Category: Irish Tech News

Ireland’s Ekco acquires UK’s Solsoft in latest rapid growth move

Ekco, one of Europe’s leading security-first managed service providers (MSPs), announced the acquisition of UK-based Solsoft Group Limited. Ekco, founded and headquartered in Dublin, is on an aggresive acquisition trail, with Solsoft marking its third acquisition this year.

Solsoft is a Bristol-headquartered MSP with over 26 years of experience delivering proactive IT services to small-and-medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and not-for-profit organisations across the South and Southwest of the UK. Key sectors include legal services, construction, engineering, energy, health, and social care. The company’s 16-strong team will join Ekco’s workforce of more than 1,000 people globally across Ireland, UK, Netherlands, Malaysia, and South Africa.

Solsoft will form part of the Ekco MSP Division and expand Ekco’s capabilities in the UK market under the leadership of Cian Prendergast. The latest deal in Ekco’s ambitious growth strategy, Solsoft is the seventh company to be acquired by Ekco in the last two years. This acquisition follows the purchases of MSPs Radius and Adapt IT, marking another milestone in Ekco’s strategy to build a unified MSP platform across Europe.

Solsoft is led by Managing Director Neil Farnworth and Operations Director Ilona Clark, who together bring over 40 years of industry experience to the business.

Paul Nannetti, Chair of Ekco, said: “Solsoft is a fantastic addition to the Ekco MSP Division as we accelerate our expansion strategy and continue to grow our footprint and capabilities in key markets. Their long-standing commitment to proactive service and their alignment with industry best practices give us real confidence in a fast, effective integration and a stronger UK presence—delivered with the discipline and consistency our customers expect.”

Cian Prendergast, CEO of the Ekco MSP Division, said: “Having known Solsoft very well for many years, we have always admired their rock solid, client focused, proactive service in the UK. With Ekco’s world class expertise in security-first managed services and cutting-edge technology, this partnership is a perfect match – and we are looking forward to growing and learning together.”

Neil Farnworth, Managing Director of Solsoft, added: “Joining Ekco lets us bring more capability and resilience to our customers, backed by Ekco’s scale—while maintaining the responsiveness they value. Our aligned ways of working and approaches to service delivery means we can really hit the ground running.”

Ookla: Ireland H1 2025 Connectivity Report

When Ookla was founded in 2006, high-speed home internet was just becoming available in many locations, and consumers needed a reliable way to test their network speed. Speedtest®, the company’s flagship product, is the most accurate tool for measuring a network’s capabilities. Today, modern connected experiences require reliable, consistently high performance across many additional metrics beyond download speed, including low latency for gaming, high-quality video streaming, good upload speeds for teleconferencing, and fast page load times while browsing on a mobile device.

In this evolving connectivity landscape, Ookla remains fiercely committed to measuring worldwide internet performance — as well as availability, quality of service (QoS), and quality of experience (QoE) of fixed broadband and mobile networks. For over 17 years, Ookla has been perfecting the way we test connectivity services and transparently reporting on their performance. By capturing real-world metrics and delivering insights back to network operators and policymakers, Ookla serves as the bridge between consumers and the telecommunications industry.

Every day, millions of people press the “Go” button on Speedtest to better understand the performance and quality of their internet connections. This consumer-initiated testing reflects how people actually experience the internet, when and where it actually matters to them. Because Ookla has the world’s largest network of testing servers located across every country and major population center, Speedtest does not introduce any extra travel time as the data passes between the device and server — which provides the most accurate measure of real-world network speed.

In addition to consumer-initiated testing, Ookla collects billions of mobile network samples daily, which measure radio signal levels, network coverage and availability, and QoE metrics for a number of connected experiences, such as streaming video, video conferencing, gaming, web browsing, and CDN and cloud provider performance.

Data Collection Period: January – June 2025

Three led the mobile market across key performance metrics

Three was the fastest mobile provider in Ireland for all technologies combined and for 5G during 1H 2025. Across all technologies combined, Three recorded a median download speed of 70.36 Mbps, while on 5G it recorded 129.84 Mbps.

