Tag: #Irish

Irish Consumers Look To AI To Help Get Their Lives Back

If you ever curse having to stay in doing housework and balancing bills rather than living life to the max, you’re not alone. On average, we spend three hours a week managing our life duties (75% of which is done on our smart phones), and over half of us (56%) say we never have enough time to get everything done. Because of this, almost a third of us (30%) resort to eating into our annual leave to catch-up on chores and life admin, jumping to 43% for millennials.

The findings come from new nat. rep. research on our expectations and hopes for the benefits that artificial intelligence (AI) enabled devices will bring to our lives. The research, conducted by 3Gem, on behalf of Samsung Ireland, coincides with the recent launch of Samsung’s latest AI enabled smartphones, Galaxy Z Fold6 and Galaxy Z Flip6.

Talkin’ ‘bout My Generation – Busy & Stressed!

Nearly two-in-five (39%) reported feeling that they spend too much time doing life admin, with Millennials and Gen Xers leading the pack on most time per week lost to such ‘distractions’ (29% and 25% respectively). Almost a third (32%) of parents with children under 18 say they typically can’t get any leisure time in their day, with 14% claiming to lose almost an entire workday (7 hours) each week to chores and life admin.

Comparatively, Gen Z  feels most stressed about their busy lives (50%) – equalling the stress felt by parents with children under 18! The least stressed are Baby Boomers at 27%. 62% of females versus 49% of males feel they never have enough time to get everything done, perhaps suggesting an unequal division of household duties.

Dear AI – Help Me Get My Life Back!

According to the survey, Two thirds (66%) of us would welcome anything that reduced the time spent on chores and personal admin, and many of us are looking to AI to help us get our lives back.

The top two areas Irish people would like AI to assist with are housework (39%) and life admin (37%), followed by grocery shopping (32%), physical and mental health (31%/29%), scheduling appointments (27%) and managing smart home devices (26%). Booking travel and holidays and nutrition and food advice are high priorities for 23%.

The research shows that Irish consumers can clearly see the potential positive impact of AI-enabled smartphones in improving their day-to-day lives. Of the myriad AI features available across the new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip6, those most likely to be seen to ‘improve lives a lot’ are health and fitness (33%), Live Interpreter (33%), Chat Assist (29%) and Circle to Search with Google (28%). These are closely followed by Note Assist (27%), Transcript Assist (26%), Photo Assist (24%), AI Reply suggestions (23%) and FlexCam (20%).

Thanks AI. Now What Will I Do?

The research revealed that a quarter of us would catch up on sleep if we could get back two hours of free time a week with the help of AI. The top use for extra free time was spending time with family (39%), followed by exercise/playing sports (31%). After sleeping more, spending time on hobbies ranked fourth (21%), followed by personal mindfulness (18%), meeting friends (18%) and reading for leisure (16%).

AI Familiarity

The survey showed there is a reasonable level of claimed familiarity with AI, with around half (53%) saying they are very or somewhat familiar. Around a third (30%) are very or somewhat unfamiliar and a very small number who know nothing (3%).

The current usage for AI in Ireland among consumers is centered on the themes of communication, creation and search/planning. The main communication use is drafting messages (25%), followed by communicating better (15%) and considering other viewpoints (13%). In terms of creation, generating images and design are currently most popular (20%) and under searching /planning, finding Netflix ideas (15%) and planning travel 14% are the top two uses.

As to be expected with technology adoption, the younger generations are much more familiar with AI, with Gen Z (72%), Millennials (57%) compared to Gen X (40%) and Boomers (43%).

Who Do You Trust The Most?

While over half of Irish consumers are willing to use AI alongside their own experience and knowledge (59%), very few people are willing to trust AI recommendations completely (5%), even from a popular AI system.  The proportions are the same for the total sample and among only those familiar with AI.

See our Samsung reviews

For more information about Galaxy Z Fold6, Z Flip6, Buds3 and Buds3 Pro, please visit: Samsung Newsroom, Samsungmobilepress.com, or Samsung.com.

109 Irish companies secured European Space Agency (ESA) support in 2023

Enterprise Ireland has today published the ‘Space Activities in Ireland 2023’ Report, highlighting the growing participation and success of Irish companies in the European space sector. By the end of 2023, 109 Irish companies were actively engaged with ESA, demonstrating the significant expansion of Ireland’s role in this high-growth industry.

