Guest post by Kieran Collins; VP, Global Technical Support Park Place Technologies

Ireland is widely recognised for its business-friendly environment, highly educated and skilled workforce, and strategic location. These advantages make it an attractive destination for international tech companies.

We chose Cork as our EMEA Operations Centre due to the region's thriving tech cluster. This provides us with access to a rich talent pool and opportunities for collaboration with other companies and networks, such as the Tech Industry Alliance (TIA). We are committed to helping our employees build their careers with us, as developing our people is crucial to our success. Additionally, the quality of life in Cork is a significant factor in our decision.

We received substantial support from the IDA while developing our EMEA strategy, and our relationship with them remains strong to this day.

The benefits of tapping into Ireland's diverse and educated talent pool

Diversity is essential for innovation, collaboration, and performance. It naturally occurs within our team, thanks to the talent pool available locally. Our team comprises individuals with varying experience levels, opinions, and cultures. Over the past few years, we have expanded our services from English to include German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and we plan to further extend into other languages and markets.

How workplace culture and community engagement are becoming key drivers of success

We all know that culture is key, especially in a rapidly growing team that continually adds to our services and product portfolio. Change is constant, and the appetite to grow within our team is remarkable.

A positive work experience, a sense of belonging, and knowing that you are making a difference are crucial for team morale and long-term retention. At Park Place Technologies, we have an active social circle with regular events, which helps welcome new team members. I love seeing our team working and collaborating every day. To validate this, we were recently recognised by Great Place To Work, with two certifications in Ireland, for Best Workplaces in Tech and Best Workplaces for Health and Wellbeing.

We value community engagement and feel a responsibility to demonstrate our community values. We have relationships with local schools (we recently ran our inaugural Transition Year program), regularly interact with local colleges (UCC & MTU), and have a strong intern and university hiring program. Additionally, we support local clubs and have 'give back' days to allow our team to support causes important to them.

Lessons learned from building out EMEA operations in the Irish market

Ireland offers numerous advantages, including location, language, workforce, diversity, quality of life, technical skills, and more. The vibrant local tech cluster means that attracting talent requires demonstrating a rewarding workday and fantastic growth opportunities.

We started in Ireland in 2018 as a Technical Support team and have since evolved into a centre of excellence with teams working in Client Services, Sales, Data Engineering, Managed Services, Solution Delivery, Pricing, Area Operations, Remote Professional Services, Customer Onboarding, Field Engineering, and Technical Support.

I strongly recommend not doing this in isolation. We regularly reach out to our network and peer companies for support. We have also become increasingly active in professional networks, which helps build our brand and allows us to learn from and collaborate with similar companies.

See more stories here.

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As smart technology and AI become increasingly integrated into our daily lives, new research finds that nearly 9 out of 10 Europeans (88%) express concerns about their privacy.

But, for the majority of consumers, these concerns stop at their phones - despite other smart devices in the home also collecting personal data and being just as vulnerable to threats.

This new research from Samsung Electronics, which surveyed over 8,000 Millennial and Gen Z respondents across Europe, reveals that more than a third (36%) of young Europeans never think about the security of their smart appliances. In contrast, 1 in 2 (49%) think about the privacy of their mobile phones every day - a worrying blind spot given how connected our smart devices have become, and with the number of smart homes in Europe expected to surpass 100 million by 2028.

The research highlights how managing privacy can feel overwhelming for many - with 1 in 5 (20%) of those surveyed saying it's too complex, and 75% finding it stressful. Within Europe, Spain tops the list of countries where people find managing their privacy the most stressful (88%), followed by Greece (87%) and France (75%) and Italy (75%).

Privacy concerns are wide-ranging - from fears of financial theft (67%) to unease about metadata being used to identify them (56%).

The findings point to a deep education gap when it comes to privacy. Many want to take control of their data when it comes to their technology. In fact, 8 in 10 (80%) put such considerations front and centre at point of purchase, alongside their familiarity with the brand. Yet despite rising awareness, many still feel unequipped to take meaningful action:

Only 13% say they feel 'very' knowledgeable about privacy

Just half (48%) are aware of the data their apps and devices collect about them

3 in 10 (31%) accept default settings on apps without fully understanding them

Almost two-thirds (64%) feel they can never be fully in control of their privacy across their devices

Over two-thirds (67%) are calling for better education on data and privacy

Only 1 in 2 (50%) consumers say they trust brands to take the protection of their data seriously

These fears are holding consumers back from harnessing the full potential of the latest technology. Almost 1 in 5 (18%) haven't shared data between smart devices in the past year due to security fears - showing that Europeans aren't taking full advantage of connected living, and the enhanced lifestyle benefits it can bring.

