Ciara O'Brien

Ciara O'Brien

Ciara O'Brien is an Irish Times business and technology journalist

Google Pixel 6a: The best of Pixel 6 and 6 Pro at a lower price

Tech Tools: With 5G network support and 12MP dual camera, the 6a is great value

Garmin Fenix 7S smartwatch: Will take everything you can throw at it

The 7S is a rugged, understated watch that delivers all the fitness features you need

Revolut is just one of the new generation of fintech firms that have made inroads into the banking market in Ireland. Photograph: Thiago Prudencio/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
How you can make those pandemic savings build wealth for your future

A new generation of app-based investment platforms are opening up the world of share trading to the average person

Sony Linkbuds S have ambient sound so you can interact with the world around you, and noise cancelling that will cut out everything when you’d rather not.
Tech Tools: Linkbuds S give you all-the-time audio

Sony offers crystal-clear chat, immersive sound and high-resolution audio support

The new features were announced at Stripe Sessions, the company’s annual conference. Photograph: Budrul Chukrut/Sopa Images/LightRocket
Stripe unveils new third-party app marketplace

Irish unicorn Intercom among the launch partners for new tools

From left to right: Stuart Gaffikin, Clarendon Fund Managers with Aramune chief financial officer Stuart Gibson; chief executive Ashley Cooper; chief science officer Prof Brian Green; Oisin Lappin from QUBIS and Dr Chris Nicklin, Aramune chief technical officer.
Aramune Technologies raises €932,000 in funding round

Cash to be used to develop the industrial-scale manufacturing process for its first product

CropSafe co-founders John McElhone and Michael McLaughlin built the first version of the technology when they were still in school
Agtech firm CropSafe raises €2.8 million in seed funding

Company will use money to expand its software engineering, product management, and design teams

Mandy Lamb, managing director UK and Ireland, Visa, entrepreneur Pamela Laird who is supporting the campaign and Ruth Deasy, co-founder of Bear Market Coffee. Photograph: Conor Healy/Picture It Photography
Visa opens second year of support programme for women entrepreneurs

She’s Next initiative will provide grants and support to entrepreneurs

An artisit’s impression of the proposed Apple development at Hollyhill in Cork.
Apple to expand Cork campus with room for 1,300 employees

Planning application lodged for project which is set to be completed in 2025

Founded in 2017 by Peter Windischhofer, Kilian Kaminski and Jürgen Riedl, Refurbed launched in Ireland in March 2021
Refurbed widens Irish product range as it targets further growth

Online marketplace adds PlayStation 4 and Game Boy Colour to product line

This decision marks another step towards KBC’s exit of the Irish market. Photograph: Getty Images
Competition watchdog clears sale of KBC loans to Bank of Ireland

Conditions of sale include making €1bn of funding available to non-bank lenders

The deal, which is expected to close in the second quarter of the year, will see Greencoat’s total installed capacity rise to 1,079MW. Photograph: iStock
Greencoat Renewables acquires four windfarms in France

Move is part of wider European expansion strategy

Sean Owens, founder of Willows Consulting, and Conor Buckley, chief executive of Granite Digital
Granite Digital acquires Dublin-based Willows Consulting

Company’s latest acquisition will add 120 customers and is part of ongoing growth strategy

Irish company Wellola has secured contracts with NHS trusts in Britain. Photograph: iStock
Wellola raises €1m in funding as patient portal aims to grow its business

Healthcare communication platform targets UK public health sector

Deborah Threadgold: ‘As long as you’re learning something and being tested, because no-one should go into a job they find easy’
IBM chief confident Big Blue can keep pace with evolution of technology

Deborah Threadgold is focused on ‘the difference we can make with technology and what it can actually do’

ServiceNow began operating the programme in 2019, and had a waiting list of 200 people for the pilot phase in Ireland. Photograph: iStock
ServiceNow offers tech training course to refugees

Nine-week programme aimed at closing technical skills gap

Deciphex COO Mairin Rafferty with chief executive Donal O’Shea.
Digital pathology company Deciphex raises $11.5m in funding

Irish company’s software is designed to help make pathology more efficient

Billing was the cause of most complaints against energy companies. Photograph: iStock
One-third of complaints against energy suppliers upheld

Regulator dealt with 186 complex grievances last year

The NTMA is aiming to raise between €10 billion and €14 billion in the international bond markets this year. Photograph: iStock
NTMA raises €750m in short-term debt

Total bids amounted to almost twice the offer size

NCBI service users comedian Robbie Ford and former Rose of Tralee Aine Sullivan at the launch of myNCBI Smart Hub, an innovative voice based platform to support people with disabilities worldwide. Photograph: Andres Poveda
Blindness charity launches new voice-based service for smart speakers

