Client News

Irish technology firm Konversational announces U.S expansion with opening in New York

Irish technology consultancy firm Konversational is advancing its strategic growth globally with the Dublin headquartered company pleased to announce its expansion into the United States with the opening of its first office in New York. The move is anticipated to generate over €5 million ($5.8 million) in revenue and create up to 40 new roles at its US headquarters within the first year. It currently employs 80 IT professionals across six locations including Dublin, London, Paris, Nantes, Zurich and Munich.

Founded in 2020, Konversational is among the most experienced ServiceNow Customer Workflow partners globally and is only the second company worldwide to earn the prestigious Customer Experience Advanced Specialisation. This latest move represents an important juncture for Konversational, signalling its intent to break into the U.S market, with ambitions to capitalise on the high demand for customer service technologies, valued at almost $4 billion*. The launch comes less than 18 months after its expansion into France, Germany, and Switzerland.

As an Elite partner of ServiceNow, Konversational are the preferred deployment and implementation partner of ServiceNow Customer Workflow technologies, which enable enterprise companies to increase efficiencies, automate services and provide an enhanced customer service offering as part of large-scale digital transformation projects. Since its establishment, it has accelerated rapidly through the ServiceNow accreditation system, attaining Elite Partner status in less than 18 months, and retaining the designation for over three years.

John Gilleran, Co-CEO, Konversational said, 

“Expanding into the United States is a significant milestone for us and one that we have been building towards since opening our Dublin headquarters less than five years ago. The U.S market alone represents a tremendous growth opportunity for Konversational. We are looking forward to bringing our award-winning market leading services to the U.S. market and to supporting clients achieve commercial ambitions, underpinned and supported by the global leading technology solutions of ServiceNow.”

Richard Guy, Co-CEO, Konversational said,

“Our expansion into the United States represents a natural evolution of Konversational’s growth journey. The scale of our success in Ireland, the UK and in Europe has built a strong foundation for us to now bring our proven methodologies, tools, and talent to the biggest market in the world. What excites us is the opportunity to work with forward-thinking U.S. organisations that are ready to innovate and elevate their customer experience strategies.”

Aidan McKenna, Regional Director, Americas, Enterprise Ireland 

“Enterprise Ireland supports Irish companies such as Konversational to enter and scale in the U.S. market, the number one market internationally for digital tech exports.

Konversational has been hugely successful across Europe and now brings this success to the U.S. market to enhance customer experiences and accelerate digital transformation for U.S. companies.”

 

Uisce Éireann Issues National Appeal To Conserve Water

As the country is set to enjoy a long spell of warm weather, Uisce Éireann, today announced a national appeal encouraging the public to help protect the country’s water supplies by adopting simple water-saving practices at home, in the garden, and at work. As part of the appeal Uisce Éireann has teamed up with broadcaster Kathryn Thomas to help raise awareness of the importance of water conservation.

Already the water network is experiencing increased pressure on supplies across several regions, including counties Dublin, Limerick, Tipperary, Waterford, Cork, Galway, Donegal, Meath, Westmeath, Clare, and Wexford.

The aim of the appeal is to remind the public that saving water doesn’t have to be difficult. By making small adjustments, we can all contribute to managing water more efficiently.

Below are some easy water-saving tips:

• Leave the hose in the shed: Drop the hose during the summer months. Use a rose head watering can to water your plants instead of a hose or sprinkler. Running a hose for just one hour uses as much water as a family would typically need in an entire day.
• Bucket and sponge for your car: Using a bucket and sponge to wash your car can save hundreds of litres of water compared to using a hose or power washer.
• Turn off the tap: Brushing your teeth with the tap running wastes up to six litres of water per minute. Turning it off while brushing can reduce that to just one litre.
• Switch to a shower: Showers use about half the amount of water as baths. Invest in water saving appliances such as water efficient taps and shower heads.
• Shorter showers: With the average shower using seven litres of water per minute by turning your five-minute shower into four minutes, you could save up to seven litres of water per day!
• Fully load your appliances: Always ensure your dishwasher and washing machine are fully loaded before use. A typical washing machine uses approximately 65 litres of water, and a dishwasher uses around 20 litres per cycle. By ensuring they are fully loaded, not only will you conserve water, but you will also reduce your energy bills.

“We’re committed to ensuring a reliable water supply throughout the summer months, and the support of our customers is an important element to achieve this. In the days and weeks ahead, we would appeal to customers to take the opportunity to really consider their water usage and reflect on the daily and easy actions they can take to play their part in ensuring our water resources are used wisely and in a way which benefits, not only your own household but also the wider community,” said Margaret Attridge, Uisce Éireann’s Head of Water Operations.

