Apple to sell Irish land originally meant for $1bn data center
Apple is selling off the land it had once hoped to develop into a billion-dollar Irish data center.
As first reported by The Times, the proposed Derrydonnell data center in Athenry, County Galway, is up for sale on a website managed by commercial real estate firm Binswanger.
Advertised as a "ready to go data center development site" on Data Hub West, no price has been given for the plot which cost Apple around $15m back in 2014. The land "has full planning permission for buildings totalling 320,000 sq ft (29,729 sq m)."
Apple claimed the site would have employed 150 people and cost €850m ($1bn).
Five years of toil
Despite initially winning planning permission to build the data center and electrical substation, it was challenged by opponents who cited environmental concerns.
The initial plan for the Athenry site was quickly approved by Galway County Council, but appeals kept bringing the case back to the Irish planning board (An Bord Pleanála) and the Commercial Court. It was approved in 2015, 2016 and 2017.
However, environmental protesters were undeterred and carried their appeals to higher courts - eventually reaching the Supreme Court where they won the appeal.
The project’s local supporters, the Athenry for Apple group, said this was not just a disappointment in Galway, but a “blow to the country,” and blamed Ireland’s cumbersome planning process.
Paul Keane of Athenry for Apple said the development “should have been fast-tracked in the way it happens in other European countries.”
The facility that was meant to be operational by 2017 but was instead stymied by multiple legal challenges that went on for five long years.
Eventually, Apple simply gave up, cancelling the project in 2018 despite a last-ditch plea from state head Leo Varadkar.
The tech firm has now shifted its attention to building its Danish Viborg facility.
This data center has also been causing trouble for the Californian company, with multiple delays, sacked contractors, and stalled construction.
The facility was part of a wider $1.7bn expansion in Europe involving its sister site in Aabenraa - but that facility was ultimately cancelled for reasons unknown, with the land now also on sale.
source datacenterdynamics
Industry: Data Centre / Data Center
Latest Jobs
-
- Senior Presales Consultant | Managed Security Services | London
- London
- N/A
-
Senior Presales Consultant – Managed Security Services Location: London-commutable (Hybrid) A well-established cyber consultancy is seeking a Senior Presales Consultant to drive growth across its managed security services / advisory portfolio. This hybrid role bridges commercial and technical expertise supporting solution design, shaping customer proposals, and guiding conversations from scoping through to delivery. Key experience: Background in managed security services, including SOC operations and threat detection Strong knowledge of cloud and on-prem security tooling (SIEM, EDR, IAM) Penetration testing Proven ability to translate technical concepts into clear business value Confident in customer-facing engagements and pre-sales delivery Experience contributing to bids, proposals, and RFI/RFP responses To find out more contact me on 07884666351 Visa sponsorship is unfortunately not available for this role.
-
- Senior SOC Engineer - Microsoft | Splunk. Permanent. London
- London
- N/A
-
Senior SOC Engineer – Hybrid London Type: Full-Time A well-established cyber security provider is seeking a Senior SOC Engineer to strengthen its managed services function. This role is ideal for someone with a strong operational background in SIEM and EDR tools who can confidently lead customer onboarding, fine-tune detection strategies, and act as a senior point of contact for technical escalations. You will need to be SC clearable. Bonus points if you have SC clearance currently. You will be responsible for ensuring smooth integration of new clients into the service, optimising alerting capabilities and delivering meaningful outcomes during investigations. This is a hands-on position, working closely with internal teams and external stakeholders to maintain robust security operations across multiple environments. Prior experience in a cyber-focused MSP or MSSP Strong hands-on capability with platforms such as Microsoft Sentinel, Defender for Endpoint, or similar Proficiency in scripting and query languages such as KQL or PowerShell Knowledge of detection logic, investigation workflows, and cloud-based infrastructure Confident communicator with strong documentation and reporting skills Apply today for more information.
-
- New Business | Cyber Security | Overlay sales (UK Based- London commutable)
- London
- N/A
-
New Business Sales Hunter needed | Cybersecurity (UK Based- London commutable) Are you looking for uncapped commission, a fun and sociable team that drives success with no politics? If so...You must Have a demonstrable history of sales success in Cyber Security Follow Weatons law. The role: Seeking a proven New Business Sales Hunter to join an established, successful and expanding team. New business focused - £500-750 GP Sell a blend of security services & professional services. Ideal experience selling some or all of the following Cyber strategy & risk management Managed detection & response (MDR) Penetration testing Compliance & audit support You: Strong cybersecurity/IT services sales track record. Confident selling into mid-market & enterprise. UK based - London commutable Hunter mindset, full sales cycle ownership. Don't just send an email to apply give me a call on 07884666351