Innovative platform will give users access to information and support services

AquaStop is part of the company’s high-performance paper portfolio. File photograph: iStock
Smurfit Kappa showcases water-resistant, recyclable paper packaging

AquaStop paper could be used for e-commerce, or packaging detergent, fruit and vegetables

At Eir fixed line revenue rose by 4% to €235m.
Eir loses broadband customers even as revenues rise

Company says its fibre to the home programme now passes 800,000 premises

Review: Withings sleep analyser

Unobtrusive and easy to use, this device will reveal a range of data including sleep apnoea

Sisu co-founders Dr James Cotter, Pat Phelan and Dr Brian Cotter
Cork entrepreneur’s pivot from tech to beauty is paying off

Sisu is targeting the title of largest aesthetic group on the planet by the end of the year

Pixel Buds Pro being previewed during the virtual Google I/O developers conference in New York, US, earlier this month. Photograph: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg
Tech Tools: Google’s new pixel buds will deliver the sound of silence

Pixel Buds Pro offer active noise cancelling, seven-hour battery life and much more

JLab Talk Go USB microphone: USB-powered device works with your laptop or desktop computer.
Tech Tools: JLab Talk Go USB microphone boosts your sound

Take things up an audio level with this lightweight laptop recording device

Founded in 2017 by Fintain Buckley, John Bourke and Aubrey Dunne, the Dublin-headquartered company’s products and services are used by the global space industry to deliver real-time insights, including the energy efficient CogniSat on-board processing system. Photograph: iStock
Space tech start-up Ubotica Technologies raises €4m in seed funding

Company’s products and service used by space industry

Leo Lynch has worked with number of major companies in Ireland, including Dublin Airport Authority at its Terminal 2 Energy Centre
US investor takes majority stake in Irish engineering firm Leo Lynch

Texas-based Cathexis Holdings says engineering firm will ‘remain Irish’

Tenants pay their rent into Property Wallet, with each tenancy having its own bank account. Photograph: iStock
Home Made launches ‘property wallet’ to spread landlord costs

New feature is designed to be more cost-effective than once-off agent fees

C&C makes and distributes a range of drinks brands in Ireland, including Bulmers. Photograph: Bryan O’Brien
C&C revenues bounce back as Covid restrictions eased

Company warns of mounting pressures from inflation

Sustain.Life’s platform makes it easier and more affordable to measure, manage and report carbon emissions and environmental impact. Photograph: iStock
Sustain.Life announces $16m seed investment

Mike Hanrahan firm aims to help SMEs take climate action with actual clout

The FTSE 100 index ended 0.6% higher, with pharma giants such as AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline and oil majors Shell and BP among top boosts.
European shares close flat on weak Chinese economic information

Building and travel stocks struggle on Iseq

Swedish fintech Klarna has added a new suite of money management tools to its app for Irish users. Photograph: iStock
Swedish payments company Klarna adds budgeting tools to app for Irish users

Payments company officially launched in the fledgling buy-now-pay-later market in the Republic in November 2021

Businessman analyzing investment charts. Accounting
Cork-based Keelvar raises €23m in Series B funding round

Latest move brings total amount to $43m

Venture capital funding for Irish technology start-ups slumped in the first quarter of the year, despite an overall increase of more than 50 per cent in financial backing for the tech sector overall.
Venture capital funding for tech start-ups slumps

Investors more interested in higher value deals, survey finds

AIB gained 2.8 per cent over the day, ending at €2.216. Photograph: Alan Betson
Global shares advance as investors go bargain hunting

Twitter stock tanks after Elon Musk puts $44bn deal on hold, but Tesla stock rises

VisionR founders Oran Mulvey and Shane O’Sullivan with Dermot Berkery (of Delta Partners): ‘So understanding everything about shoppers when they come into your store, through the purchases they make while they’re inside. We allow retailers to personalise that whole journey.’
Customer analysis start-up raises €1.5m and rebrands as VisionR

VisionR system harvests anonymised data on customer behaviour in physical shop spaces

In Dublin, the average rent of €2,102 per month outstripped the annualised national minimum wage by almost €4,000, according to Daft.ie. Photograph: iStock
Small firms could come under pressure from soaring rents – Isme

Business group says many employers cannot afford to increase wages to cover higher costs

Wayflyer co-founder Aidan Corbett when he received a NovaUCD Outstanding Achievement award earlier this year. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw
Irish unicorn Wayflyer eyes further growth as it secures $300m debt line

JP Morgan finance will allow company to offer more competitive rates to customers

