InBus_Win09_1-55:InBusiness 1-61 11/12/2009 16:17 Page 34
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One of the great success stories of the Celtic Tiger era was the growth of the digital
media industry. Now, as Ireland struggles with economic turmoil and further job cuts,
Anne Whelton finds out what’s in store for the industry in 2010.
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Let’s Get DIGITAL
OVER THE LAST NUMBER of years the Irish required to ensure that the industry survives the digital content and technology sector in
Government and IDA Ireland, have been and thrives in the coming years. Ireland is growing despite the recession.” Since
working on developing Ireland’s profile as a its inception in 2001, The Digital Hub has been
world-class supplier of creativity and digital THE ‘R’ WORD Ireland’s flagship in the digital media sector.
technology products and services. Although it is So how has the industry faired during the Located in Dublin’s south west inner city, the
still a relatively young industry, it is estimated recession? So far the digital media industry has complex houses approximately 100 companies
that there are approximately 150 companies emerged relatively unscathed from the with a full-time staff of 850 people, making it
trading in the realm of digital media in Ireland, economic crisis of the last 18 months. Despite the largest digital media cluster in the country.
from home-grown SMEs to global inevitable job cuts in all sectors, the digital According to Dr Brennan the main aim of The
multinationals. Ireland’s efforts to develop and media industry has weathered the storm well, Digital Hub is to create an international centre
rebrand our economy will no doubt be and has even experienced some signs of of excellence for knowledge, innovation and
complemented in the European context with growth. Joan Mulvihill, CEO of the IIA (Irish creativity focused on digital content and
the recent appointment of Máire Geoghegan Internet Association) says: “All businesses have - technology enterprises.
Quinn to the College of Commissioners of come under pressure in the past year and our Marc Van Wesemael, General Manager of
the EU with responsibility for research members are not immune. However, there does EURid – the European registry for internet
and innovation. seem to be a great appetite for new business domain names – has similar news to report
Digital media plays a significant role in our with a lot of exciting start-ups on the horizon.” from the domain name sector of the industry.
daily lives, in both the workplace and the home. Dr Stephen Brennan, Director of Marketing While 2009 has brought challenges and a sense
From ebusiness and broadband services to and Strategy with The Digital Hub Development of cynicism to the marketplace, Van Wesemael
social networking and gaming, it is difficult to Agency, agrees with Mulvihill and says the says that new domain name registrations have
imagine how the modern world would function industry is coping well. “The digital content and hardly been affected by the crisis. “Since July,
without the digital industry. Yet, as we enter technology sector in Ireland has fared well so far the number of new registrations per month is
2010, digital media companies trading in Ireland during the global economic downturn. If we use considerably and consistently higher than the
face new challenges from raising much needed The Digital Hub cluster as an indicator for the number of new registrations we have had in the
capital to retaining the highly skilled personnel industry nationally, the numbers employed by same months in the two previous years,” he
34 InBusiness Winter 09
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