“While the warmer weather is certainly a welcome change, it does place additional demands on our water supplies. That is why we are asking people to join us in making small changes in their own daily routine to help conserve water. Simple steps can have a big impact in helping to maintain water reserves. Whether it is using a watering can in the garden, or turning off the tap while brushing your teeth, every individual action counts, and all adds up to making a positive contribution to benefit everyone,” concluded Margaret.

Commenting further, broadcaster Kathryn Thomas said, “It is important that we all consider our water usage habits not just during the summer months but all year round. Simple changes can have a real impact and collectively we can all help maintain our water resources.”

For those looking to track their progress and learn more about water conservation, Uisce Éireann has developed an easy-to-use conservation calculator, which allows people to track their personal water usage. To access the water conservation calculator or find out more about water conservation tips visit www.water.ie/conservation.

 

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Over Half Of GAA Fans Claim Match Day Atmosphere And Standing For Anthem Among Championship Golden Moments

• Hope and pride in county team run high for three quarters of fans (75%)
• Putting on the county colours a highlight for three in every ten (32%)
• Findings revealed in new research exploring the Golden Moments of Gaelic Games
• Offaly’s 1994 All-Ireland Hurling win, Dubs’ six-in-a-row, Cork Ladies All-Ireland wins and Galway Camogie among the highlights for fans

Over half (56%) of GAA fans claim that the excitement of being at the game and cheering on their side coupled with standing for the national anthem before throw-in are among their golden moments in the championship season. A further three quarters of fans (75%) say they feel a huge sense of pride and hope when they see their county team in action.

The findings are revealed in new research from Solgar, official vitamin partner of the GAA/GPA and partner of the GAA Museum to mark the launch of its Golden Moments campaign which celebrates the passion, excitement, joy and uniqueness of Gaelic Games and what it means for both fans and players alike.

The survey revealed the strong connection GAA fans feel to their county team with over three in every ten (32%) describing putting on the county colours as a match day golden moment, while a fifth (21%) enjoyed the ritual of finding their seat in the stand and settling in before throw-in. That sense of excitement and being part of the match day crowd was strong among three in ten (29%) of 18–24-year-olds but interestingly rose, even higher (50%) among those aged 44-54. Over a quarter of the same cohort also claimed Jones Road on All-Ireland finals day as their match day golden moment.

The survey also showed the lengths GAA fans will go to in support of their team, with over one in every ten (13%) decorating or painting the house in the county colours while one fifth combined, have either travelled across continents (13%) or cancelled their holiday plans (12%) to see their county in action. Interestingly, over one in every ten (11%) of 18–24-year-olds got a tattoo to celebrate their team’s performance in the championship.

When it came to championship golden moments fans highlighted the Offaly hurlers winning the 1994 All-Ireland in dramatic fashion against Limerick as well as Clare hurlers winning the 1995 All-Ireland and ending an 81-year wait. The Dubs clinching their sixth consecutive All-Ireland in 2020 also ranked highly. Also included were the All-Ireland winning exploits of Laois Ladies footballers in 2001, after seven championship losses; the All-Ireland championship winning run of Cork Ladies who claimed 11 titles between 2005-16 and Galway Camogie claiming All-Ireland honours in 2013.

Kilkenny hurler Henry Shefflin, Galway hurler Joe Canning and Dublin footballer Stephen Cluxton were ranked among the most iconic GAA players with Mayo Ladies footballer Cora Staunton and Kilkenny Camogie player Katie Power also featuring.

Solgar’s Golden Moments features Solgar ambassadors Paul Conroy, Galway football; Katie Quirke, Cork Ladies Football along with Galway legend Michael Meehan and Cork’s 10 times All-Ireland championship winner Val Mulcahy. All four have come together to share their unique insights and experiences of representing both club and county; what it means to pull on the club and county jersey and share personal golden moments from their playing careers. To watch go to https://youtu.be/V3NfxYR8mSk

Natalia Lobetska, Solgar said: “We are delighted, as part of our partnership with the GAA/GPA and GAA Museum to announce Golden Moments – an exciting new campaign which celebrates the richness of Ireland’s national games, showcases the unique connection between fans and their county team and highlights the passion, commitment and dedication by the players who represent club and county. We are particularly pleased to have the opportunity to work with Solgar ambassadors Paul and Katie and to also hear the amazing insights of two true GAA legends Michael and Val.