Yet just over 6 in 10 (62%) say they would be more open to fully embracing AI and smart-home technology if they better understood the benefits to their lifestyle and felt confident their data was secure (64%). From personalised shopping discounts (17%) to smart home updates (15%) and tailored travel recommendations (15%), many recognise that they are missing out on everyday enhancements due to concerns around how their data is handled.

In light of these findings, Samsung is reinforcing its commitment to empowering users with strong safeguards and transparent privacy controls in an increasingly AI-driven world.

Dr. Seungwon Shin, Corporate EVP & Head of Security Team, Device eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics said: "At Samsung, we believe true innovation starts with people - which is why we put privacy at the core of everything we do. This research highlights a growing trend: while consumers are proactive about managing privacy on their smartphones, they're often overlooking the broader ecosystem of connected devices. It also reflects a hesitation to fully embrace AI-powered experiences, largely driven by uncertainty around data use.

"As advocates for privacy-first design, we're committed to earning trust through transparency, choice, and built-in protections. Everyone should be able to explore new AI capabilities with confidence, knowing their data is protected and they remain in control. That's why we're focused on putting privacy in the hands of users - where it belongs."

At...

By Professor Aoife Foley, IEEE senior member and Chair in Net Zero Infrastructure, The University of Manchester who considers the challenges of sustainability while also encouraging innovation.

As the UK positions itself as a global tech superpower - including new commitments to expand the nation's data centre footprint - it can be easy to overlook the broader environmental consequences of this strategy.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), electricity demand from data centres is projected to more than double by 2030 to around 945 terawatt-hours (TWh), slightly more than the entire electricity consumption of Japan. These numbers highlight the urgent need to balance digital growth with sustainable energy practices.

The challenges of aligning sustainability and tech

Much of this surge in demand is being driven by AI workloads, which consume significantly more energy than traditional cloud computing tasks. While hyperscale operators are investing in renewable energy to counteract the effects, this alone is not enough.

However, energy demand from digital infrastructure goes beyond silicon and servers. We must also consider software, structure and the way businesses produce, store and process data.

The dark data epidemic

Modern enterprises continuously generate and store vast amounts of data, ranging from routine system activity to machine, sensor and user-generated input. Much of this data is unstructured, redundant or never accessed again. Commonly referred to as 'dark data', it's becoming increasingly prevalent and contributes to growing digital waste.

The proliferation of dark data not only reinforces the flawed belief that more data is always better, but also leads to significant energy waste. Storing and managing this idle data consumes considerable power and resources, without delivering meaningful value.

As such, infrastructure and operations leaders need to find meaningful ways to address the environmental impact of unnecessary data storage and prioritise renewable energy use. Some progress has been made through energy-efficient, hyperscale data centres, which can reduce electricity demand and emissions. But locally, these facilities place huge pressure on electricity grids and complicate the energy transition - particularly in smaller countries.

What can companies do?

While cooling technologies such as liquid immersion and direct-to-chip cooling can improve energy efficiency, they only address the symptoms and not the underlying inefficiencies in model design. Furthermore, with an increasing dependence on water for cooling, this adds strain to local resources and is often avoidable thanks to renewables.

We need to ask more relevant questions. Are organisations choosing the best model architectures for the task? Are they designing for efficiency or just scale? Are they optimising for performance or simply defaulting to brute force?

While this year's World Environment Day focused on ending plastic pollution, it also served as a reminder to address less visible forms of waste too.

Now is the time for leaders to strengthen data management policies. This includes identifying valuable data, eliminating dark or redundant content and working with providers that support distributed networks and dynamic load placement. As an example, shifting workloads to off-peak periods reduces demand, emissions and costs across the board.

Finally, the sector would greatly benefit from an internationally agreed approach to data archiving - to prevent unnecessary digital 'landfilling'. While change takes time, these efforts will ultimately reduce the energy, carbon, water and land footprint of today's data economy.

