Start-up formation in Ireland returns to pre-pandemic highs
There were 13 sectors which saw an increase in start-up activity during the first three months of the year, with education seeing the largest increase — up 28% year-on-year. Picture: iStock
The number of new start-ups recorded in Ireland during the first three months of 2025 has reached numbers not seen since before the pandemic hitting 6,340, new data from the company CRIFVision-net shows.
According to the data, this is a 3.9% increase on the number of start-ups recorded during the same period in 2024. This comes as a period of growing uncertainty over the economic outlook and a potential trade war between the US and the EU.
There were 13 sectors which saw an increase in start-up activity in this period, with education seeing the largest increase — up 28% year-on-year. The motor sector also saw an 18% increase while the agriculture sector saw an 11% increase.
However, there were a number of areas that saw a decline in start-up numbers. The number of real estate start-ups and manufacturing start-ups both declined by 12% each, while the wholesale retail and trade sector declined by 5%.
Christine Cullen, the managing director of CRIFVision-net, said this is the “strongest first-quarter performance for start-ups since before the pandemic, proving that Irish entrepreneurship is not only recovering but thriving”.
Laois saw its number of start-ups doubled when compared to the same period last year while Meath saw a 25% increase, and Roscommon saw a 24% increase. These were the top three counties with the largest increases.
Counties with large urban populations including Dublin, Cork, and Galway experienced a minimal rise in first quarter new start-ups with increases of 4%, 3%, and 2% recorded respectively.
Limerick, meanwhile, recorded a 23% year-on-year growth rate.
The company said that the uncertainty surrounding US president Donald Trump’s tariff announcement on Wednesday, and its potential impact on business and consumer confidence, adds another layer of “complexity to the economic outlook”.
“While it remains difficult to predict the full implications, it is a factor that businesses will be monitoring closely in the months ahead.”
The EU is expected to outline their response to any US trade tariffs by the middle of April.
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