County Limerick
Dell European HQ anchors midwest industrial hub—Ireland's first Shannon Free Zone (1959) pioneered the FDI model while Project Limerick 2030 targets €200M urban regeneration.
County Limerick positions as Ireland's midwest industrial hub—home to major multinationals in pharma, technology, and manufacturing. Dell Technologies' European headquarters in Raheen created technology employment cluster; Johnson & Johnson, Cook Medical, and other life sciences companies established operations.
Limerick city's Shannon access and university presence (University of Limerick) provide infrastructure and talent. The Shannon Estuary's deep water enables port operations; the Shannon Free Zone (Ireland's first, 1959) pioneered the FDI attraction model now replicated nationally.
The county experienced significant post-2008 challenges as construction and retail contracted. Recovery required diversification beyond traditional sectors. Project Limerick 2030 aims urban regeneration; the €200 million investment targets international investment attraction and technology sector development.
Limerick demonstrates mid-tier Irish city dynamics: FDI presence creates employment but less than Dublin; distance from capital creates both competitive advantage (lower costs) and disadvantage (fewer network effects). The county's future depends on positioning as Dublin's accessible alternative while developing distinctive specializations.