Cllr wants Tik Tok data centre in the midlands

A county councillor is seeking a meeting with the IDA to discuss the potential for the location of a proposed TikTok data centre on the Offaly/Westmeath border.

The Chinese video app last week announced that it planned to invest €420 million in creating its first European data centre in Ireland

Offaly County Councillor Noel Cribbin said he has been in contact with both Minister for Land Use and Biodiversity, Pippa Hackett, and representatives from Bord na Mona in a bid to open the talks.

Referencing the potential in the midlands to house data centres for a range of multinational companies Cllr Cribbin said: “TikTok is seeking a location for a €500 million data centre in Ireland and now is the time to showcase the many advantages of choosing the Midlands for this enterprise.”

He said Bord na Mona had a massive landbank in the region, particularly around the North Offaly/Westmeath border near Rochfortbridge.

“These advantages, combined with proximity to Dublin, its ports and airports, and from there access to the entire European market, make the Midlands an ideal location for multinational companies eager to establish bases in Ireland – now the only English-speaking nation in the EU.”

Cllr Cribbin said: “With the terrible impact of job losses in Bord na Mona on the area in the last months, we have a great opportunity to showcase the fabulous opportunities that exist here. It is time to see an injection of jobs and prosperity into the area," he said.