Jimmy Martin, chief executive of Limerick-based AMCS
Irish-headquartered AMCS to buy German firm Quentic

Waste and recycling management software group also getting equity investment

The National Treasury Management Agency has sold €1.25 billion in bonds at a scheduled auction. Photograph: iStock
NTMA raises €1.25bn in latest bond auction

Agency has raised €5.75bn from benchmark debt sales in 2022

Photograph: iStock
Irish organisations warned about increased cyber attack risk

Experts warn public support for Ukraine could make Ireland a target for Russian supporters

Dalata chief executive Dermot Crowley: ‘This transaction represents excellent value and will assist us in our continued focus on securing central opportunities in attractive cities of the UK and continental Europe.’ Photograph: Damien Eagers
Dalata sells north London hotel for €24.7m

Clayton Crown Hotel no longer considered core asset for group

Ugreen HiTune T3 earbuds: You get seven hours out of a single charge.
Tech Tools: Ugreen wireless earbuds – affordable and functional

HiTune T3 buds include Bluetooth 5.2 and use AI to filter out background noise

Garmin Vivofit Jr 3: You can set reminders, times and chores from the parent app, and monitor activity.
Tech Tools: Child-focused tracker from Garmin

Vivofit Jr 3 rewards 60 minutes of activity with Star Wars-themed adventure

The Vodafone service is flexible, so you can take the modem anywhere you have access to a power outlet
Vodafone 5G Mobile Broadband: High-speed internet – depending on your location

Where 5G isn’t available, the modem defaults to 4G which is enough to stream video

The new Google Pixel 6a and Pixel Buds Pro.
Google unveils new low-cost Pixel phone, Watch and teases tablet return

Company is aiming to make Pixel tablet the most intelligent yet

Dr Karen English, whose research focuses on a cell-based therapy that is being investigated as a treatment for patients suffering from acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Maynooth researchers to get €4.8m from Science Foundation Ireland

Funded projects to cover areas such as as crop resilience and DNA

A 3 per cent content levy would fund up to €100 million of homegrown production activity annually, said James Hickey, former head of Screen Ireland. Photograph: Getty Images
Irish screen industry calls for content levy on streaming and pay TV

Sector could lose out on potential €25m a year and fall behind rest of EU, webinar told

Mary Gamble (left), director of fundraising, marketing and communications, Barnardos Ireland; Richard O’Brien, co-lead of Dell Technologies Cherrywood Community; Judy O’Toole, co-lead of Dell Technologies Cherrywood Community and Denis Lucey, vice president EMEA Infrastructure Support Services and Cherrywood site leader, Dell Technologies Ireland. Photograph: Naoise Culhane
Dell Technologies extends partnership with children’s charity Barnardos

Charity says support has helped children and families with 25,000 hours of family help and 600,000 meals

William McKeon, president and chief executive of Texas Medical Center, left, and Leo Clancy, CEO of Enterprise Ireland, at the announcement of a strategic partnership. Photograph: Maxwell’s
Enterprise Ireland forms innovation partnership with Texas Medical Center

Partnership designed to lead to improvements in patient health and care

Julie Ennis, chief executive officer, corporate services, Sodexo UK and Ireland with Jason Popplewell, chief commercial officer and Val Cassidy, head of partnerships and integrations with Wayleadr, at the Sodexo Accelerator pitch day in Dublin
Wayleadr chosen to take part in accelerator programme

Start-up only Irish company chosen for UK and Ireland programme

HP’s new managing director Val Gabriel.
HP appoints new managing director for Ireland

HP veteran Val Gabriel to take up role as Gary Tierney retires

Arrotek co-founders Ger O’Carroll and Mark Pugh: the company is planning a 20,000sq ft extension to its premises at Finisklin Business Park in Sligo. Photograph: James Connolly
Medical device company Arrotek to create 100 jobs in Sligo

Company has been given approval for multimillion euro extension at headquarters

Microsoft Ireland has worked with Enable Ireland on a number of assistive technology projects in the past two decades. Photograph: Lucy Nicholson/Reuters
Enable Ireland teams up with Microsoft to create assistive technology course

E-learning collaboration aimed at teachers, special needs assistants and parents

ESW chief executive Tommy Kelly: he said Scalefast’s technology offering was highly complementary with his company. Photograph: Dara Mac Donaill
Irish ecommerce group ESW in €285m deal for Scalefast

American online store software specialists gives ESW access to new business sectors

Oliver Loomes, chief executive of Eir and Chris Kelly, director at EasyGo. The two companies have teamed up to provide seven EV charging stations in Carlow.
Eir begins roll-out of electric chargers with EasyGo