In 2023, ESA awarded contracts worth €9.9 million to Irish companies primarily focused on industrial activities. Industrial co-funding of €2.2 million further supported these enterprises. Throughout the year, 25 companies, including three newly space-active businesses, were supported in developing products and technologies across sectors including telecommunications, earth observation, and space exploration.

A key highlight of the year was the successful launch of the Educational Irish Research Satellite 1 (EIRSAT-1), Ireland’s first satellite, on 01 December 2023, marking a significant milestone. EIRSAT-1 is a student-led project from University College Dublin (UCD) and was developed in collaboration with Irish technology companies.

Commenting on the 2023 report, Minister Emer Higgins, Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, said:

“2023 was a momentous year for the Irish space sector. The increasing number of Irish companies working with ESA, alongside the launch of EIRSAT-1, highlights Ireland’s strong position in this fast-growing sector.

“As Ireland’s space community continues to innovate and collaborate with European and global partners, the future of the country’s space sector looks brighter than ever. The Irish Government is committed to continuing its support for innovation and enterprise in the space sector as we look to build on these successes and further strengthen Ireland’s role in the global space economy.”

Marina Donohoe, Head of Research and Innovation at Enterprise Ireland, added:

“The strong growth in Irish companies engaging with ESA, now reaching 109, is a clear indicator of Ireland’s expanding footprint in the global space economy. This year’s report demonstrates the progress and impact Irish companies are making through collaboration with ESA, not only in advancing space technology but also in driving innovation in sectors with downstream applications. Enterprise Ireland is committed to supporting these companies and the growing number of research teams actively involved in space-related developments supported by ESA.”

The space economy was valued at $630 billion in 2023 and is forecast to reach $1.8 trillion by 2035, with an average annual growth rate of 9%, significantly outpacing global GDP growth[1]. This rapid expansion, driven by both public and private sector investments, has opened new opportunities for ‘NewSpace’ companies developing innovative space-related products and services.

In a demonstration of Ireland’s position at the front rank of space technology development, ESA’s new rocket the Ariane 6, which launched smoothly in July this year, used two technology systems designed and built by Irish space engineering company Réaltra. Enterprise Ireland’s ESA Business Incubation Centre (ESA BIC) Ireland also had a successful year, welcoming seven new start-ups. These companies are focused on developing both upstream and downstream applications, further bolstering Ireland’s contribution to the burgeoning space sector.

Another key development for the sector in 2023 was the establishment of the Irish Space Association (ISA), a new organization designed to foster collaboration among space-active companies and research organizations in Ireland. This collaborative network will play a pivotal role in the future growth of Ireland’s space sector by promoting knowledge-sharing and enhancing the country’s competitive edge in the global space market.

The ESA End of Year Activities Report 2023 underscores the significant progress being made by Irish companies and researchers as they collaborate with ESA and European partners. With Irish companies continuing to leverage the opportunities created by NewSpace, the future looks bright for Ireland’s expanding space sector.

For more information or to download the full report, visit enterprise-ireland-esa-2023-report-en-134478.pdf

Google Unveils New AI Education Programmes for Irish Students

Google Ireland is today announcing the launch of two new AI education programmes to improve AI literacy across Ireland, via Kinia and ADAPT. These initiatives will equip students and teachers with the essential skills needed to thrive in an AI-driven future.

Experience AI has been co-developed by the Raspberry Pi Foundation and Google DeepMind to provide teachers with free classroom resources and professional development, enabling them to teach students about AI technologies and how they are changing the world. In Ireland, Raspberry Pi Foundation is working with Kinia, funded by a €360,000 grant from Google.org, to ensure that young people can actively participate in shaping their own futures. Kinia will provide bi-lingual (Irish and English) interactive and engaging AI content to 800 educators and meet the skills needs of over 14,000 young people in Ireland.

AI Literacy in the Classroom, led by ADAPT, is a training initiative designed to help secondary school teachers boost their AI literacy and empower students to use AI critically. The programme will comprise workshops and online resources, co-created with teachers to ensure it aligns with their needs. Developed in alignment with current AI education policies and training provisions from the Department of Education, the programme aims to equip teachers with the essential AI knowledge and practical insights to navigate AI in the classroom and guide students to use AI-powered tools safely and ethically. With support from Google, the initiative is designed to ensure AI is taught responsibly.