Three and Eir Fibre offered the best gaming experiences

Three offered the best 5G gaming experience in Ireland during 1H 2025, while Eir Fibre recorded the best gaming experience among ISPs.

Virgin Media the fastest fixed ISP in Ireland

Virgin Media was the fastest ISP in Ireland during 1H 2025 with a median download speed of 269.47 Mbps, and a median upload speed of 48.84 Mbps.

Limerick and Lucan were the top performing urban locations in Ireland

Among the most populous urban locations in Ireland, Limerick recorded the fastest median mobile download speed of 113.71 Mbps, while Lucan outpaced the other locations to record the fastest median fixed download speed, with 281.14 Mbps.

  • Three was the fastest mobile provider in Ireland for all technologies combined and for 5G during 1H 2025. Across all technologies combined, Three recorded a median download speed of 70.36 Mbps, while on 5G it recorded 129.84 Mbps.
  • Virgin Media was the fastest ISP in Ireland during 1H 2025 with a median download speed of 269.47 Mbps, and a median upload speed of 48.84 Mbps.
  • Three offered the best 5G gaming experience in Ireland during 1H 2025, while Eir Fibre recorded the best gaming experience among ISPs.
  • Among the most populous urban locations in Ireland, Limerick recorded the fastest median mobile download speed of 113.71 Mbps, while Lucan outpaced the other locations to record the fastest median fixed download speed, with 281.14 Mbps.

 

 

See the full report HERE

Ekco launches Cybersecurity Graduate Programme to tackle tech talent shortage

Ekco, one of Europe’s leading security-first managed service providers, today announces that it is launching its brand-new Cybersecurity Graduate Programme at the company’s Dublin HQ.

Creating roles for five graduates, the new 12-month programme will provide hands-on experience across six key areas of the business: security engineering, penetration testing, threat detection and response, cyber resiliency, security architecture, and GRC (governance, risk management, and compliance).

Based within the Professional Services practice, participants will work with more than 100 Ekco security specialists across a range of customers in the FinTech, construction, healthcare, retail, and public sectors. Graduates will learn how to apply cutting-edge cybersecurity tools and solutions to real-world scenarios, support customer growth, have the opportunity to earn industry-recognised certifications, and collaborate with Ekco’s global teams.

This exposure will equip graduates with the skills and experience to kickstart their careers in cybersecurity. They will also benefit from both one-to-one and group mentoring sessions, with clear pathways for progression and specialisation within Ekco. Additionally, this immersive programme will enable participants to become a key part of Ekco’s people-first culture, and contribute to a number of charitable and community initiatives.

Ekco is launching the programme in response to the ever-increasing demand for highly-skilled cybersecurity professionals and a growing cybersecurity talent shortage in Ireland. Initially creating roles for five graduates, Ekco will double this to 10 in 2026 and aims to continue to double the number year-on-year. The company also plans to expand the programme to its cloud division, and roll it out across its global locations including the UK and Malaysia.

Ekco is holding an assessment day at its Sir John Rogerson’s Quay HQ on Wednesday, 8th October 2025 for interested candidates, which will include talks from Ekco experts and candidate interviews. The Cybersecurity Graduate Programme will kick off later in October.

Declan Timmons, Managing Director for Professional Services, Ekco, said: “Most of us have that one person or role that helped us up the career ladder, and we want to be that step for graduates entering the workforce. We are opening the door to the next generation of cybersecurity talent, giving high-potential graduates the tools, mentorship, and experience to make an impact on the modern technology landscape. It will provide an invaluable opportunity to experience first-hand how cybersecurity operates at scale in complex, fast-paced environments, and enable graduates to see how their own contributions directly strengthen customers’ defences against real-world cyber threats. In an increasingly competitive talent market, we plan to expand the technology talent pool with skilled graduates who will bring fresh thinking and new ideas to both our business and to the wider industry.”

