More local firms getting online with .ie domains

THE number of new .ie domains registered in Sligo in first half of this year was 240, a 24 per cent rise year-on-year.

It reflects a general rise in Irish domain registrations in the West of Ireland, with Connacht registrations up 39 per cent, according to the biannual IE Domain Registry ‘Domain Profile Report’.

New .ie domain registrations in Connacht reached 2,364.

The first six months of this year were the best ever for new .ie domain registrations as a new ‘ liberalisation’ policy makes it easier and faster to register a .ie domain.

A staggering 154 new .ie domains were registered every day in first half of 2018, bringing the total .ie database over 250,000.

IE Domain Registry CEO David Curtin said the growth of .ie in regional parts of Ireland such as Sligo was “a fantastic example of how the internet can help businesses overcome traditional barriers to growth, such as a smaller customer base or slower road and rail links.”

“The increase in registrations in Sligo and in Connacht during this period is good news, as increased online activity among businesses is a leading indicator of Ireland’s broader economic growth.

“While applicants are still required to prove their connection to Ireland, they can now register their preferred name on a first-come, first-served basis. For an SME, a .ie online address signals to local customers that they are local and trustworthy. To international customers, .ie is an authentic and protected marker of Irishness.”