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Business Overview
The Irish 'Celtic Tiger' economy today is widely acknowledged to be one of the fastest growing in the world. It has well caught up with the rest of Western Europe and is thus booming with Dublin as its heart.

Dublin, being the capital city is the hub of country’s transportation, education, communication as well as finance. The city looks well set to sustain its current economic boom, which started over a decade ago, when the 'Celtic Tiger' term was first coined. Employment growth in Dublin has strengthened in recent years, with its average unemployment figures being among the lowest in Ireland.

Agriculture is no longer the main contributor to the national product but it doesn’t mean that agriculture is a neglected sector. The government has thrown its weight behind the process of modernization of agriculture. While textiles, IT, electronics and chemicals are the dominant sectors of industry. Over the last few decades, Dublin has established a reputation as Europe's software capital.

Although the primary service sector is dominated by finance and banking, Dublin's highest growth service industry is tourism. Tourism numbers have been growing consistently each year, with figures more than doubled in the past decade. These figures however is also dominated by overseas visitors travelled for business purposes. These visitors can be contributed to the Royal Dublin Society (RDS), which is one of the main conference and exhibition venues of the country in Dublin.

Further, the city is also the center of both media and communications in Ireland, with many newspapers, radio stations, television stations and telephone companies having their headquarters there.

Lastly, the recent discovery of oil and natural gas deposits is going to further strengthen the economy, while its already attracting a lot of foreign investment.

Major Business Centers
Irish Stock Exchange (ISE):
The Irish Stock Exchange situated in Dublin is a key element of financial infrastructure of Ireland. Its roots stretch back to 1793 when the Exchange first opened for trading in Dublin. In recent years, the Exchange has established a leading position globally in investment funds and specialist securities listings.

Trading on the Exchange is primarily conducted in the equities and Government bond markets on the ISE Xetra trading platform and EuroMTS platform respectively.

RDS Irish International Convention and Exhibition Centre:
Located in the very heart of Dublin, RDS is the premier venue for meetings, conferences, exhibitions, trade & public shows, entertainment and sporting events of Ireland.

RDS holds some of the largest and most prestigious exhibitions in nearly every sector of trade and industry while the nearby suburban train line (DART) plus the main bus routes on the doorstep offer excellent public access.

The venue offers over 20,000 m2 of space for conference and exhibition to meeting and private dining rooms. The complex comprises of ten multi-purposes exhibition halls ranging in size from 340 m2 to 11,000 m2 all situated on the ground floor, allowing for easy access.

In addition, there are also a number of break-out rooms which are used for trade conferences and receptions run in conjunction with the exhibitions.

Major Commercial Areas
Temple Bar District:
Located at Southside, Temple Bar is the core of Dublin's business and financial activities. Once a decaying part of the city, Temple Bar Area today is the hub of Dublin’s nightlife. This thriving commercial center is a cobbled district full of shops, traditional pubs, theatres, cinemas and trendy clubs laid out on pedestrian streets.

Further an overwhelming choice of restaurants and beautifully restored buildings add to the feel of the place and make it worth a visit, while the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) is also about ten minute walk away.

The area is also one of the top tourist attractions of Dublin with Trinity College, Dublin Castle, St. Stephens Green and Dublin's shopping district of Grafton Street situated here, making it the heart of Dublin's cultural quarter as well. Most of the city’s good hotels are also situated here.

Greater Blanchardstown:
The area is one of major commercial development, with many large multinational companies located here. The Blanchardstown shopping center is also one of the largest in Ireland and has impressive retail outlets, restaurants, cinema, theatre and other leisure facilities.

Major Manufacturing Zones
Clondalkin:
Clondalkin is a suburb of Dublin situated some 10km west of the city in the administrative area of South County Dublin. It is a busy satellite town of the city, which has recently grown into a center for business and industry. Clondalkin also boasts a number of shops from the Mill Centre, a music centre and a pet shop.

Baldonnel:
Situated in the West County Dublin, Baldonnel though is mainly recognized as just a townland but is also an important industrial/agricultural area near Tallaght, Lucan, Saggart and Naas.

The region is mainly famed for the location of the head of the Irish Air Corps (Irish Air Defence Forces) at Casement Aerodrome, which has been in operation for over 90 years in the locality.
Ballymount:
Located on the south side of Dublin, Ballymount houses one of the largest industrial zones in Ireland. Some of the well known companies based in Ballymount are Smurfit, TV3, Dhl, Johnson Brothers and Exel.

The area is divided by M50 motorway, with more industrial side towards north.