Joint project plans to swap unused phone booths for fast chargers

Fusion Antibodies specialises in pre-clinical antibody discovery. Photograph: iStock
Fusion Antibodies revenues rise 14% despite Covid challenges

Belfast biotech says growth is in line with expectations

SuperNode chairman Eddie O’Connor
SuperNode raises €14m in new funds from shareholders

Eddie O’Connor-backed business focuses on energy technology

Iput chief executive Niall Gaffney. Photograph: Laura Hutton
Iput to fund forestry initiative in Cork to offset carbon emissions

Company has partnered with local landowner to maintain native forestry project

Employees ‘want more than headline rates of pay’. Photograph: iStock
Unemployment rate falls to 4.1% as Covid bounce-back continues

Inflation impact could temper jobs market over coming months, economists warn

The five-year deal will be subject to a number of milestones.
Diaceutics signs $1m deal with global pharma company

Five-year multiproduct deal will expand Diaceutics’

Glanbia said it took ‘significant action’ to mitigate inflation in the first quarter
Strong start to 2022 for Glanbia as revenues rise in first quarter

Price hikes and volume increases drive revenue higher

Howdens supplies thousands of products directly to trade professionals, including kitchens, worktops, appliances, doors, joinery, flooring and hardware
Howdens to open six trade kitchen outlets in Republic

First depot to open in Stillorgan today, with rest following throughout year and into 2023

Novaerus Defend 400: Breathe easier in a post-Covid environment

Tech Tools: This pathogen inactivation and filtration system will really clear the air

Garmin Quatix: The perfect smart watch for the life aquatic

Tech Tools: Before you set sail, check out new boating features such as tide alerts

Enabot Ebo Air: although it found its way out of most situations thanks to its ball shape, when it was on its own security patrols it occasionally got stuck or lost its way home
The Enabot Ebo Air – will this robot enhance your life?

It was fun to roll Ebo out while I was elsewhere in the house to surprise a four-year-old trying to raid the biscuits

The services sector has recorded expansion every month since March 2021, and maintained levels above the long-run survey trend level of 55.1 since April last year.
Inflation continues to drive up service sector prices

AIB Purchasing Managers’ Index shows fastest rise in charges in 20-plus years

Cofounder of Send-Off Henry Joseph-Grant.
Belfast start-up Send-Off appoints six new advisors as it ramps up for launch

Grief management start-up is preparing to come out of stealth mode

Open Orphan was founded by Cathal Friel, current executive chairman of the company.
Open Orphan subsidiary signs deal with global pharma company

Deal will see hVivo manufacture virus for use in human challenge studies

Photograph: iStock
PublicRelay to create 40 jobs in Waterford as it opens media analytics centre

US communications specialist adds third office to Irish operations

Vyta chief executive and founder Philip McMichael, chief commercial officer Faye Thomas and new chief development officer Leigh Medhurst
IT asset disposal firm Vyta secures €13m investment for growth strategy

Funding will give MML Growth Capital Partners Ireland a minority shareholding

Co-founders of Fuel Brian McDermott and Jamie Deasy with newly appointed Cork director Leigh Gillen
Fuel expands into Munster with acquisition of Leigh Gillen Events

It is understood the two companies will have combined projected revenue growth of €6m

An Post subsidiary GeoDirectory is facing a complaint from the Irish Council for Civil Liberties over what the organisation says is the sale of “incredibly personal” information to organisations such as Experian and Aviva.
An Post subsidiary GeoDirectory faces complaint from civil liberties council

ICCL concerned over sale of ‘incredibly personal’ information to organisations such as Experian and Aviva

Attendees turn on the lights on their phones and raise them after being prompted to do so by Paddy Cosgrave, co-founder of the Web Summit, during the opening of the tech conference in Lisbon in 2018. Photograph: AP Photo/Armando Franca
Web Summit to take place in Rio de Janeiro in its first move outside Europe

Company aims to create largest international tech event in South America

US-based sales and marketing software company ActiveCampaign has acquired transactional email provider Postmark for an undisclosed sum, as the company continues its rapid growth. Photograph: iStock
ActiveCampaign acquires Postmark as it builds on rapid growth

Deal will be ‘game-changer’ for market, sales and marketing software company says

Finbar Dolan, chief executive of Versono Medical. said the funds were raised from a mix of existing investors.
Galway medtech Versono Medical raises €6.7m in funding

Company will use funding to bring intravascular device to market

John Ward, co-founder and CEO, and Kevin Ward, co-founder and COO of ServBlock.
Irish firm headed to Swiss ‘crypto valley’ for accelerator programme