BurgerKing Blanchardstown now deliveirng with drones and Just Eat

Just Eat, Ireland’s leading on-demand food delivery platform, is delighted to announce the expansion of its drone delivery service in Dublin.

Through its partnership with drone delivery operator Manna, Just Eat customers within a 3km radius of Blanchardstown can now order from local restaurant partner and household name, Burger King. Located in the Blanchardstown Centre, Burger King joins Boojum as another partner now flying high with Just Eat in the Dublin 15 area.

Just Eat began working with Manna earlier this year as part of its ongoing mission to empower everyday convenience. At the same time, the platform introduced an AI Assistant to offer an even more innovative way to order. The partnership is designed to complement Just Eat’s extensive rider delivery network, improve operational efficiency during peak times, and provide customers with greater flexibility and convenience in how they receive their orders.

The collaboration marks a significant step forward in revolutionising food delivery in Ireland, combining Just Eat’s commitment to convenience with Manna’s cutting-edge drone technology, which continues to improve in speed, noise reduction, and delivery capacity.

Once the food is loaded onto the drone, customers will receive their orders within minutes. Each drone is equipped with advanced safety features and is continuously monitored by a dedicated dispatcher throughout its flight.

Amanda Roche-Kelly, Managing Director at Just Eat Ireland said: ‘At Just Eat, innovation is at the heart of everything we do. From expanding our drone delivery service with Manna in Dublin to leveraging the power of AI, we’re creating smarter, faster, and more flexible ways to deliver.

Over the past year, we’ve evolved from a single partner drone delivery trial to preparing our platform to support hundreds of restaurant and grocery partners. We’ve also expanded our service across all major consumer platforms, including iOS, Android, and web – ensuring more customers can access these innovations, no matter how they choose to order. We’re looking forward to working with Manna to bring even more partners to our drone delivery service in months to come’.

Eoghan Huston, Chief Operating Officer from Manna added: ‘We’re thrilled to continue building on our partnership with Just Eat to bring the future of food delivery to people in Dublin. Our zero emissions technology is designed to integrate seamlessly with platforms like Just Eat and deliver real impact, not just in speed and efficiency, but by making food delivery even more accessible to the communities we serve.

We’ve worked closely with the Just Eat team to scale this solution and fine-tune the user experience. Together, we’re setting a new standard for innovative delivery in Ireland, and we’re just getting started!’

Derek Mulligan, Director Of Operations from OKR Group: ‘We’re always looking for new ways to deliver the flame-grilled taste our customers love and teaming up with Just Eat and Manna allows us to do that in an incredibly innovative way. It’s exciting to be at the forefront of drone delivery in Ireland, bringing Whoppers and more to the skies over the Dublin 15 area.”

This partnership not only gives our customers more choice in how they enjoy Burger King but also opens new opportunities for us as a brand to reach more people in faster, more efficient ways.’

Dublin Zoo launches signed videos for deaf and hard of hearing visitors

Dublin Zoo today (Thursday) became the first Irish zoo to have Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpreted videos for deaf and hard of hearing visitors available through QR codes.

The initiative, in collaboration with Chime, the national charity for deaf and hard of hearing people, was launched with a visit by Chime’s Dublin Deaf Group and client families, who took part in a wake up experience with Asian elephants and an in-person ISL interpreted talk.

The event took place as part of International Week of Deaf People. which runs until Sunday next.

“By introducing ISL-interpreted videos, we are endeavouring to ensure our educational message about wildlife conservation reaches deaf and hard of hearing people in an accessible and meaningful way,” said Dr Christoph Schwitzer,” Director at Dublin Zoo.

QR codes have been provided on signage across Dublin Zoo to enhance the visitor experience for deaf and hard of hearing people.

Scanning the codes will bring visitors to zookeeper talks, featuring an ISL interpreter, on the Dublin Zoo website.

There are detailed descriptions of the animals, and their habitats, from their respective Animal Care Teams.

The QR codes are being rolled out at the habitats of the Asian lion, red panda, California sea lion, Humboldt penguin, Southern white rhinoceros and Asian elephant.