“Gaelic games are full of many rich, memorable and iconic moments. We wanted to celebrate that, capturing the unique insights and stories of our players and legends, learn more about that feeling of pulling on the club or county jersey and what it means to play on the biggest stage, representing your county. Gaelic games are all about Golden Moments, whether you are a fan or a player.”

 

Taste of Dublin 2025

Dublin’s legendary culinary festival, Taste of Dublin, in association with JYSK, officially opened its gates today after being named one of Europe’s best food festivals. Returning to the glorious surroundings of Merrion Square, it celebrates its 20^th anniversary this year, with over 30,000 visitors expected across the weekend.

Taste of Dublin was named in the top 25 food festivals in Europe by Big 7, a travel company that specialises in rounding up the best experiences, food and drink spots and activities around the world.

At its official launch today, well-known personalities were spotted basking in the culinary glory, including Rosalind Lipsett; Sarah Morrissey; Norah Casey; Daragh Curran; Faye Shortt and TV Chef Edward Hayden.

Across the weekend, a stellar line up of Irish and International chefs will inspire visitors sharing the best of cultural innovations at the brand-new SuperValu’s Real Food Kitchen. Visitors can expect to see TV cook Sarah Butler; health food experts The Happy Pear; performance nutritionist, Daniel Davey and Executive Chef at Anantara, The Marker Hotel, Gareth Mullins plus many more gracing the stage.

To fuel those summer design passions, JYSK’s ‘Around the Table’ will have experts on hand to share their top tips, including boutique designer Grace Cahill; interiors expert Paul Kinsella and fashion and interior icon Sarah Battle.

From neighbouring Wicklow, the Glendalough Distillery’s immersive Foraging Masterclass, led by the brand’s head forager, Geraldine Kavanagh, will allow visitors to create their own unique botanical refreshments to take home.

All corners of the world will be covered with superb international cuisine dotted throughout the festival. Some of the top dishes to try include; The Salt Project’s province inspired ‘Leinster’ Chicken and Waffles, BIGFAN’S Black Dragon Lobster special, Shaku Maku’s VIP Grill mix plus Bovinity’s classic Bangers’n’Mash.

Once dishes are eaten and thirst is quenched, visitors can enjoy an energising line up of entertainment at the Bulmers Live Music Stage with Spring Break, The Runaways and many more, and on Sunday they can top off their weekend with the nation’s favourite, Bingo Loco.

Commenting at the official opening on behalf of Taste of Dublin, CEO, Equinox Events, Jo Mathews, said, “We are thrilled to officially open this year’s festival and continue our 20^th anniversary celebrations. It’s been a wonderful two decades of highlighting the magnificent restaurants, innovative artisan producers and expert chefs from across Ireland and we thank all of those here today who are sharing their creativity and expertise. It’s a joy to see so many people soaking up the atmosphere and we can’t wait to welcome many more across the weekend!”

Over 1 Million Units Of Illegal Medicines Detained By HPRA In 2024

Over one million units of illegal medicines were detained by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) in 2024, marking a 14% increase compared to numbers detained in 2023. Announcing its annual enforcement data, the HPRA confirmed that it detained 1,000,984 dosage units* of falsified and other illegal medicines in 2024. The data highlights that anabolic steroids, sedatives and erectile dysfunction products are consistently the most detained categories of medicines year on year.  

The HPRA continues to encourage consumers to make informed and safe choices by purchasing prescription medicines only from authorised sources, ensuring their safety and quality.  

When prescription medicines are bought on-line in Ireland there is no way of knowing for certain if the product is genuine, if it contains the right active ingredient or if it has been tested and approved for human use. The HPRA states that the supply of online prescription medicines into and within Ireland is illegal and that consumers are taking a risk with their health if they seek to buy outside of the regulated pharmacy setting or via the internet.    

The HPRA detention figures for 2024 include:  

• Anabolic steroids – 203,088 units detained (20%^)  

• Sedative medicines – 146,686 units detained (15%) 

• Erectile dysfunction – 119,289 units detained (12%) 

• Analgesic medicines – 113,555 units detained (11%) 

The HPRA also noted an upward trend in detentions of GLP-1 products including, predominantly, semaglutide and liraglutide. While overall numbers remain low, 1,582 units of GLP-1 products were detained in 2024 compared to 568 units in 2023 and just 40 units in 2022.  

