Irish online ad space grew 65pc last year


20 May 2008

Ireland’s online advertising market grew 65pc in revenue in 2007 and this growth rate has prompted a major UK new media advertising firm to expand into the Irish market.

Online advertising sales house eType is launching in Ireland as a partnership between Visualise and UK-based independent internet advertising sales house Media Initiatives Group (MIG).

The new company, eType Ireland, will bring MIG’s online expertise to the Irish online advertising market, which showed 65pc growth in revenue in 2007, according to industry organisation IAPI.

EType Ireland will offer advertisers the opportunity to reach new audiences and website publishers the ability to maximise ad revenues.

The internet advertising market in the UK is predicted to overtake TV in revenue within the next few years and similar growth is expected in Ireland, said eType Ireland’s managing director, Ciaran FitzGerald.

The company new company will be chaired by Michael Quilty, who has a 25-year career in advertising both in Ireland and abroad with Mediaedge:cia, MindShare and the Coca-Cola Co.

“The Irish internet advertising market is at the start of a major growth period and we aim to help drive the sector to new heights,” FitzGerald explained.

“Interest in our new venture has already exceeded expectations with blue-chip advertisers coming on board.”

By John Kennedy