Page 17 - Our Wexford

He has held a number of positions businesses, including those located that is something that Wexford
with Intel since then, before in Wexford, who can look to a could excel at.”
becoming the corporation’s Vice- global market. Ireland has done well at looking
President for Technology and The Intel general manager points abroad for opportunities over the
Manufacturing in 2010, a post out that there are 200,000 small last few decades, Eamonn says.
he today holds along with that and medium enterprises in “We’re a small country in the
of General Manager for Intel in Ireland, accounting for about 70pc grand scheme of things but we
Ireland.
of the national workforce. “Just definitely adopt a world view easily
Among his many responsibilities imagine if they were all to employ and Wexford, for me, is a fantastic
are oversight of Fab 24, Intel’s another one or two people, you’d cradle for business.”
first 300mm wafer fabrication solve the unemployment register.” A study by PricewaterhouseCoopers
facility outside of the United found that Intel is worth almost
States, and home to the latest €900 million to the Irish economy
generation of Moore’s Law – the every year, making its way directly
principle outlined by one of Intel’s and indirectly across the whole
founders, Gordon Moore, many I HAVE MET A country and not just the Leixlip,
years ago. This basically predicted NUMBER OF PEOPLE Kildare and Dublin areas, while
that microprocessor chips would internationally its reputation is
double in capacity every two FROM WEXFORD IN gold-standard – recently rated
years for the same cost. It remains RECENT TIMES TO by Forbes as one of the 10 most
the key principle driving the innovative companies in the world.
semiconductor industry worldwide TALK ABOUT THINGS
today. THEY ARE DOING AND In his capacity as President of the
“What that has done in our IT REALLY DID GIVE American Chamber of Commerce
Ireland, Eamonn recently made
lifetime” Eamonn explains, “is the presentations in a new US-
transform the entire world as ME AN ADRENALIN Ireland research innovation awards
we know it. Who could have RUSH TO HEAR ABOUT scheme and says he was hugely
imagined the sort of scale, impressed by the level of creativity
expansion and transformation of THE KINDS OF THINGS now in existence across the nation.
the tech sector and the exciting WE’RE CAPABLE OF. “We had 15 finalists and I was
things which it has enabled, and blown away by the calibre of those
Ireland is at the very heart of this.” IRELAND IS A NIMBLE, finalists. The reason we put that

Other important activities in INNOVATIVE AND event on was to point out the level
Intel in Ireland include chip CREATIVE PLACE AND of talent that exists here in this
design, security software, country. I have met a number of
advanced graphics for games, WEXFORD HAS THAT people from Wexford in recent
and development work for the SAME LIFEBLOOD. times to talk about things they are
“internet of things”. doing and it really did give me an
adrenalin rush to hear about the
Eamonn is passionate about using
Intel as an inspiration for smaller kinds of things we’re capable of.
businesses to create, innovate, Ireland is a nimble, innovative and
grow and thrive and says Wexford Things have been tough for creative place and Wexford has
is an ideal location for such such companies in recent years, that same lifeblood.”
development. he acknowledges, in the area Meanwhile, he is quick to blow
of raising finance for example. the trumpet of his native town as
“Intel has enabled the worldwide a place to live and work, citing its
infrastructure to connect the “I believe that excellence is beauty, heritage, amenities and
planet in ways we could only have something that you can sell on a young, educated population.
dreamed about 25 years ago and world stage - if you are the best in
you could really get excited about the world at what you do and can “I’m a little biased but I do think
the opportunity that presents for capitalise on that then you have a Wexford is fantastic.”
expansion and growth for small massive opportunity and I think

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