As part of its enforcement remit, the HPRA conducts ongoing monitoring to identify illegal online activity promoting prescription medicines and other substances to consumers. It routinely intervenes to disrupt online promotions through website closure and social media page removals. The HPRA also initiates prosecution cases where it considers that there is a significant risk to public health or where there are persistent non-compliances. In 2024, the HPRA undertook several significant enforcement actions, including:  

• Two prosecution cases initiated, one relating to the importation or distribution of anabolic steroids and one relating to the importation or distribution of the weight loss product Saxenda;  

• 2,553 websites, e-commerce listings and/or social media pages amended or shutdown.  

Grainne Power, Director of Compliance with the HPRA, says the 2024 data continues to highlight that individuals are putting their health at risk by attempting to purchase prescription medicines from unauthorised suppliers:     

“While purchasing on-line is second nature for many of us, when it comes to prescription medicines, people need to ensure that the product is prescribed by a healthcare professional and sourced from a local pharmacy. Your pharmacy has sourced medicines from authorised sources for your protection and is an expert in their use. Using these prescription medicines without medical supervision or from an unregulated source leaves people unprotected. The seizure of over one million dosage units of illegal medicines last year highlights the persistent extent of the threats posed by falsified and unauthorised prescription medicines. Our investigations and prosecutions have shown that those profiting from illegally supplied medicines have little or no regard for the health and safety of those who use them. While some websites may appear legitimate, many are simply fronts for unlawful activity, putting consumers at serious risk.   

“In addition to our enforcement efforts, which target promotion and supply, it is also essential that we continue our efforts to raise public awareness about the dangers of purchasing prescription medicines from unregulated sources. Increasing awareness of these risks to reduce demand is critically important.   

“We understand that there are many reasons why members of the public seek out these illegally supplied products, such as privacy, ease of access, cost, or the belief that their doctor might not deem it appropriate medical use. However, regardless of the reason, it is never worth taking a risk when it comes to your health. We advise anyone who has purchased prescription medicines from unregulated sources to stop using them immediately and to contact their healthcare professional if they have any concerns about their health,” she concluded.   

The HPRA works in close co-operation with colleagues from An Garda Síochána and Revenue’s Customs Service. There continues to be significant inter-agency collaboration to combat the illegal supply of health products into and within Ireland. The HPRA also supports prosecutions brought by the Director of Public Prosecutions in relation to the illegal supply of medicines. Additionally, the HPRA co-operates and shares intelligence with other regulatory and law enforcement agencies across Europe and worldwide to prevent the illegal manufacture, importation and distribution of medicines, medical devices, and cosmetics.  

The HPRA welcomes reports of suspicious activities linked to the supply of medicines and other health products. Anyone can report in confidence to the HPRA at reportacase@hpra.ie or at 01 6343871.  

DSPCA At Full Capacity With Almost 250 Animals Waiting For Adoption

To raise vital funds and encourage responsible adoption, the charity has launched ‘Furrever Friends’ toy collection

The Dublin Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA), Ireland’s leading animal welfare charity, is currently at full capacity with almost 250 animals in its care waiting for adoption.

These animals include 120 dogs; 43 rabbits; 63 cats; 13 guinea pigs; two snakes; two donkeys to mention but a few.

So far this year, the shelter has received over 300 surrender requests from people wishing to rehome their pets.

To raise vital funds and reinforce the message that adopting an animal should be a well-considered decision that fits each person’s lifestyle, the DSPCA has launched its ‘Furrever Friends’ plush toy collection.

This collection includes a variety of animals from dogs to cats, rabbits to reptiles, and each ‘Furrever Friend’ comes with an educational leaflet offering guidance on responsible pet adoption and care for each animal.

The toys are designed to showcase that a pet requires care, attention and commitment and highlights key factors to consider before adoption, such as species, temperament and lifestyle.

“We see a lot of cases of pets being surrendered because families weren’t fully prepared or aware of the commitment involved,” said Tanya Clarke, Head of Dog Operations at the DSPCA. “Our ‘Furrever Friends’ plush toys provide a way for people, especially children and families, to engage with the idea of pet ownership in a responsible, thoughtful manner before making that big decision.

“We want to ensure each pet that is adopted from our shelter finds its forever home and the funds and awareness raised through this initiative will help us reach our goal and continue to care for as many animals in need as possible, as well as uniting families with the perfect pet that suits their lifestyle.”

‘Furrever Friends’ are now available to purchase at www.dspca.ie/shop and 100% of proceeds go directly towards the DSPCA’s work in rescuing and rehoming animals.