Chime has partnered with Dublin Zoo’s Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and Inclusivity Working Group around implementation and promotion of the project.

The videos were produced by the marketing team at Dublin Zoo, with the support of its Animal Care Teams, and an ISL interpreter, supported by Chime.

“Education is at the heart of what we do,” added Dr Schwitzer.

“This exciting project helps us connect more deeply with our deaf and hard of hearing visitors, ensuring they can learn about, and enjoy, what we do.

“The initiative is part of our wider campaign to ensure Dublin Zoo provides an inclusive experience.”

Danielle Mc Laughlin, Director of Advocacy and Communications with Chime, emphasised the significance of the partnership.

“Chime believes in breaking down barriers and making every experience accessible for deaf and hard of hearing people” she said.

“By providing ISL interpretation, Dublin Zoo is not only adhering to the recognition of ISL as a language of the State, but also enhancing the zoo experience for the deaf and hard of hearing community.

“We are proud to work with Dublin Zoo in leading the way on accessibility and inclusion.

“The initiative is a critical step in making Dublin Zoo’s educational and conservation efforts accessible to everyone, reinforcing its role as a leader in both conservation and community engagement, and we are very pleased to be part of it.”

Galway County Council’s StoryMaps Wins eGovernment Award

Galway County Council’s innovative StoryMaps project, which has digitised the heritage of communities across County Galway into interactive online experiences, has been named a category winner at the 2025 Ireland eGovernment Awards.

The project received the Open Data Award, having been shortlisted alongside the National Cancer Registry of Ireland.

Galway County Council’s Heritage and GIS sections, working in conjunction with community groups and academia, have so far created over 40 town and village StoryMaps showcasing the rich heritage of the County’s towns, villages, and townlands.

In addition, historical information relating to 1,000 townlands has been digitised, providing a valuable resource for communities, schools, heritage groups, Tidy Towns committees, academia, and the public.

By integrating mapping technology with text, images, and multimedia content, StoryMaps delivers location-based stories that can be accessed on any internet-enabled device, from desktop computers to tablets and phones.

Cllr David Collins, Cathaoirleach of Galway County, said, “This project showcases and promotes knowledge of, and pride in, the rich heritage of our townlands, villages, towns, and other aspects of our heritage. It presents this heritage to local, national, and international audiences and serves as an extremely valuable resource.”

Liam Conneally, Chief Executive of Galway County Council, added, “This project is a fantastic example of how local history can be preserved and shared using modern technology and innovative research techniques. The partnership approach to developing StoryMaps shows how collaboration is central to preserving and sharing our local history.”

Liam Hanrahan, Director of Services for Planning and Economic Development, said the project places a strong emphasis on community engagement, presenting local heritage in a way that is easily accessible to the public, the Irish diaspora, and scholars at home and abroad.

Led by Galway County Council’s Heritage Office and GIS Department, the project was developed in collaboration with the Galway County Community Archaeology Project, University of Galway, Atlantic Technology University (ATU) Galway, ICAN (Irish Community Archive Network) Galway, Galway County Heritage Forum, The Heritage Council, and local Tidy Towns, heritage and community groups.

Bridin Feeney, GIS Analyst in Galway County Council’s ICT Department, said the project is about unearthing stories, local lore, and forgotten histories and presenting them in an engaging digital format.

Outlining the background to the project, she added, “Several community groups approached us wanting to develop a digital platform to showcase the heritage and history of their local areas but lacked the capacity or resources to do so. Working with these groups, our GIS team and Heritage Officer developed a framework to create StoryMaps for their heritage trails and townland research. Some communities had the knowledge but not the digital expertise, so we worked with them and trained them on the possibilities of StoryMaps and how they could reach their target audiences.”

Heritage Officer Marie Mannion said the primary goal of StoryMaps is to make heritage accessible to everyone.

“We initially expected to train local communities and students on how to create StoryMaps and make this information available as open-source data. It has turned out to be much more than that,” she explained. “It has given people confidence in their skills and fostered a strong sense of pride in their communities. The StoryMaps are used by local residents, schools, academics, the diaspora, and many others. They have a myriad of uses, and we are only now discovering additional applications, including their use in ATU Galway’s Heritage Studies course.”

