1,000 jobs set to be created by Airbnb and sports firms

ALMOST 1,000 jobs could be created across the country by employers including sports firms and Airbnb.

Half are expected over five years at the State’s first ‘sports business cluster’, which will be in Limerick.

The National Sports Business Cluster is to be home to sporting facilities such as University of Limerick’s sports campus, Limerick Institute of Technology’s SportsLab and companies involved in sports-related activities.

Pat Healy, head of economic development at Limerick City and County Council, said: ‘Establishing formal clusters can help redress economic development imbalances in Ireland by growing employment.

‘Clusters also enhance competitiveness across smart specialisations, enhance innovation, accelerate entrepreneurship and have a positive impact on the growth rate of average wages.’

Accommodation website Airbnb will create an additional 400 jobs for its newest Silicon Docks building in Dublin.

Aisling Hassell of Airbnb said: ‘The company is planning to grow its workforce in line with its European growth, which is now over 50 per cent of its business.’

And 70 jobs are to be created for Cork as a new McDonald’s opens in Musgrave Park in Ballyphehane under a €3million investment from the firm.

McDonald’s Ireland managing director Adrian Crean said: ‘The opening of this new restaurant in Musgrave Park demonstrates our firm commitment to Ireland, in terms of both developing new restaurants and building on our strong relationships with l ocal suppliers.’