About the author

Professor Aoife Foley is a Senior IEEE Member and Chair in Net Zero Infrastructure at the School of Engineering in The University of Manchester. She is a leading voice in AI-driven energy systems, digital infrastructure, and the decarbonisation of power, heat and transport through techno-economic syste...

A majority of Irish people are either extremely or very interested in news, according to the annual Digital News Report Ireland 2025, published today by Coimisiún na Meán. Research for the Digital News Report is undertaken by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at the University of Oxford and analysis of the Irish data is provided by the DCU Institute for Future Media, Democracy and Society (FuJo).

The Irish Report, which is in its eleventh year, shows that most people in Ireland (56%) across all age groups are interested in news. This represents the highest level of interest in news since 2022, up 3 points from last year, but down from a peak of 70% in 2021, during the COVID pandemic. This enthusiasm for news puts Irish audiences ahead of their UK (39%) and US (51%) counterparts and ahead of the European average (45%).

When asked about trusted sources of news, RTÉ News (72%), local radio news (72%) and local newspapers (71%) emerge as the most trusted brands, underlining the continued importance of both national and local news sources for Irish audiences.

Rónán Ó Domhnaill, Media Development Commissioner at Coimisiún na Meán, said: ''Coimisiún na Meán is delighted to offer our continued support to the Digital News Report Ireland, which reflects our commitment to a media landscape that consumers can trust, by supporting access to high-quality sources of news and information.

Whether watching, listening, streaming, or reading, the Digital News Report shows that most Irish people can't get enough of news. It is encouraging to see that interest in news remains high in Ireland when compared internationally, even as the formats used to consume news continue to change.

We are heartened to see the continuing trend of the Irish public's unique and longstanding relationship with radio, which remains a cornerstone of Ireland's media landscape. It is also important to see the trust Irish people place in local news sources, with local radio and local newspapers among the most trusted brands for Irish audiences.

While the Report gives us cause for optimism about the Irish news sector, considering the public's strong appetite for news, we recognise that An Coimisiún's ambition of developing and shaping a media landscape that reflects who we are as a society requires ongoing and sustainable levels of funding for media outlets to support high-quality journalism, and news that people can trust.''

Key findings from this year's Digital News Report Ireland 2025 include:

Interest in news - Interest in news in Ireland remains robust compared to other countries. 22% of Irish people say they are 'extremely interested' in news, with 34% saying they are 'very interested' and 33% saying they are 'somewhat interested'. Just 3% say they are 'not at all interested' in news.

Trust in news - Overall, Irish audiences trust news more when compared to other countries. When asked if they trust the news most of the time, 50% of respondents in Ireland 'agreed' or 'strongly agreed', compared to 35% in the UK, 30% in the US and 39% for merged data from Europe.

Trust in brands - Traditional news outlets continue to perform well when Irish audiences are asked about their trust in brands. RTÉ News (72%), local or regional radio (72%), and local or regional newspapers (71%) are the most trusted brands. 70% of Irish respondents described the Irish Times as trustworthy, with the same percentage for BBC News, 68% for the Irish Independent and 66% for each of Newstalk, Today FM and Sky News.

Source of News - When asked which platforms you have used in the last week as a source of news, 58% of Irish respondents said television, with the same percentage (58%) citing online media (excluding social media and blogs). 47% say they have used social media as a source of news in the last week, with 36% saying radio, 22% saying printed newspapers, 12% saying podcasts and 5% citing AI chatbots.

Paying for News - The Report shows that 20% of people in Ireland are now p...

The inaugural Junior Cycle VEX IQ Robotics Competition took place recently in Moyne Community School, enabling student teams from eight post-primary schools across County Longford to take part in battles of engineering wits, coding and teamwork collaboration.

VEX IQ is a STEM programme organised by Longford County Council's IT Department, which is designed to enhance students' digital skills, foster engagement in STEM education and encourage greater participation in subjects such as design, science, coding and ICT skills.

The programme was spearheaded by County Longford's Broadband Officer, Christine Collins, STEM Engagement Officer, Siobhan Grealy and Joe Murphy, Tech Support. STEM has become an important part of the educational curriculum at all levels across Ireland.

