POCKET KINGS, a high profile company marketing online poker, has bucked recent trends by renting an additional 2,000sq m (21,528sq ft) of office space at Cherrywood Business Park in south Co Dublin.
The company, which is also involved in software development, now occupies more than 7,000sq m (75,348sq ft) and employs over 400 staff in Dublin. It was attracted to Ireland by the availability of a highly skilled IT and marketing workforce.
To allow it expand into larger accommodation, developers Dunloe Ewart negotiated the relocation of two other companies, Welocalize and Hibernia Technology. Both companies will be based in a building of 1,800sq m (19,375sq ft) once fit-out works have been completed.
Welocalize is a privately owned, venture-backed company specialising in translation, localisation and testing solutions for business materials and high-tech systems including software, multimedia, learning services and mobile applications. Hibernia Technology has been serving the IT needs of Irish businesses for over 20 years.
Cherrywood also accommodates several other leading companies, including Dell, Friends First, Service Source, Covidien, Unicare and IMS Healthcare. Bank of Scotland is due to set up a base in the park in 2010.
The appeal of the park is likely to be strengthened that year when the Luas service will run there from Sandyford. In the meantime private shuttle buses run from the park to the Luas at Sandyford and the Dart at Shankill.
Joint agents BNP Paribas Real Estate and CB Richard Ellis are quoting rents of €242 per sq m (€22.5 per sq ft) for office space at Cherrywood and €1,500 for car-parking spaces.