The Ireland eGovernment Awards celebrate excellence, innovation, and creativity in Ireland’s public sector and are recognised as the benchmark for digital government services. This year’s awards were presented by An Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD at O’Reilly Hall, UCD.

Giles Newsome, CEO of iConnect101 and a member of this year’s judging panel, said, “This submission proved very much the value of using GIS, open-source mapping data to deliver something very valuable from Galway County Council to the people of Galway and beyond. What has been done here is the creation and curation of very valuable content on interactive maps about places of interest, historic monuments, historic sites right across County Galway. A fantastic smart use of mapping technology.”

The StoryMaps project is available at www.tinyurl.com/StoryMapGalway.

.ie celebrates 25 years powering Ireland online

.ie, the trusted national registry for over 330,000 domain names, has marked its 25th anniversary with a celebration at the EPIC Museum in Dublin, attended by Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport Patrick O’Donovan T.D., CEO David Curtin and key stakeholders from Ireland’s digital and business community.
Over the past 25 years, .ie has mirrored Ireland’s digital transformation. In 2000, just 20,000 .ie domains were registered. Today, that figure stands at over 330,000, a 2,000% increase demonstrating the how the .ie domain has become the quiet backbone of Irish small business success and consumer trust over the last 25 years, supporting businesses to thrive during turbulent economic times and global pandemics. Household internet access has also grown from 20.5% in 2000 to 94% today, making online connectivity standard in almost every home and an online presence an expectation of Irish consumers.
.ie is the only domain space reserved exclusively for those with an Irish connection. This level of protection underpins consumer confidence. Independent research shows that 79% of Irish consumers prefer shopping on a .ie website, recognising the trust and security it represents.
As part of the anniversary, .ie launched .ie Gives Back, a 25-day charity initiative running from 19th September to 13th October where €1 from every .ie domain registration and renewal will be donated equally to five charities: An Cosán, DSPCA, Make-A-Wish Ireland, Focus Ireland and UNICEF Ireland.
Minister Patrick O’Donovan comments,
“For 25 years, .ie has been at the heart of Ireland’s digital journey making it a cornerstone of how we do business, connect as communities and shop online with confidence. For small businesses in particular, .ie has been a leveller, allowing them to compete with larger players on a trusted, distinctly Irish platform. Today, it is as vital to our economy and communities as any other utility we depend on.”
David Curtin, CEO of .ie, adds,
 
“In 25 years, .ie has grown from a niche digital identity into critical national infrastructure. Today, more than 330,000 .ie domains carry the trust and security that Irish consumers expect. This milestone is about looking forward as much as back; at a time of uncertainty online and in the wider world, .ie will continue to provide a safe, reliable foundation for Ireland’s digital future ensuring that businesses and communities can thrive online for the next 25 years and beyond. It has been a privilege to witness and contribute to this evolution. I am proud to be part of a journey that has helped shape Ireland’s digital landscape, and I am excited for what the next chapter will bring.”
Looking ahead, and with the rise of AI, automation and evolving cyber threats, .ie will continue to focus on ensuring Ireland’s businesses, communities and citizens can thrive in a trusted and resilient online environment.
For more information visit weare.ie

Find friends at Electric Picnic 2025 with new tech device

One of the biggest pet peeves at music festivals is losing your friends in the crowd. Large crowds, loud music, and misunderstood messages can cause that once in a lifetime moment that you want to enjoy with your bestie when your favourite artist comes out on stage to end up being a far less historic, solo experience.

That’s all about to change as some lucky Three+ loyalty programme customers attending Electric Picnic 2025 can now apply to pioneer an innovative new wearable tech, an Irish festival first, called the Three Friend Finder. ( Link to apply for the Three Friend Finder is here )

The Three Friend Finder, powered by Totem Labs, connects you to your friends who are also wearing the device using GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) by guiding you to their location using a ring of pulsing lights and without the need for any mobile phone service, WIFI, or Bluetooth. Not only that, the lucky owners of the device will also be guided to some secret gigs and experiences taking place over the weekend of the festival.

