This Grand Bargain, set up by the United States after the second World War, has brought peace and prosperity in Europe. In contrast, the American world suited Ireland and other small countries. Galway hosts medical device giants such as Medtronic and Boston Scientific, while Limerick hosts pharmaceutical leaders such as Regeneron and Eli Lilly. Galway is Europe’s medical technology hub, employing 15,000 people in the city alone and more than half of medtech companies in Galway have dedicated R&D facilities. What happens to a city like Galway, its bars, shops and restaurants, where does alternative high-wage, high-skilled employment come from?

Source: The Irish Times January 24, 2026 12:02 UTC