Record registrations for dot-ie

The number of dot-ie domain names being registered reached a record in 2009, the IE Domain Registry (IEDR) said today.

IEDR, which manages the dot-ie registry, said 37,055 domains were registered for the year, an increase of 8 per cent on 2008. There are now almost 136,000 registered dot-ie domains.

There was a strong increase int he fourth quarter of the year, with a total of 8,533 dot-ie domains registered between October and December. This is an 11.5 per cent rise on the same period last year.

IEDR said the strong figures indicated continued demand from Irish sole traders and limited companies, which accounted for more than 80 per cent of new registrants.

"It is more encouraging still to report that overall, 2009 was our strongest year ever for .ie registrations; an 8 per cent increase on last year's figure is significant against the backdrop of economic difficulty for businesses and consumers everywhere," said IEDR chief executive David Curtin.

"It is important that Irish entrepreneurs now recognise and seize opportunities for growth online."

Last month, security firm McAfee rated the dot-ie domain as the second safest top-level country domain in the world, with only Japan's dot-jp addresses considered safer.