Three Ireland, a long-standing major sponsor of Electric Picnic, has big plans again for this year’s festival, while, as usual, keeping festival goers connected all weekend with Three charging stations and reliable Wi-Fi  and making sure festival goers can share every unforgettable moment with your friends.

The Three Music Stage is back at Rankin’s Wood and is the main destination for discovering incredible new music. Once again, it will feature a host of Irish and international talent, promising to be a festival highlight.  Three+ members will also get exclusive fast-track entry to the silent disco and side-of-stage access.*

The legendary Three Charge & Chill area is back in the heart of the main arena and has become a sanctuary to recharge both phones and tired festival goers without missing any of the action.

A major highlight at Charge & Chill will be full sets by three emerging Irish artists Roe Byrne, Emily Doyle and Rebecca Lane who were chosen to perform out of over 500 TikTok artist entries as part of Three Ireland’s City Stages music project.

The Charge and Chill area also will include complimentary charging to ensure your phone is powered up all weekend, unrivalled views of the main stage from its dedicated viewing platform, exclusively for Three+ customers*. Also, stay tuned to Three Ireland’s social channels as the area will also host some last-minute surprise big name secret music performances.

Not only that, the company has this year introduced the Three+ Bus, a 52-seater bus that will travel on a daily return from Dublin to the festival grounds from Friday to Monday, and which is available on a discount to Three+ customers*.

Tanya Townsend, Senior Sponsorship Manager at Three Ireland, commented, “The organisers of Electric Picnic and Three have a similar ethos; to connect people through truly memorable moments and, of course, also to showcase and support the best of emerging Irish music artists. We are excited about the Three Music Stage line-up and in particular our three chosen City Stage artists who will perform sets at Charge and Chill and also sing with some yet to be announced globally renowned artists over the weekend. 

Tanya continued, “As a company that prides itself on pushing advanced technology, we are thrilled to also trial the Three Friend Finder at the festival, a device that helps you track your friend’s exact location without the need for mobile phone service, WIFI or Bluetooth. Who knows, perhaps this will become the must-have device for the 2026 festival season.”

*Exclusive to only Three+ customers. Show your Three+ account to avail the benefits. See full terms plus.three.ie

Ergo Announced as Title Sponsor of Clontarf Rugby Club

Ergo, Ireland’s largest IT solutions provider, is proud to announce its sponsorship of Clontarf Rugby Club, ahead of the upcoming 2025/26 season. The partnership reflects Ergo’s commitment to investing in its local community, with their headquarters located in nearby Eastpoint Business Park, Clontarf.

Paul McCann, Chief Executive Officer at Ergo, said, “We are incredibly proud to partner with Clontarf Rugby Club ahead of the upcoming All-Ireland League Rugby season. At Ergo, we believe in empowering local organisations that unite communities and inspire excellence. Clontarf Rugby embodies ambition, teamwork, and community spirit – values that closely align with our own. Through this partnership, we aim to help nurture the next generation of sporting talent while demonstrating our commitment to local initiatives.”

Through this partnership, Ergo will serve as the title sponsor of Clontarf Rugby Club, providing essential support to enhance the club’s facilities, overheads and outreach programmes. The sponsorship will play a vital role in supporting Clontarf Rugby’s continued growth and development, building upon their storied legacy as one of the most successful and longest-running All-Ireland League clubs.

Eoin Daly, Chairman of Clontarf Rugby Club, said, “We are grateful for Ergo’s significant investment in Clontarf Rugby Club. Their support will directly strengthen our facilities, programs, and the opportunities we offer to our players. Through this partnership, Ergo is not only backing our teams on the pitch but investing in the future of our entire club and community. Such commitment is vital for ensuring that Clontarf Rugby Club remains a thriving institution for generations to come.”

Photo credit  – Shane O’Neill – Coalesce.