Speaking at the launch, Vanessa Hartley, Head of Google Ireland, said:

“AI has the power to reshape our approach to society’s biggest issues, promising extraordinary breakthroughs that can improve billions of lives. That’s why we want to equip Ireland’s young people and educators with the skills needed to understand and navigate this transformative technology. Our support for Kinia and ADAPT underlines our commitment to making AI literacy accessible across Ireland, ensuring that students are prepared to shape an AI-enabled future that benefits all of society.”

Obum Ekeke OBE, Head of Education Partnerships at Google DeepMind, said:

“We are incredibly excited to see the launch of Experience AI in Ireland. AI is rapidly shaping our world, and we believe every young Irish student deserves the opportunity to understand and engage with this transformative technology. By making AI education more inclusive, we can help young people make more informed decisions about using AI applications in their daily lives, and encourage safe and responsible use of the technology.”

Marianne Checkley, CEO of Kinia, said:

“We are very proud and delighted to introduce Experience AI to schools and youth services in Ireland. As a programme co-created by educators and industry, Experience AI offers a unique chance for young people in Ireland to access immersive content that brings together real world relevance and the future view of artificial intelligence. Underpinned by our mission at Kinia this funding support also addresses a critical societal need, to make sure that all young people will be in a position to seize the opportunities and tackle the challenges of the future.”

Professor John Kelleher, Director of Adapt, said: 

“We have seen first hand how excited teachers are to bring AI into their classrooms but also how daunting it can be without the right support in place. That’s why we’re launching the ‘AI Literacy in the Classroom’ programme. It is all about helping teachers gain the AI knowledge and skills they need in a practical, hands-on way. We want to make sure they can use AI tools confidently and critically, so both teachers and students can thrive in this AI-driven world. This initiative reflects ADAPT’s commitment to real-world education and ensuring we’re equipping the next-generation to embrace the future as responsible digital citizens.”

Philip Colligan, Chief Executive, Raspberry Pi Foundation said:

“We are delighted to welcome Kinia to our Experience AI global network of partners. Working together with Kinia, we look forward to equipping teachers with the skills needed to teach AI confidently, ensuring it’s both engaging and relevant for their students. Through the partnership, we aim to ensure that over 14,000 young people in Ireland develop a foundational understanding of AI technologies and the role that they can play in their lives.”

For more information and to sign up for the Experience AI, teachers can visit experience-ai.org/. For more information and to sign up for the AI Literacy in the Classroom Programme, teachers can visit www.adaptcentre.ie/ai-literacy-in-the-classroom

Irish Motor Insurance Database Implemented to Help Detect Uninsured Vehicles and Drivers – Each year insurance claims for uninsured vehicles cost €60-€70 million

The Motor Insurers’ Bureau of Ireland (MIBI) in cooperation with Insurance Ireland, An Garda Síochána and the Department of Transport, has implemented a central insurance database which is referred to as the Irish Motor Insurance Database (IMID) which will help identify uninsured vehicles and drivers. This database is underpinned by Legislation under Section 78A of the Road Traffic and Roads Act (2023) which requires all insurers to provide motor policy information to the database.

TEKenable, MIBI’s solution provider, working closely with the insurance industry, through Insurance Ireland and the MIBI, identified the need to provide an efficient and cost-effective solution for insurers and the Gardai to meet the obligations placed on them by the legislation.  Tekenable designed and developed the Irish Motor Insurance Database (IMID) which will assist the Gardai in enforcement of the insurance requirements in the Road Traffic Act. This will ultimately help to reduce uninsured driving which in turn will reduce premiums and help to improve road safety.

“In Ireland, it’s compulsory for all vehicles to have motor insurance.  If any person suffers physical injury and property damage that’s caused by an uninsured vehicle, MIBI will deal with the claim and pay compensation to the victim.  MIBI, as a not for profit organisation, is financed by levies on the insurance industry. These levies are ultimately paid by law abiding insured motorists with €30-€35 included in the premium paid by drivers,” explains Tom O’Brien, Technical Claims Manager at MIBI.  “This puts an extra burden on law abiding drivers and motor insurance companies while the person with an uninsured vehicle attempts to get away without paying anything.”