ServBlock uses blockchain tech to ensure quality across healthcare supply chains

Almost three quarters of leading Irish companies do not have an accessible website, a study has found.
Irish company websites fail to meet accessibility guidelines

New audit shows sites do not meet EU guidelines for people with disabilities

Clare-based HR software company HRLocker is seeking to raise funding, with a pre-seed round of €2 million.
Clare-based HRLocker seeks €2m in funding round

Company plans expansion into UK market

Overall, gas demand rose 15 per cent month on month, contributing 41 per cent to electricity supply, compared to 33 per cent for wind power. Coal’s share was also higher rising from 10 per cent in February to 14 per cent in March.
Gas demand increases in March as renewable electricity generation falls

Coal’s share of supply rises to 14%

Paddy Cosgrave is facing legal action by former Web Summit PR executive Mark O’Toole
Web Summit’s Paddy Cosgrave being sued for defamation

Former employee takes case over series of tweets in latest action against entrepreneur

Kingspan reported group sales were up 47 per cent to €1.89 billion
‘Record’ first quarter for Kingspan as sales rise

But raw material inflation returned sharply in recent weeks, insulation group says

Pedro Josse Velasco Tumina, leader of the Misak people of Colombia, travelled to Ireland to attend the AGM of Smurfit Kappa. Photograph: Stephen Bradley/AP
Smurfit Kappa revenue rises in first quarter

Challenges for firm included higher costs and war in Ukraine, chief executive says

KBC Bank is exiting the Irish market
KBC extends notice period for current account closure to six months

Customers were previously told they would have 90 days to switch provider

Junior minister Robert Troy said he expected this will be the final extension of temporary Covid provisions for business. Photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins
State extends Covid business support measures

Final extension of pandemic provisions helping struggling or recovering businesses.

Revenue from Grafton’s Irish merchanting business rose 34%. Grafton is Woodies’ parent company. Photograph: Laura Hutton
Grafton reports positive trading with revenue rising

Woodies trades above pre-pandemic level of 2019

The Samuel Hotel in Dublin, a €39m four-star hotel overlooking the Liffey in the city’s docklands area
Hotel group Dalata bounces back as Covid worries recede

Revenue per room approaching pre-pandemic levels

Asaf Navot: ‘To address the housing crisis you need to build a lot, but you also have to let it efficiently’
Home Made set to enter the Irish market

The UK-based proptech start-up plans to target the build-to-rent sector

Kerry Group headquarters in Naas, Co Kildare: reported revenue was up 8.1 per cent in the first quarter
Kerry Group reaffirms 2022 guidance after strong start to year

Lifting of Covid-19 restrictions sees demand for Kerry products rise in Q1

The new site at Killamonan is adjacent to the 64-acre Cherryhound land that Iput acquired last year
Iput doubles logistics portfolio with €50m development land deal

Real estate company has bought 118 acres in north Dublin for its Nexus Distribution Park

Doomsday Alarm Clock: Telling you when your time’s up

Tech Tools: From nuclear war to asteroids, this app guarantees a rude awakening

Sennheiser Sport True Wireless: Earbuds that just won’t budge

Tech Tools: these buds will deliver perfect sound through the most intense workout

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra: Monster-sized tablet with impressive display

Tech Tools: The perfect device for work, entertainment and multitasking – to a point

It may once have been the case that you couldn’t live without Netflix, but is that still true? Are you paying for Now passes you don’t use? Photograph: iStock
Why taking a hard look at your streaming subscriptions pays off

Cutting them loose may be the answer but stream hopping, discounts and deals might be better alternatives

Deloitte Ireland chief executive Harry Goddard welcomed the deal. Photograph: Jason Clarke
Deloitte Ireland buys Ennis-based tax practice

Firm acquires Cahill Taxation Services to create largest tax practice in midwest

Photograph: iStock
Planning system must be modernised, says British Irish Chamber

Renewable energy should be prioritised, event told

Francesca McDonagh was Bank of Ireland’s first woman chief executive when she was appointed in October 2017 to succeed Richie Boucher. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill
Francesca McDonagh appointed to senior role at Credit Suisse

Bank of Ireland’s departing CEO hails positive start to 2022 in trading statement but warns about threat of inflation

A demonstration of the Shiftall Haritora X full-body tracking system for metaverse experiences. Photograph: Patrick T Fallon/AFP via Getty
Irish businesses display ‘healthy scepticism’ towards metaverse

Most firms happy with the more tech-centric ‘new normal’ catalysed by pandemic

Businesswoman laptop using , online shopping concept.Vintage concept
Ecommerce data analytics platform Conjura raises €15m in Series A round

Money will be used to expand into new markets and develop new products

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