WDC announces details of new enterprise and investment even, Síorghlas
The Western Development Commission (WDC) has announced details of Síorghlas, aimed at shaping the future of regional enterprise and investment in the West and Northwest.
The new event, which will take place at Dexcom Stadium in Galway on June 19, 2026, will bring together policymakers, investors, entrepreneurs and community leaders to discuss sustainable economic growth and regional development.
The event comes as the WDC’s Investment Fund passes a major milestone, having invested more than €100m across the region to date.
The fund also recorded its 50th investment in the life sciences and MedTech sector last year, underlining growing momentum for innovation-led businesses outside Dublin.
Meaning “evergreen” in Irish, Síorghlas is intended to reflect both the long-term impact of the WDC’s investment model and its plans for future expansion.
Under its current strategy, titled Unlocking Potential, Driving Change, the WDC has committed to investing a further €35m in businesses and communities across the region.
The organisation said the next phase of investment will continue to focus on supporting founders, scaling companies, community enterprise and sustainable economic development.
A range of business and investment leaders are due to speak at the event, including Aerogen founder and chief executive John Power, IBEC chief executive Danny McCoy, and executives from the investment and MedTech sectors.
Minister Dara Calleary is also expected to unveil the findings of an independent socio-economic analysis examining the impact of the WDC’s Investment Fund on enterprise development, job creation and community resilience.
Speaking ahead of the event, WDC chief executive Allan Mulrooney said the focus must now shift towards accelerating growth opportunities in parts of the West and Northwest that continue to face investment challenges.
“Síorghlas is not just about reflecting on what has been achieved to date. It is about asking how we go further and faster, particularly for parts of the West and Northwest that still face significant challenges around investment, scale and opportunity.
“Across the region, we are seeing globally ambitious companies emerging from places that would once have been overlooked. The question now is how we build on that momentum and ensure more founders, communities and regions can benefit over the next decade.”
Mulrooney said the WDC’s evergreen funding approach had proven the value of long-term regional investment.
“The WDC’s evergreen model has demonstrated long-term, regionally rooted capital works. Under our current strategy, we are committing a further €35m through the Western Investment Fund to support the next generation of businesses to start, scale and succeed from the West and Northwest”.
The conference programme will include keynote speeches, panel discussions and founder-led sessions examining investment, scaling strategies and innovation in regional Ireland.
Power, founder and CEO of Galway-based medical technology company Aerogen, said continued access to long-term funding would be critical for ambitious regional businesses.
Allan Mulrooney CEO of WDC, Gillian Buckley Head of Investment WDC, John Power Founder and CEO of Aerogen, Eamon Brady Co founder of Mednova, Neuravi and WhiteSwell pictured at Dexcom Stadium
“The West has shown it can compete on a global stage. What’s been built to date is strong, but the opportunity now is even greater. Continued access to smart, patient capital like that provided by the WDC will be key to enabling more founders to scale internationally while remaining rooted in the region”.
The WDC said the event is expected to attract founders, scaling companies, investors and policymakers from across Ireland and overseas, with early registration encouraged due to limited capacity.
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