Participating schools create teams of students from 1st to 3rd year to take part and build a Hero Robot called 'Swish' from a VEX IQ kit. Students and their teachers learn about robot building, engineering, coding and improving their robot design throughout the process.

The atmosphere in Moyne Community School was electric with teams strategising, cheering and competing in real-time with music, countdowns and the thrill of the clock ticking down.

Longford's Digital Strategy and The Midlands Pathway Plan place a strong emphasis on education and future skills. Longford is currently experiencing a shortage of skilled people in many areas that the Midlands Pathway Plan aims to fill by increasing student uptake and career progression in computer coding, design, engineering in many forms, ICT, the sciences and of course robotics.

The VEX IQ equipment and this event are co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the EU Just Transition Fund Programme 2021-2027.

The day's activities were also supported by Antoinette Brennan (Laois Broadband Officer), Seanie Morris (Laois STEM Engagement Officer), and Kelley Keogh (STEM Engagement Officer, Westmeath County Council).

Chief Executive of Longford County Council, Paddy Mahon, said: "Events like the VEX IQ Robotics Competition really help to spark a culture of innovation, teamwork and hands-on learning. The post-primary participation in this competition not only strengthens STEM education but also builds a future-ready workforce and inspires the next generation of problem-solvers and creators."

Longford County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr Mark Casey said: "The energy, passion and creativity displayed by the students involved in this robotics competition proves that Longford is nurturing the next generation of STEM pioneers. This council's vision to champion innovative education has created ripples that will be felt for generations.

Longford needs people with these valuable skills, and events such as the VEX IQ will help provide a more skilled workforce and a more sustainable county, which will enrich life in our communities and help retain rural populations."

For further information, visit or follow Longford County Council on social media.

'Counter Attack', the ninth documentary from the CÚRAM Research Ireland Centre for Medical Devices and Ardán's Science on Screen public engagement programme, premiered at the Lighthouse Cinema in Dublin this week.

Medical device research thrives on a multi-disciplinary approach where combining knowledge from many fields deepens our understanding of global health conditions. Cardiovascular disease, one of the leading causes of death globally, was the subject of 'Counter Attack', the new Science on Screen documentary directed by Tiernan.

Williams and produced by Maria O'Neill of Cluster Fox Films.

The documentary features CÚRAM's University of Galway-based researchers, including vascular surgeon Dr Niamh Hynes, who focuses on the body's largest artery - the aorta. Her research looks at predicting if, and when, an aortic rupture will happen and, using AI and machine learning, how we can build computer models or 'digital twins' of aortas to understand the rupture process.

Also featured is Kildare-based musician Frankie Lane, who suffered a heart attack followed by a cardiac arrest, Frankie's wife Anita Lane and Cork-based paramedic Pat McCarthy. The screening was followed by a panel discussion and an audience Q&A chaired by Dr Claire O'Connell.

Professor Abhay Pandit, founding director of CÚRAM, spoke about cardiovascular disease research, explaining that while it can take a long time for research to reach the patient, innovations are being created all the time. He gave the example of an injectable hydrogel that he is working on that will, in the future, help preserve the health of the heart muscle after a heart attack event.

Frankie and Anita Lane spoke about the emotional impact of their experience, while paramedic Pat McCarthy shared statistics about survival rates for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests and the importance of understanding that there are many different signs and symptoms.

"At CÚRAM, our goal is to develop superior devices that are durable. We achieve this by uniting experts from diverse fields, including clinicians like myself, engineers, biomedical scientists, and social scientists, all while keeping the patient at the heart of our team," commented Dr Niamh Hynes.

"We cannot grasp what is most important or urgent without their perspective. Conversations like these are crucial not only for raising awareness and prevention but also for helping people recognise how valuable their lived experiences with these conditions are to the research community."

Watch the 'Counter Attack' trailer at Counter Attack - Trailer on Vimeo

2025 marks the 10th year of CÚRAM & Ardán's Science on Screen programme, which was founded to explore the stories behind science and to facilitate, promote and increase the inclusion of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) content in Irish film and TV production.

Over the last ten years, the films and animations produced through Science on Screen have been screened in 30 different countries and reached almost 2 million people through broadcasts, film festivals, through community, academic and clinical screenings and via online platforms and public exhibits. If you are interested in hosting a screening, please contact CÚRAM or Ardán for more information.

