merce, deals every day with right direction when, this The famous chimney stack of the old Cleeves factory: the desire for high quality residential space in the
bates of the decade. companies looking to make a past October, one of the city may be seeping into the thinking of developers Limerick Twenty Thirty
The good news for Limerick biggest residential projects
is that thousands of new outside Dublin was an-
jobs are promised in the The inclusion of nounced for Mungret. will fit into an outstanding ating office space. Box ticked. ‘doughnut effect’ on the out-
next ten years. The bad houses at the old Limerick Twenty Thirty location that comes with But where is the residential? skirts — it would make sense
news is that a nationwide announced it will develop 850 already developed schools, a Where is the retail? Where is to develop residential in Lim-
housing shortage threatens Cleeve’s factory re- houses on the grounds of public park, playground area the public transport invest- erick’s core.
to worsen, as the new em- development is “up Mungret college, part of a and existing residential. Very ment? Where are the gyms, It looks like Limerick
ployees struggle to find a wider programme of invest- few sites in the country would cinemas, playgrounds, bas- Twenty Thirty may have
place to live. there” in (Limerick ment in public and private have this level of infrastruc- ketball courts and public taken this idea to heart. This
At the time of going to 2030’s) thinking housing. It’s hoped the pro- ture already at hand,” said spaces? Where is the focus on month, executive Kieran
print, there were a total of 18 ject will add further mo- CEO of 2030, David Conway. design?” he wrote. Reeves said the inclusion of
residential properties avail- mentum to Limerick’s Nigel Dugdale wrote in his Mungret is a priority area houses at the old Cleeve’s
able to rent on Daft.ie in ‘Lim- move to the Treaty city. emergence in recent years as City View column that the within the Limerick metro- factory redevelopment is “up
erick city centre’ — an area, “Housing is a big issue. It's a major destination for in- new Limerick vision should politan district, and is a there” in the company’s
for the website, which not easy to get on the housing ward investment. Limerick be “about creating a vibrant zoned urban extension of thinking.
stretches out to Mayorstone ladder,” he commented this Twenty Thirty is now em- city, a city where people Limerick city under the One of the ideas for the site
and Singland, but does not in- week. barking on planning the site young and old can live, work Southern Environs Local is a convention centre, to
clude the major suburbs “There isn’t a lot of avail- and seeking planning per- and play”. Area Plan. allow Limerick the chance to
Dooradoyle and Castletroy. able housing. It is ridiculous mission. “The key announcements But with so many vacant compete for lucrative busi-
Rent in most of these costs how low the number of “This will be a particularly made over recent years seem buildings and under- ness tourism. But the large
close to, or more than, €1,000 houses are. Let’s just say a attractive residential devel- only to be focusing on the developed areas closer to the site could also include resid-
per month. company came in and said, opment. The development working aspect. We are cre- city centre, and the infamous ential, offices or arts spaces.
In Limerick the
stars from January 2017 to
October 2017 is at 74.95%,
compared to 71.7% for the
same period in 2016.
Absolute Hotel
“ Limerick is a good value
destination with affordable
hotel rates and good availab-
means business
ility. As more groups travel to
Limerick, the poor percep-
tion of the city is abating.
Limerick has great night life,
shops, boutiques and plenty
These are exciting times for plays an important role in at- of city activities to entertain.
Limerick, as last week’s an- tracting and keeping FDI Word is out that Limerick is a
nouncement of the €85m companies,” she told the safe, affordable fun place to
loan from the European In- Leader. visit for a weekend away.”
vestment Bank to help de- “From the taxi driver to Winning the 2017 Gold
velop the city’s opera site the concierges in the hotel, Medal Award for best busi-
has underlined. companies feel at home and ness hotel underlined the
The Absolut
Absolutee won
won be
be s t
Some 3,000 jobs are ex- know that colleagues travel- Absolute’s credentials in this
business
business hot
hotel in the Gold
pected to flow from that- ling from abroad will be made area.
Medal
Medal Aw
Aw ards
ards this Sept
September
ember
development, and the role of feel welcome. General manager Don-
the hospitality industry in “Year-to-date corporate nacha Hurley said, “I could
helping achieve that ambi- travel into Shannon and Lim- based in Limerick. FDI companies are left ferred corporate rates with not be prouder, it is fantastic
tious target is critical, says erick represented €4,295,219 “The team is on hand to feeling that Limerick is a the hotel. for the staff; we have been
Absolute Hotel sales and and 27,413 room nights, this help with any event and en- place that means business.” “The resurgence in Lim- nominated for the last three
marketing manager Melanie is a 20% increase on revenue sure that their needs and cli- The Absolute is the closest erick has been plain to see in years, so to bring it home is
Lennon. from previous year (source ents’ needs are met. city centre hotel to the busy the past four years and there just a great boost to all here
As a key member of the travelclick.com). “Each staff member re- National Technology Park has been a marked increase “We are the number one
team that won business hotel “Here at the Absolute cognises the importance of and provides accommoda- in occupancy in the four-star hotel in Limerick on TripAd-
of the year at this year’s Gold Hotel we have always corporate guests that stay tion to some of the largest hotel market here, says Ms visor, so coupled with this, it
Medal awards, she is well fostered good relations with and visit the hotel and do corporate employers in the Lennon. is the recognition that keeps
placed to comment. the local IDA office and inter- their part to ensure that the region - Northern Trust, Vis- “According to trending.ie us focused on the customer
“The hospitality sector national companies that are representatives from these takon and Cook all have pre- occupancy in Limerick four and on our values.”You can also read