The IMID integrates with the underwriting platforms at approximately 40 insurers and collects data on a nightly basis from each insurer. This data is processed overnight and then shared with An Garda Síochána who make it available to front-line Gardai via their internal systems and mobility devices. The MIBI also plans to share the data with the National Vehicle & Driver File (NVDF) at the Department of Transport.

The IMID is one of the largest financial services databases in Ireland today as it contains details on over 3 million vehicles and over 5 million drivers that are insured to drive those vehicles.

The complex and sensitive data in the database will allow Gardai, the Department of Transport and the MIBI to see real-time insurance data pertaining to motor vehicles and their drivers.

“The new system delivers a secure database that connects insurers, MIBI, the Department of Transport and the Gardai, giving them highly secure access to motor insurance data at any time,” concludes Tom.  “The data in IMID facilitates live access to insurance data by Gardai at the road side through their mobile devices.  This is a gamechanger as it allows the Gardai to check the insurance status of both vehicles and drivers that they have stopped.  This will help reduce uninsured driving and improve road safety.”

The eir VIP Publishing Power of Women Awards rewards and celebrates Irish female entrepreneurs

The fourth eir VIP Publishing Power of Women Awards launched with an inspiring networking event in eir’s HQ in Dublin, ahead of the awards which will take place on the 8th of November in the 5-star Anantara The Marker Dublin Hotel.

The event aims to shine a spotlight on the exceptional achievements of Irish female entrepreneurs, with over 110 women nominated across 12 diverse categories. The awards will also feature a special honour: the Entrepreneur of the Year Award, celebrating one standout leader in Irish business.

The launch brought together nominees, guests, and industry leaders for an engaging and informative panel discussion, moderated by Susan Brady, eir’s Managing Director of Consumer & Small Business, and Bianca Luykx, Editorial Director of VIP Publishing. Former award winners Helen Steele, Jennifer Rock, and Fiona Parfrey shared their experiences, offering advice on what it takes to succeed as a female entrepreneur in today’s competitive landscape.

Winners will be decided upon by a panel of judges made up of Susan Brady, eir’s Managing Director of Consumer & Small Business; Lily O’Donoghue, eir’s SMB director; Pippa O’Connor Ormond, last year’s winner of Entrepreneur of the Year; Ruth O’Connor, journalist; Kathryn Thomas, broadcaster and businesswoman; Rebecca Brady, Commercial & Events Director of VIP Publishing; and Bianca Luykx, Editorial Director of VIP Publishing and Editor-in-Chief of VIP magazine.

The awards will see the return of eir as title sponsors for the third year, supported by a prestigious group of Irish and international category sponsors including Very, Weir & Sons, Suir Engineering, Kérastase, Boots, Dr Hauschka, AYA supplements, Uniphar, Penneys, Lindt and Tanqueray Gin.

 

Pippa O’Connor Ormond, last year’s winner of the Entrepreneur of the Year award said: ““I am thrilled to be on the judging panel for this year’s eir VIP Publishing Power of Woman awards. To have won entrepreneur of the year in 2023 was such an honour. Awards like these are a great boost for women in business. A reminder to celebrate ourselves & others. I look forward to meeting more like minded, inspiring women at this year’s awards’’.

VIP Publishing’s Commercial & Events Director Rebecca Brady said: “VIP Publishing are thrilled to partner with eir and all of our fantastic sponsors to bring you the 4th annual Power of Women Awards. We  are delighted to see Irish and international businesses join forces to celebrate the outstanding achievements of Ireland’s most remarkable female entrepreneurs. Women are the driving force behind all that we do at VIP Publishing and we are proud to provide a platform that highlights the passion and perseverance of Irish female entrepreneurs. We look forward to celebrating their achievements once again this year.’’

Susan Brady, Managing Director of eir Consumer and Small Business expressed her pride in hosting the eir VIP Publishing Power of Women nominee announcement at eir’s headquarters: “We are honoured to return as the title sponsor of the eir VIP Publishing Power of Women Awards, which celebrates the outstanding achievements of female entrepreneurs and business leaders across Ireland. These women are not only driving innovation and economic growth, but they are also creating lasting positive change in society.

