The CEO of the Irish Internet Association, Joan Mulvihill, was guest speaker at the Midlands IT (MIT) monthly meeting last Tuesday in the Annebrook House Hotel.
The Ballymahon native gave an informative talk titled ‘Tilting the Viewfinder’ on the current status of Ireland’s IT sector, covering a broad range of areas from future start-ups to internet privacy.
Attended by over fifty of the popular group’s members, Ms Mulvihill discussed her role as CEO of the Irish Internet Association and how her lack of background in tech has helped her to see the IT business in Ireland in a different light to those working in the sector.
“There is huge support for start-ups in Ireland and we all talk about where are we going to get the next great technology company and how wonderful it is to have the offices of Facebook and Google in Dublin, but the big question is ‘when are going to grow one of our own?’”
To answer her question, Joan spoke of what she called the “trilogy” of large tech companies in Ireland. “25 years ago, the likes of Cisco and Microsoft arrived on our shores. Then, these large companies began collaborating with indigenous businesses, paving the way for the likes of Irish startups such as Hostelworld, Stockbyte and Realex Payments. We’re all now demanding that the underdogs come out and become the giants but that’s simply not happening and we we need to look at this and ask why not.”
Ms Mulvihill, who lives in Mullingar, appealed for Irish businesses to look at themselves and see if they could become involved in the IT sector in some shape or form.
“We need to look at sectors that are really successful such as food and construction and start recognising that for them to grown, becoming technology companies is the way forward.”
Joan spoke on the subject of Ireland’s youth getting involved in the IT sector and how to encourage them to set up businesses in their own communities instead of looking to the capital.
“The biggest challenge outside of Dublin is for the young people to stop being fixated on Dublin and instead look at opportunities in their own areas. That’s where the big opportunities lie in terms of employment and in terms of growing our own global giant if we decide we want one.”
The MIT Mullingar group is a group of IT professionals from Mullingar and its environs. Always on the lookout for new members, their monthly talks are free of charge and open to all, just email mit@cookieweb.ie to let them know you are coming.
