Fingal is where Ireland meets the world. Home to Dublin Airport, the country's youngest workforce and one of its fastest-growing populations, Fingal combines global connectivity with room to grow – making it a leading location for foreign direct investment (FDI) and ambitious Irish enterprise alike.
Why Ireland, why Fingal
Ireland is the EU's only English-speaking economy, with a time zone that overlaps both US and Asian working hours and a corporate tax regime among the most competitive in Europe. The world's leading software, pharma, medtech and financial services companies have made Ireland their European base.
Fingal is where much of that activity lands – literally. The county surrounds Ireland's international gateway, sits on the Dublin–Belfast Economic Corridor and offers investors talent, infrastructure and enterprise space within 30 minutes of Dublin city centre.
Fingal at a glance
- 330,506 residents (Census 2022) – up 11.6% since 2016, with the highest natural population increase of any Irish county
- Ireland's youngest county – average age just 36.2
- 155,063 people in employment and the highest labour force participation rate in the country (65.6%)
- €23.6bn in Gross Value Added across aviation, ICT, life sciences, pharma, agri-food and logistics
- Over 22,000 new homes delivered since 2015, including more than 3,600 in 2025 alone – the strongest housing pipeline in Dublin
The Fingal advantage
Global connectivity, on your doorstep
Dublin Airport – located in the heart of Fingal – had its busiest year ever in 2025, welcoming a record 36.4 million passengers across 255,000 flights.
- One of only two airports in Europe offering US Customs Preclearance: passengers clear US immigration in Dublin and arrive as domestic travellers. The facility processed over 2 million passengers in 2025 – a first
- Direct connections across Europe, North America, the Middle East and beyond, with London Heathrow, Amsterdam and Manchester the busiest routes
- An independent InterVISTAS study found the airport supports 116,100 jobs and contributes €9.6bn in GVA to the Irish economy – with 29% of that value generated in Fingal
- Fast links to Dublin Port via the M1 and M50, plus national rail and planned DART+ upgrades
MetroLink: approved and on the way
In October 2025, MetroLink received full planning approval – the single biggest public transport project in the history of the State.
- 18.8km line with 16 stations, running from Estuary in Swords through Dublin Airport to the city centre
- 25 minutes end to end, with trains every three minutes at peak
- Four stations serving Swords, transforming accessibility for businesses and commuters across the county
- €2bn already allocated under the National Development Plan to commence construction
For investors, MetroLink changes the calculation: land and premises along the route are set to become some of the most connected in Ireland.
Young, skilled and growing talent
- Ireland's youngest county, with a workforce that keeps expanding – Fingal's Development Plan forecasts a further 73,000 residents by 2029
- 31% of residents hold degree-level qualifications or higher
- TU Dublin's Blanchardstown campus anchors third-level provision in the county, with strong industry links across engineering, computing and business
- A new College of the Future in Swords, led by DDLETB, will provide purpose-built further education and training for up to 1,000 students
- The Fingal Skills Strategy aligns local training with what employers actually need
Dynamic and diverse industries
- ICT & technology: Multinationals and SMEs driving digital innovation, AI and Industry 4.0
- Aviation & logistics: Anchored by Dublin Airport and a deep cluster of freight, maintenance and supply-chain operators
- Life sciences & pharma: An established cluster with growing strength in digital health
- Agri-food: Ireland's horticulture leader – Fingal produces 47% of the country's field vegetables and 14.5% of its potatoes
- Tourism & hospitality: €0.5bn in annual visitor spend supporting 20,000 jobs
Space to grow
- Dublin Enterprise Zone: 20+ business parks contributing €14.4bn annually and supporting 19,500 jobs
- Enterprise centres and business campuses across Swords, Blanchardstown, Malahide, Donabate and the Dublin Airport area
- A strong supply of zoned enterprise land – rare in the Dublin region – with ongoing investment in scale-up facilities
A place people want to live
Talent attraction is half the investment case, and Fingal delivers. The county links city, countryside and coast: 88km of coastline, 13 beaches, and seaside towns like Malahide, Portmarnock, Skerries and Howth, all within easy reach of the capital. Rents and housing costs run below city-centre levels, and Fingal's housing delivery leads the Dublin region.
Investment opportunities in Fingal
Fingal's Economic Development Strategy (2024) identifies six priority opportunities for investors:
- Sustainability – renewable energy, circular economy and the net zero transition
- Skills – sector academies, digital reskilling and international talent attraction
- Vibrant places – town centre regeneration and the Smart District in Balbriggan
- Growth & clusters – formalised sector clusters and anchor employer supports
- Infrastructure – MetroLink, DART+, housing and enterprise land activation
- International reach – Fingal's unique brand, the Dublin–Belfast Corridor and EU networks
How Fingal Chamber supports investors
- Market intelligence – data on talent, wages, sectors and supply chains
- Site search & selection – tailored introductions across Fingal's business parks
- Planning support – guidance on zoning, utilities and sustainability standards
- Business supports – connections to Fingal Local Enterprise Office, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland
- Networking & talent – skills forums, recruitment pipelines, B2B events and executive seminars
Ready to invest?
Fingal offers the ideal location to start, grow or relocate a business in Ireland: direct access to global markets through Dublin Airport, a young and skilled workforce, and a once-in-a-generation infrastructure pipeline now moving from plan to delivery.
Talk to our team today.
Fingal Chamber Email: info@fingalchamber.ie Phone: 01 890 0977