At eir, our purpose is to connect for a better Ireland, and our role in supporting small businesses – by providing the connectivity and solutions they need to grow and thrive – directly aligns with the spirit of these awards. By shining a light on the incredible contributions of female business leaders, we hope to inspire the next generation of women to lead with innovation, create stronger communities, and build a more inclusive future for all.”

Categories are as follows:

Digital & Tech – Sponsored by eir

Máirín Murray and Vicky Twomey-Lee (TechFoundHer)

Rena Maycock (Chirp)

Tammy Darcy (Shona Project)

Clare McSweeney (KuulPlay)

Niamh Donnelly (Akara Robotics)

Anna Carmody (Little Red Edu)

Rosanne Longmore (Coroflo)

Deirdre Lyons (Examifly)

Fashion Retail – Sponsored by Lindt

Emma Manley (Manley)

Lucy Nagle (Lucy Nagle)

Faye Rochford (FéRí)

Laura Weber (LW Pearl)

Aoife McNamara (Aoife McNamara)

Rosie Connolly (4th Arq)

Fiona Heaney (FeeG)

Lisa McGowan (Lisa & Co)

Beauty Industry – Sponsored by Uniphar

Linda Stintson (Bellamianta)

Kerry Hanaphy (Kerry Hanaphy Aesthetic Clinic)

Liz Dwyer & Nikki Dwyer (Future of Beauty)

Dr Emma Cunningham (Dr Emma Skincare)

Vanessa Gomez (Essences Day Spa)

Agnes Rafal (HOMEface yoga by agnes)

Anna Forde (Haumea)

Noelle O’Connor( TanOrganic and VeganTan)

Hair Care – Sponsored by Kérastase

Denise Phillips (PELO/Voduz)

Anita Donohue (Annutri)

Claire Balding /Fullam (Remi)

Nancy Cavanagh (Belle Hair Extensions)

Helen Reavey (Act+Acre)

Stephanie Nwambu (Callah Crowns)

Aine Kennedy (Smooth Stick)

Mairead Ronan (Faro)

Cosmetics & Skin Care – Sponsored by Boots

Charlene Flanagan & Niamh Ryan (Ella & Jo)

Niamh Hogan (Holos Skincare)

Dr. Helena McMahon (Seabody)

Una McGurk (Seoulista Beauty)

Sonia Deasy (Pestle & Mortar)

Susie O’Neill (AYU Cosmetics)

Geraldine Jones (Skin Formulas)

Michelle Regazzoli Stone (MRS Glam)

Communications

Valerie Roe (Valerie Roe PR)

Rebecca Burrell (Burrell Marketing and Publicity)

Hannah Saunders (Hannah Saunders PR)

Sonia Harris (Harris PR)

Lindsey Holmes (Lindsey Holmes Publicity)

Rachel Sherry (Sherry Communications)

Tara O’Connor (Tara O’Connor Consulting)

Kerryann Conway (The Hive Agency)

Creative – Sponsored by Dr. Hauschka

Audrey Hamilton (Audrey Hamilton Art)

Orla de Brí (Orla de Brí)

Ciara & Rachel Howard (Howrad Studios)

Jenny McCarthy (By Jenny McCarthy)

Clíodhna Doherty (Clíodhna Doherty Art)

Heather Condren (Flowerpop)

Jenny Buckley & Carol Gunner (Tamber Media)

Deirdre Young & Sinead Bailey Kelly (H&G Creations)

Lifestyle – Sponsored by VERY

Una Leonard (2210 Patisserie)

Lucy Hagerty (La Bougie)

Portia Quinn & Robin Thompson (Harley & Marley)

Natasha Rocca Devine (NRD Designs)

Adrienne Heslin (West Kerry Brewery)

Laura Bonner (Muff Liquor Company)

Sadie Chowen (Burren Perfumery)

Barikisu Ali Telfer (Sahara.ie)

New Founder – Sponsored by Weir & Sons

Suzy Griffin (Hildun Beauty)

Ngozi Elobuike (Hi Spirits Wine Club)

Olivia Humphries (Athena)

Destiny Ayo Vaughan (Mind The Gap)

Evie and Eliza Ward (NutShed)

Ellie Haughney (Anam Cosmetics)

Shona Mahon (Speedy Lash / Wink With Mink)

Susan Fox & Carly Colgan (Ealu)

Wellness – Sponsored by AYA 

Kylie O’Donoghue (FemFuelz )

