April-September 2000

After several years of rapid growth, the NASDAQ stock market crashes in April, mounts a partial recovery, then slumps into a steady decline.

January 2001

Ebeon, one of the Republic's rising stars in the e-business sector, closes its doors suddenly and without warning. About 170 staff are made redundant and some overseas employees are not paid their final month's salaries.

March 2001

Formus Broadband closes in Dublin six months after launching its wireless Internet service. More than 70 people lose their jobs, and shares held by Irish executives in US parent Formus Communications become worthless overnight. Nua, the Internet content firm co-founded by Gerry McGovern, closes with the loss of 35 jobs. Another 35 employees had been let go earlier in the year.

April 2001

Breakaway Solutions, a web design firm, closes its Dublin office with the loss of 35 jobs. Several former classmates at UCD lose millions as shares in the US parent lose their value.

August 2001

Smartcard developer Cardbase Technologies makes 29 people redundant; an examiner is appointed.

September 2001

Almost 250 people lose their jobs at the Dublin-based Internet banking operation First-e.

Just a few months before, the company's founder, Gerhard Huber, had told The Irish Times he was confident it could survive. Other prominent firms on the dotcom casualty list include Rondomondo, Ingredients.net and Viasec.

Following the events of September 11th, the outlook for the technology sector remains shaky and few predict a rapid recovery.