Sandyford Industrial Estate

My own involvement in Sandyford marked the renewal of my focus from the UK to Ireland in the 1980’s John Flynn and myself came together to buy an 8 acre site from Dun Laoghaire Co. Council via tender. Having acquired the site we broadened the partnership to include Dave Colgan, Pat Ryan and Jim Flynn. Tenants included AIB and some US tech companies. There were some ‘own door’ offices for smaller companies. It was a good time in Ireland’s economic cycle and this project was one of the first I undertook as I re-focused on Ireland.

The economic background in Ireland in the early 1980's was that we were experiencing a significant influx of (FDI) foreign direct investment, particularly from large American technology companies. This was a pivotal time in Ireland's economic development, and the arrival of companies like Microsoft played a key role in shaping the country's business landscape.
 

Sandyford was a location which had the ideal connectivity and in decades to follow became part of the Silicon Valley economy based in Ireland.

National policy actively supported this growth by;

• Attracting foreign investment to boost its economy. The government implemented policies that offered tax incentives,
  grants, and a skilled workforce to attract multinational companies.

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• Microsoft, founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, established its  presence in Ireland in 1985. The company's decision to set up  operations in Dublin was influenced by Ireland's pro-business  environment, English-speaking workforce, and favorable tax  policies.

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• The arrival of othe major American companies, contributed significantly to Ireland's economic growth. These companies  brought employment opportunities, technological expertise, and international business connections and strengthened Ireland's position as a competitive destination for international business.

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• Dublin, in particular, emerged as a hub for technology and  international business making it a central location for the European operations of many multinational corporations.