Laura Dowling (fabÜ)

Orla Hopkins (New Dimensions Active)

Audrey O’Connor (CoreState)

Kira Walton (Voya)

Maura Rath (Yoga with Maura)

Gráinne Byrne (Norma)

Shawna Scott (Sex Siopa)

Sustainability – Sponsored by Suir Engineering

Nicky & Ella Dwyer (Drobey)

Ella de Guzman (Siopaella)

Sarah Fliessbach (Share Club)

Fiona Fahy (Feed Me Mother)

Jess Dollinger (The Good Neighbour)

Aisling Cullen (Thanks Plants)

Nicola Connelly (Nunaïa)

Fran Fogarty (Lily Mais)

Accesories

Julie Peelo (Peelo)

Lyndsey Cavanagh (One Dame Lane)

Lisa Ruttledge (Fabulisa)

Sallyann Concannon (Mettle & Bloom)

Suzanne Jackson, Terrie McEvoy & Siobhan Murray (MANTRA Official)

Nicki Hoyne (Nicki Hoyne)

Margaret Urbanowicz (Sómas)

Megan Nolan (MNW Design)

 

 

How Are Immersive Technologies Helping More People Connect With Irish Culture and Heritage?

Ireland is often seen as a magical, bucket-list destination that everyone should visit at least once. Experiencing the country’s rich culture and breathtaking landscapes firsthand is a dream for many. However, for those who cannot travel to Ireland, there are now ways to engage with the country’s culture in a digital setting. 

The rise of immersive technology has allowed more people than ever before to connect with Ireland from across the globe. Additionally, new tech developments are enhancing the experience of visiting landmarks for those lucky enough to travel there.

Live Streaming Platform Brings Irish Accents Closer

One of the unique charms of Irish culture is its distinctive and much-loved accent, consistently ranked among the world’s most popular. While traditionally, people had to travel to Ireland to hear authentic Irish speech, immersive live-streaming technology now offers the ability to experience it from around the world. 

Interestingly, the online casino industry has played a key role in the rise of live-streaming, and it’s here that many get a regular dose of the Irish accent. Live dealer games allow players to interact with croupiers, which enhances the sense of immersion. For example, playing Blackjack games online (including titles like Azure Blackjack X, Cashback Blackjack, or All Bets Blackjack Live) mean you’re not only enjoying the game but also engaging with a real Irish dealer in real time. 

This has opened doors to Irish culture for many individuals who may otherwise never have had the opportunity to experience such interactions. Beyond casinos, live-streaming on platforms like YouTube has also grown in popularity, with lots of Irish streamers making names for themselves, sharing everything from gaming to daily life, and further spreading Irish accents and culture worldwide. 

Virtual Reality Bringing Historical Sites to Life

Virtual reality (VR) is another immersive technology that’s starting to play a key role in preserving Irish culture. While VR headsets are still relatively new, they are expected to become household items by the end of the decade. Already, there are impressive uses of this technology, including the ability to visit famous locations without physically travelling there. 

Some of Ireland’s most iconic landmarks can now be explored through VR, such as the Cliffs of Moher and the Rock of Cashel. Using VR headsets, it’s possible to look around and explore the sites, just as if you were there. As VR technology improves, users will likely feel even more immersed in these settings, providing an experience akin to actually being physically present.

AR Preserving Ireland’s Cultural Heritage

For those who are able to visit Ireland in person, technology is also enhancing the experience of exploring its historical sites. Augmented reality (AR) allows for digital elements to be superimposed on real world settings, providing additional layers of information and interactivity during tours. 

A great example of this is the recent AR walking tour of Dublin’s Docklands, which allows users to experience the history of the iconic area. It’s expected to be the first of many apps that help bring Irish heritage to life through technology.

Thanks to these advances in technology, Irish culture and heritage are now more accessible than ever before. Immersive platforms such as live-streaming, VR, and AR are helping Ireland’s cultural legacy reach people far and wide.

Ardanis Technologies Creates 20 New Jobs and has Invested €2m in Aileen, its AI Solution

Irish software and digital consulting company Ardanis Technologies is creating 20 new jobs to support Aileen, the company’s new AI solution.  Aileen is a generative solution developed for call / contact centres.

New jobs will be created over the next 12 months and will include roles in sales, marketing, support, and innovative AI-driven technology.

