Limerick IT summit sees focus on AI, and digital growth

MORE than 350 people were at an IT summit held in Dell Technologies in Raheen Industrial Estate.

The inaugural IT Summit saw a number of high-profile speakers including Samantha Kelly, who is known as ‘the Tweeting Goddess’.

She was joined by Tom King, a blacksmith turned digital maven, and Mayor of Limerick John Moran.

More than 30 local company owners showcased their businesses and sought to connect with each other and the wider attendees throughout the half-day event held earlier this month.

Chief executive of Limerick Chamber, Michelle Gallagher, gave a ‘state of the nation’ style speech on the potential of Limerick business opportunities.

There were also three separate panel discussions on digitalising businesses.

Event organiser Christopher Heaney of WebDev Builders said: “This event has grown and grown but remains true to the original purpose, to offer an insightful, inspiring event in Limerick for Limerick business owners, to stimulate local connections and co operation by small to medium sized enterprises, and for small to medium sized enterprises.”

He thanked Dell Technologies for hosting the event at its vast campus.

“We are delighted that large companies such as Dell and others can also see the benefit of a strong indigenous small to medium size enterprise community and supported this event in such a way. They were an excellent host.”

He also paid tribute to the Limerick-Clare Education and Training Board, the Technological University of the Shannon, and University of Limerick, which provided support.

As well as digitising business, the panels discussed advanced artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, with some of the most advanced professionals and academics in the sector.

Among those taking part were John Savage, Treaty Software, Tim Crowe, Wrxflo, Dr Lubna Luxmi Dhirani, University of Limerick and Dr Liam Brown, Liam Cronin of the RDI Hub.

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Representatives of Talos Data Consulting and PAQ IT were also there.

The main partner of the event was DSM, the Annacotty-based data storage and management company.

Its chief executive Andrew Clohessy said: “We at DSM have been excited to support this event, it was a true co-operative effort by so many on the committee and reflected the genuine nature of business in Limerick. We were delighted that so many came and took some key connections and business ideas away from it.”

It is anticipated the Limerick IT Summit will return in 2026 on a larger scale.