Find out more at www.ardan.ie and www.curamdevices.ie.

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Location featured in David Attenborough's Ocean documentary to highlight damaging effects of bottom-trawling awarded funding to expand community consultations

A world-renowned community-led charity on the Isle of Arran has been awarded £100k to expand its community consultations in a crucial next step in protecting and restoring Scotland's seas.

The Community of Arran Seabed Trust, or COAST, has been awarded funding from Rewilding Britain as part of the charity's annual Challenge Fund - an initiative that supports the scaling up of rewilding in Britain.

Working to save Arran's seas from bottom-trawling

The funding will support COAST's rewilding project "Communities & the sea: Exploring our Coastal Waters" to engage communities outside of the existing Marine Protected Area, which was spearheaded by COAST in 2014, with Arran's coastal seas and explore opportunities for further marine rewilding. The charity has match-funding for the project from the Scottish Government's Nature Restoration Fund, managed by NatureScot.

The planned community engagement initiatives include opportunities for community members to board COAST's vessel and explore the seabeds not currently under marine protection via a special screen aboard the boat. By providing these engagement opportunities, COAST can work directly with the community on how best to shape the future of Arran's marine conservation work for the benefit of nature, climate, economy and people.

Jacques Villemot, Marine Rewilding Policy and Advocacy Lead at Rewilding Britain, said: "COAST is one of the most inspiring community-led marine rewilding projects in Britain, and a world-renowned example of how a local community can recover its marine environment and in the process support jobs and businesses.

"Upscaling such vital marine rewilding projects is essential for restoring our oceans to health. COAST's crucial work is proof that even the most degraded habitats can recover if given adequate protection, and we're delighted to be able to support them in upscaling their vision for healthier seas and thriving communities."

COAST was the driving force behind the 2008 establishment, in Arran's Lamlash Bay, of Scotland's first - and still only - No Take Zone, in which there can be no removal of any fish by any method. This pioneering agreement fully protects the waters, seabed and habitats in this 2.67 km area - including one of Scotland's largest maerl beds, a coralline pink seaweed that provides vital shelter for small species. The No Take Zone sits within a larger 280 km Marine Protected Area, designated in 2014 following increasing concerns from COAST about the degradation of the Firth of Clyde marine ecosystem.

One of the founding members of COAST, Don MacNeish, features in David Attenborough's new documentary Ocean where viewers are shown first-hand the devastating impact of bottom-trawling on ocean habitats and wildlife. MacNeish, an Arran diver, helped set up COAST in 1995 with the aim of reversing the shocking decline he had witnessed in Arran's marine habitats.

Following the ocean designations, the recovery of marine life has been dramatic, doubling species richness within the South Arran marine protected area. This includes commercially important species such as lobster and scallop, therefore supporting the local traditional creel fishery. It has also contributed to the creation of a variety of local employment opportunities in marine restoration, community engagement, project management and research.

Áine Purcell-Milton, Executive Director at COAST, said: "COAST was founded by the community for the community - by the people who live in and love Arran, and for the special coastline we all treasure.

"Arran showcases how effective ocean protections like the No Take Zone and Marine Protected Area can help our seas recover and thrive. Now, communities from outside of the Marine Protected Area are seeing the benefits of these designations and wanting to learn more. This funding from Rew...

open eir, Ireland's largest wholesale telecommunications provider, today announced it has surpassed 1.4 million homes and businesses with its full fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) broadband network. This significant milestone means that approximately 3.6 million people across Ireland now have access to high-speed, full-fibre connectivity, further reinforcing the country's position as one of the most digitally connected nations in Europe.

To date, open eir has deployed more than 50,000 kilometres of fibre infrastructure - enough to circle the globe - highlighting its ongoing commitment to delivering next-generation broadband across urban and rural communities alike.

Earlier this month, open eir launched its new 5 Gigabit (5 Gbps) fibre broadband service for all operators, setting a new benchmark for speed, performance, and reliability in Irish homes and businesses. This launch comes at a pivotal time, as open eir accelerates the transition to full fibre, ensuring Ireland's digital infrastructure is prepared for the demands of the future.