Aileen was developed by Ardanis and is designed to be intelligent, adaptable and can integrate into all existing systems used by call/contact centres.  A key challenge for call centres/contact centres is managing call volumes and other inbound requests such as email, which need to be routed to the correct agents for processing. Aileen enables contact centres to fully automate this process, which frees up the agents to provide a better and quicker experience to their customers, while allowing them to focus on higher-value tasks.

“Aileen has resulted in the opening of new opportunities for Ardanis”, explains Ivan Goor, Group CEO at Ardanis.  “Aileen has proven that with the right blend of technology and human expertise, even the most complex problems can be solved, leading to happier customers, more empowered agents, and a brighter future for the contact centre industry”.

Aileen is a generative AI solution and goes beyond traditional rule-based AI by combining advanced Large Language Models (LLMs) with flow-based, agentic workflows to deliver context-aware, adaptive, and emotionally intelligent responses.  While LLMs enable Aileen to understand and generate human-like text by processing vast amounts of training data, the flow-based architecture allows Aileen to execute complex, multi-step tasks in a structured and efficient manner.  This dual approach enables the AI to understand the nuances of human communication while managing interactions dynamically through predefined workflows.

“Aileen has been designed to enhance the customer experience landscape”, concludes Ivan. “Ardanis will support every business in achieving its vision by reducing process lifecycles from hours to seconds”.

13 new businesses awarded Ireland’s Best Managed Companies accolade

13 new businesses have been awarded the Ireland’s Best Managed Companies (BMC) accolade at the 16th annual awards programme. This year, Deloitte recognised 129 indigenous companies at the awards, representing 28 of the 32 counties across the island of Ireland.

The network of companies has a combined turnover of more than €15 billion and provide employment to over 45,000 people across a range of sectors from technology and healthcare to construction.

A thorough judging process precedes the recognition each year, evaluating the entire management team and the business strategy of each company. The judges examine a wide range of areas when assessing Ireland’s top privately-owned businesses, such as a business’ environmental, social and governance standards, strategic planning and talent strategy.

The 13 newly qualified companies are: Active8 Solar Energies, Ashdale Care, Coen Steel Limited, Ethos Engineering, MCO, Mergon Group, Mivan, Mowlam Healthcare, S&W Wholesale, Sisk Group, United Hardware, Western Motors and Writech.

Brian Murphy, Lead Partner for Ireland’s Best Managed Companies Awards Programme, said: “The Irish economic growth story has been extraordinary, and we see this evidenced in the success of Irish indigenous businesses and the confidence shown by Best Managed Companies. Ensuring Ireland’s entrepreneurs and the companies they start get the support they need to grow and scale is crucial.”

Cathy Bryce, Managing Director, AIB Capital Markets, said: “AIB is proud to be the new lead sponsors of Ireland’s Best Managed companies. One of AIB’s core ambitions is to support Irish companies and their management teams in sustainable growth and development, something which is fully aligned with the goals of the BMC programme.”

A total of 116 companies requalified as a Best Managed Company. 19 of these achieved Gold Standard (four years as a BMC) and 12 achieved Platinum Standard (seven years as a BMC). Fexco won the Family Business Award.

The members of this year’s judging panel were:

  • Frank Ryan, former Chairman of the Board of IDA Ireland and Chair of BMC judging panel
  • Cathy Bryce, Managing Director, AIB Capital Markets
  • Ellvena Graham OBE, Non-Executive Director & Chair of Tourism Northern Ireland
  • Feargal Mooney, Non-Executive Director and former CEO of Hostelworld
  • Lionel Alexander, Chair Intact Software and Non-Executive Director
  • Orla O’Gorman, Non-Executive Director and former Head of Listing at Euronext
  • Professor Anthony Brabazon, Dean of UCD Michael Smurfit Business School
  • Sarah Murphy, CEO of Business Post

 

New Winners

Company County
Active8 Solar Energies Monaghan
Ashdale Care Monaghan
Coen Steel Limited Galway
Ethos Engineering Dublin
MCO Dublin
Mergon Group Westmeath
Mivan Antrim
Mowlam Healthcare Limerick
S&W Wholesale Down
Sisk Group Dublin
United Hardware Dublin
Western Motors Galway
Writech Westmeath

 

