New town profiles showcase midlands region to investors

The characteristics of five main midland towns, including Athlone and Mullingar, have been laid out in a series of regional and town profiles, aimed at highlighting the region as the destination of choice for living, working, studying, visiting, and investing.

The profiles were launched last week by Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Peter Burke TD, at the invitation of the steering committee of the Midlands Regional Enterprise Plan.

As well as focusing on Mullingar and Athlone, profiles have been prepared on Longford, Tullamore and Portlaoise.

The midlands has recently been designated by fDi Intelligence and the Financial Times as a European Region of the Future for FDI Strategy. Additionally, the region was the fastest growing in Ireland for FDI jobs growth with the IDA in 2023.

The midlands is home to the Technological University of the Shannon, which has the highest graduate employment rate in the country. The region also hosts five research and innovation centres, including Irish Manufacturing Research, the National Construction Training Centre, and The Cube – Low Carbon Centre of Excellence in Portlaoise.

Industry clusters thriving in the midlands include Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering, Food and Drink, ICT, and Life Sciences. The region is also a leader in renewable energy production, with significant operations in wind, solar, BESS, and green hydrogen, and a strong future pipeline.

Leveraging the latest data from Census 2022 and other leading sources, these profiles provide a detailed snapshot of the region’s unique strengths, investment opportunities, and quality of life amenities.

Key insights from the profiles reveal significant growth and potential within the midlands:

• The population has surged to 324,600, marking an 8.6% increase since the previous census.

• The labour force has expanded by 10.7%, and more than 1.1 million workers are within a 60-minute commute.

• The region boasts proximity to over 4 million people within a 90-minute radius, emphasising its central location and accessibility to all major Irish cities, airports and ports.

• There has been a 36.1% rise in adults holding third-level or postgraduate qualifications.

• 29% of graduates specialise in STEM, Manufacturing, and Construction fields.

Each profile focuses on key topics such as demographics, education, regional clusters, facilities, property solutions, and state supports, providing a holistic view of what makes the midlands and its principal towns attractive destinations.

Launching the Midlands Regional and Town Profiles, Minister Burke noted that a key objective of the Midlands Regional Enterprise Plan is to position the region as a community of choice in which to live, create, study, work, visit and invest.

“And as someone who lives in the heart of the midlands, I truly believe we have a great case to make,” he said.

“These profiles will serve to promote the region’s value proposition, including its centrality, the existing enterprise base and access to talent, as well as its rich arts, cultural and recreational assets.”

Dr Anne Cusack, chair of the Midlands Regional Enterprise Plan Steering Committee, said the profiles showcase the best that the midlands has to offer: “From our robust educational institutions and cutting-edge research facilities to our thriving industry clusters and renewable energy initiatives, these profiles provide a comprehensive overview of why the Midlands is an ideal destination for investment and living.”