A MINI-INVASION of Killarney by young, shiny, happy people attired in jeans and T-shirts yesterday was not the vanguard of some new religious movement. Google had come to town.
About 2,500 staff from Google’s operations around Europe, the Middle East and Africa descended on the Co Kerry town yesterday morning for an internal sales conference that will end on Wednesday morning.
The Engage 2009 conference, which takes place at Ireland’s National Event Centre (Inec), will no doubt provide a much-needed shot in the arm for Killarney tourism after a challenging summer season.
Financial support to bring the conference to Kerry, which was held in Greece last year, was provided by Tourism Ireland.
The assembled Google staff will hear the company’s plans for the coming year and will be addressed by senior executives, including the company’s chairman and chief executive, Eric Schmidt.
Mr Schmidt’s personal Gulfstream jet was one of about six private or chartered aircraft that landed at Kerry Airport yesterday.
A qualified pilot, Mr Schmidt flew his own jet for part of the journey from Silicon Valley.
Google also chartered six trains to bring staff to Kerry with the minimum of delay.
JOHN COLLINS
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