The Gold Standard (four years as a Best Managed Company) winners are:

Company County
BidX1 Dublin
Camile Thai Kitchen Ltd Dublin
Clonakilty Food Co Cork
DigitalWell Dublin
Dowds Group Antrim
Errigal Group Monaghan
Fortus Group Dublin
H&MV Engineering Limited Limerick
Instantor Dublin
Keltech Waterford
Mannok Fermanagh
Modubuild Kilkenny
MPA Recruitment Derry
Stafford Lynch Dublin
The Brennan and Co Group Dublin
Toga Group Dublin
Totalmobile Antrim
Triangle Technology Services Dublin
Windsor Motor Group Dublin

 

The Platinum Winners (seven years as a Best Managed Company) are:

Company County
Around Noon Down
Codd Mushrooms Ltd Carlow
Creagh Concrete Antrim
Dennison Trailers Kildare
EDGE Innovate Tyrone
GES Group Antrim
GSLS Dublin
LotusWorks Sligo
Ocuco Dublin
Phonovation Dublin
PlanNet21 Dublin
The Merrion Hotel Dublin

Irish Tech Challenge Announces Top Seven Startup Finalists to Scale At Dogpatch Labs

The Irish Tech Challenge, a prestigious competition that identifies and supports high-impact South African start-ups, has announced its top seven finalists for the 2024 edition.
Launched in 2022, the Irish Tech Challenge is a leading partnership between the Embassy of Ireland in South Africa, the South African Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) in Pretoria. Dogpatch Labs in Dublin and the Wits Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct in Johannesburg serve as key implementation partners.
The 2024 edition received more than 350 applicants from South African start-ups, with seven ultimately selected as finalists. Each of these finalists will receive a grant of €10,000 and a funded trip to Ireland at the end of September to participate in an intensive weeklong accelerator and mentorship programme hosted in Dublin by Dogpatch Labs.
“The Irish Tech Challenge is a flagship programme for the Irish Embassy and our partners, providing an important link for South African entrepreneurs to the Irish tech ecosystem. The growth and success of the programme is a testament to the abundance of talent and creative thinking among South African entrepreneurs. This year’s cohort showcases innovation across a number of sectors and will benefit hugely from this experience. We look forward to growing this successful partnership in the coming years,” said Austin Gormley, Ambassador of Ireland to South Africa.
Dogpatch Labs will serve as the base for the South African entrepreneurs while they are in Dublin. While at Dogpatch, the startups will meet with a select group of Irish tech leaders and potential investors who will help them face the challenges of limited resources, infrastructure, networks and staffing while preparing for scalability across Africa, Europe and beyond.
“Our mission at Dogpatch is to create an innovation ecosystem that supports entrepreneurs. The South African entrepreneurs joining us for an immersion week are developing solutions to address critical sustainability challenges. Our own Irish entrepreneurs can learn how we can incorporate this mindset into our own tech ecosystem, while supporting the South Africans in rolling out their technologies to the rest of the world,” said Ashley Shak, Head of Sustainability and Innovation Programmes at Dogpatch Labs.
Hesus Inoma, Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) at Dogpatch Labs, said this year’s cohort is an excellent reflection of the rapidly developing tech sector in South Africa. “This year’s group of finalists are tackling a diverse range of challenges facing countries across the globe and the backgrounds of the Founders reflect the diverse makeup of South Africa, which is truly the country’s strength. We are very excited to be part of their journey.”
The top seven selected startups in this year’s Irish Tech Challenge are:
  • Adbot: founder Michelle Geere makes online advertising easy, effective and accessible to small and medium businesses.
  • Athena and lead founder Jabulani Nyembe help patients to split medical bills into monthly installments.
  • Credipple and founder Kgololo Lekoma connect companies across the world to remote work talent with in-demand skills.
  • Momint and lead founder Ahren Posthumus accelerate clean energy globally, fractionally and securely using Blockchain technology.
  • SAMANJALO and its founder Prudence Simelane have launched a Green Tech solution that addresses carbon emissions of fossil fuels.
  • SmartView Technologies and its founder Charnte Marthinus have created a SaaS Solution that helps customers simplify utility management with insights that reduce running costs.
  • The Awareness Company and lead founder Priaash Ramadeen have launched HYDRA, a software product that balances operational efficiency with sustainable impact.