Maeve O'Malley, Managing Director of open eir Wholesale, said: "Passing 1.4 million homes and businesses with Ireland's largest full fibre network is a major milestone - and a reflection of the expertise, dedication and hard work of our teams nationwide. The launch of our 5 Gigabit broadband service marks the next chapter in Ireland's digital evolution, delivering the speed, performance and reliability today's connected lives demand.

These achievements are the result of sustained investment - over €1.7 billion in recent years - in building a robust, future-ready network. That investment is enabling Ireland to become one of the most digitally advanced countries in Europe. Fibre is faster, more resilient, more energy-efficient - and it will power Ireland's digital growth and innovation for generations to come."

open eir's continued investments, in tandem with the Government's National Broadband Plan, aim to ensure that by the end of 2028, every home and business in Ireland - covering over 2.4 million premises - will have access to high-speed gigabit broadband. By modernising its infrastructure, open eir is building a digital network that reflects the real needs of modern Ireland - resilient, high-performing, and built to last.

Fibre broadband represents a step-change in connectivity - delivering faster speeds, lower latency, and significantly greater reliability than the traditional copper network. As well as offering enhanced performance, fibre is also more energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable, making it a future-proof solution for households, businesses, and communities across the country.

To further support this transition and provide greater choice to customers, open eir will also launch a new 100Mb FTTH product on July 1st, 2025. This full fibre offering is priced to match the monthly rental cost of the equivalent fibre-to-the-cabinet (FTTC) service delivering the same speeds as the fastest copper-based technology while offering the benefits of fibre making it a more reliable and future-ready solution. With 29 retail service providers operating on the open eir network, customers have a wide range of options in terms of speed, cost and provider.

The launch of open eir's 5Gb broadband service further strengthens Ireland's position as a digital leader in Europe. This next-generation connectivity will empower innovation, support remote working and learning, enhance access to online services, and help drive social and economic growth nationwide.

More about Irish Tech News

Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.

You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news

If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at [email protected] now to discuss.

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Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, today announced new data centre solutions specifically engineered to meet the intensive demands of next-generation AI cluster architectures. Evolving its EcoStruxure Data Center Solutions portfolio, Schneider Electric introduced a Prefabricated Modular EcoStruxure Pod Data Centre solution that consolidates infrastructure for liquid cooling, high-power busway and high-density NetShelter Racks.

In addition, EcoStruxure Rack Solutions incorporate detailed rack configurations and frameworks designed to accelerate High Performance Computing (HPC) and AI data centre deployments. The new EcoStruxure Pod Data Center and EcoStruxure Rack Solutions are now available globally.

The challenges of High-Density AI for Data Centres

Organisations are deploying AI clusters and grappling with extreme rack power densities, which are projected to reach 1MW and beyond. Schneider Electric's new line of solutions equips customers with integrated, data-validated, and easily scaled white space solutions that address new challenges in pod and rack design, power distribution and thermal management.

"The sheer power and density required for AI clusters create bottlenecks that demand a new approach to data centre architecture," said Himamshu Prasad, Senior Vice President of EcoStruxure IT, Transactional & Edge and Energy Storage Centre of Excellence at Schneider Electric. "Customers need integrated infrastructure solutions that not only handle extreme thermal loads and dynamic power profiles but also deploy rapidly, scale predictably, and operate efficiently and sustainably. Our innovative next-generation EcoStruxure solutions that support NVIDIA technology address these critical requirements head on."

New Product Overview

Prefabricated Modular EcoStruxure Pod Data Centre: Prefabricated, scalable pod architecture enables operators to deploy high-density racks, supporting pods up to 1MW and beyond, at scale. Engineered-to-order, the new pod infrastructure offers flexibility and supports liquid cooling, power busway, complex cabling, as well as hot aisle containment, InRow and rear door heat exchanger cooling architectures. The Prefabricated Modular EcoStruxure Pod Data Centre is now shipping pre-designed and pre-assembled with all components for rapid deployment to support high-density workloads.

