London and Dublin have both become not only incredibly expensive places to live but to run a business too. Housing prices are skyrocketing and Corporation Tax has steadily increased, rising from 19% to 25% between 2022 and 2024.
Indeed, plenty of business owners are on the hunt for destinations that are conducive to business – with regard to government regulation, living standards, financial incentives and more. While Dubai is quickly emerging as a startup hub, there are still some companies who are hoping to stay within Europe – or nearby, at least in proximity.
A somewhat unexpected location that’s starting to gain some serious traction is the far West of Ireland. Offering far more affordable housing, a friendly tax regime, low Corporation Tax (half that of the UK) and a supportive startup environment, it’s no surprise that an increasing number of businesses are launching in and relocating to parts of Ireland that are less pricey than the capital.
And Killorglin, a tiny little town on the West Coast, is quickly making a name for itself.
Killorglin, Ireland’s West Coast Startup Hub
Located in the heart of Kerry along the Laune River, the quaint little town of Killorglin has long been known for its “Puck Fair”, but these days, it’s not only quirky cultural traditions that are attracting visitors.
With a population of only 2,080 people, Killorglin is driven by a culture of innovation and it’s established a thriving investment scene. Indeed, the numbers show just that, with 70 different companies, both startups and well-established businesses, having relocated to Killorglin during this period.
Significantly, £210 million of funding has been pumped into the West Coast town’s businesses and a total of 55 new products have been launched in just four years.
But, it’s not all about the numbers. One of the most important things Killorglin (and the Irish West Coast more generally) has to offer is a quality of life that is worlds apart from that of the busy, bustling streets of Dublin. With gorgeous scenery and access to picturesque beaches and mountains, there’s no doubt about the fact that Killorglin offers a far slower pace of life than any major city.
And, while big cities like Dublin and London certainly have plenty going for them in terms of proximity to other businesses and more, an increasing number of people are seeking out a calmer lifestyle, and in that regard, the Irish West Coast couldn’t be more perfect.
So, whether it’s founders and directors who are looking to get away from city life or business strategists hoping to capitalise on a happier employment pool in a more rural area, there’s no doubt about the fact that small towns like Killorglin are becoming increasingly attractive.
Making Killorglin Home
A significant driving factor behind the Killorglin’s great success is the work done by the RDI Hub, a £18m co-working space that functions as a research and product development centre. The centre exists as a partnership between Fexco, an Irish fintech giant, Munster Technological University and the Kerry Country Council.
The RDI Hub has achieved incredible levels of funding from early-stage investors, including both VCs and business angel networks. This, along with government funding and grants, has resulted in a great deal of new business as well as the creation of more than 384 jobs. In a town of only 2,000 residents, that’s nearly a fifth of the population.
Of course, this success is encouraged by factors outside of just Killorglin, including the fact that the Irish government recently doubled the tax relief available to those looking to invest in young companies and it also boosted tax breaks for tech-dev firms.
Among these 70 new arrivals in Killorglin over the last four years is Glencar, a UK-based industrial logistics and data centre construction firm. Having grown its revenue by 20% in the past year alone, there’s little doubt that the move to this typical rural Irish town has been a great success.
Rory McGillycuddy, Glencar’s Irish Director, recently relocated to the town in an effort to establish a European base in the wake of Brexit and the uncertainty it introduced. Ireland itself quickly became a solid option for companies in the same position, not only due to its membership to the EU but also as a result of its educated workforce and optimal business environment.
Glencar and McGillycuddy’s choice to Killorglin specifically, however, was “less obvious”, says Rory, although it wasn’t long before he was convinced.
“I’ve previously worked in both London and Dublin, and the quality of life here on the West Coast is streets ahead. My journey to work takes five minutes, and the RDI Hub’s subsidised restaurant looks out on mountains in one direction and green fields in the other.”
But, it’s not only about the beautiful Irish countryside. According to McGillycuddy, “Glencar’s expertise in building logistics, life sciences and data centres means 80% of our work in Ireland is concentrated in Dublin and along the Dublin to Belfast corridor on the East coast, but basing ourselves in the RDI Hub offers us great networking opportunities with a brilliant work-life balance.”
Other factors that have contributed to Glencar’s success on the Irish West Coast include:
- Low Property Prices: Housing in the area is 15% cheaper than the national average (and even more so relative to Dublin specifically).
- Easy Commute: In such a small town, it’s quick and easy to get just about everywhere.
- Proximity to Airports: Killorglin is a 20-minute drive from Kerry Airport from which there are flights to both Stansted and Luton in London.
The RDI Hub was established to facilitate the operations of businesses just like Glencar and stimulate economic activity in Ireland more generally. And, while Killorglin may still seem like a kind of odd destination choice for tech startups, especially when considering the difference between Dublin and this so-called “two-horse town”, its success speaks for itself.
As Liam Cronin, Chief Executive of the RDI Hub, puts it, “Killorglin doesn’t yet have the name recognition of Ireland’s big cities, but we’re quietly becoming a cathedral of tech and entrepreneurial talent.
The RDI Hub offers everything an ambitious business needs to grow and thrive, from world-class workspaces to access to a fully-equipped podcast studio and a range of workshops and masterclasses designed to help our community of entrepreneurs become the success stories of tomorrow.”
The success of the RDI Hub and Killorglin as an up-and-coming destination clearly demonstrates that Ireland’s startup culture isn’t limited to the hustle and bustle of Dublin.
Cronin adds that since its launch in 2020, the RDI Hub has attracted entrepreneurs “from as far afield as Singapore, South Africa, the USA and UK. Ireland has earned a global reputation as a hotbed for tech firms, but as our success shows, Ireland’s booming tech scene is about much more than just Dublin.”
A Future Away From the Big Cities
So, what does this mean for the future of UK and European-based startups and businesses? Will there be a widespread shift away from major cities like Dublin and London to the countryside, or is Dubai still going to take the cake with its free zones and tax-free environment?
It’s tough to say what may happen and how trends will shift in years to come, but at the moment, there’s no doubt about the fact that the surging property prices and cost of living in major cities around the world is making these previously desirable locations a whole lot less attractive than before.
This paired with other parts of the world, like the Irish West Coast, offering environments that are super conducive to launching startups and just generally running businesses is making it seem increasingly likely that what we’ve seen over the last four years is only the beginning of a migration from urban centres to more rural locations.
That’s not to say that economic havens like Dubai are going to suddenly lose all their appeal – not at all. The financial incentives of being based in Dubai are almost impossible to beat.
But, if your priority is quality of life, proximity to the UK and membership to the EU, there’s an argument to be made for rural parts of Ireland like Killorglin.