EcoStruxure Rack Solutions: These reliable, high-density rack systems adapt to EIA, ORV3 and NVIDIA MGX modular design standards approved by leading IT chip and server manufacturers. Configurations accommodate a wide array of power and cooling distribution schemes and employ Motivair by Schneider Electric in-rack liquid cooling, as well as new and expanded rack and power distribution products, including:

NetShelter SX Advanced Enclosure: This new line features taller, deeper, and stronger racks to support increased weight, cabling and infrastructure. NetShelter SX Advanced features a reinforced shipload rating and is safeguarded with shock packaging, ensuring secure transport of AI servers and liquid cooling systems.

NetShelter Rack PDU Advanced: These power distribution units have been updated to support the high-current power needs of AI servers. Designed for efficient rack layouts, the NetShelter Rack PDU Advanced offers compact vertical and horizontal models with higher counts of dedicated circuits. Intelligent operational features now enabled by Schneider Electric's Network Management Card enhance security and provide seamless integration to EcoStruxure IT.

NetShelter Open Architecture: This Open Compute Project (OCP) inspired rack architecture is available as a configure-to-order solution and includes open rack standards, power shelf and in-rack busbar. As part of this, a new Schneider Electric rack system has also been developed to support the NVIDIA GB200 NVL72 system that utilises the NVIDIA MGX architecture in its rack design, integrating Schneider Electri...

Six of Galway's historic civil parishes are stepping into the digital age with the launch of an innovative project that turns local heritage into interactive online StoryMaps.

In a major collaboration between Galway County Council, University of Galway, Galway County Heritage Forum, The Heritage Council, and community heritage groups, the rich histories of Stradbally (Clarinbridge), Monivea, Moylough, Moycullen, Gort, and Loughrea have been meticulously researched and digitally transformed.

Officially launched this week at a special event in Áras an Chontae, the project brings together traditional townland research and historical records in a newly digitised format. Drawing on rich sources such as O'Donovan's Ordnance Survey Letters, Griffith's Valuation, the Down Survey, and the 1901 and 1911 censuses, the initiative makes these valuable archives more accessible than ever.

The initiative is powered by the work of University of Galway students Carlos Grace, Giada Solito, Liam Flaherty, and Laura Daly. Over the past year, they have worked in close partnership with local communities and Galway County Council's Heritage Office and GIS Department, unearthing stories, local lore, and forgotten histories that now live on through this accessible and engaging digital format.

The research has been digitised for townlands in the six parishes, while immersive digital StoryMaps have been created for Loughrea, Moylough, Moycullen, and Gort. Combining the latest mapping technology with text, images, and multimedia content, the StoryMaps tell powerful location-based stories accessible from any internet-enabled device with a web browser, including tablets and phones.

Cllr Martina Kinane, Cathaoirleach of the County of Galway, expressed her enthusiasm for the project: "The launch marks a significant milestone in how local history is preserved and shared. With an eye on Galway's global diaspora and future generations, the project is a powerful example of how technology and tradition can converge to deepen our understanding of place."

"As we navigate the digital landscape, we honour the traditions of the past while embracing the opportunities of the future," she added. "Through these StoryMaps, we invite you to immerse yourselves in the essence of our townlands, towns, and villages, to witness the evolution of time reflected in the fields, roads, and streets we walk, and the buildings, landscapes, and structures we admire."

Dr. Lisa Walshe, Assistant Professor of Political Science and Sociology at the University of Galway, commended the students' efforts: "It has been a privilege for our university to collaborate with Galway County Council on this initiative, which highlights the rich heritage of Galway County through innovative student research. This partnership exemplifies the value of academic and civic engagement, and I commend our students for their dedication, creativity, and commitment to preserving and sharing our local history. Together, we are helping to deepen public appreciation of Galway's unique cultural landscape."

Liam Conneally, Chief Executive of Galway County Council, said: "The accomplishments of these outstanding students and their significant contributions to preserving and promoting the heritage of Galway County are immense. Their efforts exemplify the power of collaboration and the necessity of investing in future generations."

Marie Mannion, Heritage Officer of Galway County Council, highlighted the collaborative nature of the initiative: "This project is a testament to the power of collaboration and the importance of investing in our future generations. The dedication and passion of the students, combined with the support of our local communities and the expertise of the Heritage Office and GIS Department, have brought this initiative to life."

There are over 64,000 townlands in Ireland, of which there are in the region of 4,556 in County Galway, Ireland's second largest county. Almost half of the County's townlands...