FRENCH IRELAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: FICC Newsletter April 2026

Newsletter May 2026

Newsletter May 2026

Dear FICC Members,

Welcome to the May 2026 edition of the FICC Newsletter.

This month we are very pleased to welcome our new Corporate and Startup members who have signed up in the last month: Bupa, ESCP Business School, ISSAV | Econocom and Event & Venue Experts (EVE) to the Chamber. It is always encouraging to see new organisations join the FICC community and bring their own experience, ideas and energy to the network.

We are also just off our first FICC Business Lunch of the year, held in the presence of H.E. Céline Place, Ambassador of France to Ireland, and generously sponsored by BNP Paribas and Crédit Agricole Creditor Insurance. A sincere thank you to our guest speaker Alan Barrett for sharing his insights on the irish economy and to all those who joined us for such an engaging afternoon.

May continues with several opportunities for our members to meet and exchange. We hope to see many of you at Le Network on Tuesday 12th May, which will focus on AI, digital grants and practical ways to support business growth. We are also looking forward to the EU Social Mixer on Thursday 14th May, a relaxed evening to connect with members of the wider European business community in Dublin.

As part of the WG Regions plan, we will join the French Embassy team, including H.E. Céline Place, on 14^th May for “French Day Cork” to amplify the strong relationship between France and Cork. This will be the first milestone in the twinning between Cork and France during the Irish Presidency of the European Union.

In this edition, we share updates from our FICC Learning Expeditions, which continue to bring French students and school representatives closer to Ireland’s business landscape. These visits are a lovely reminder of the importance of building connections early, and of the role the Chamber can play in creating bridges between France and Ireland.

You will also find news and insights on Ireland’s business opportunities, the latest economic briefs, quantum innovation in Europe, and the recent Newstalk feature on France’s place as Ireland’s leading EU trading partner.

Finally, thank you again to Beauchamps for their Member2Member offer. If your organisation would like to share an offer with fellow members, please do get in touch with us.

I hope you enjoy this edition, and I look forward to seeing many of you in the coming weeks.

Bonne lecture !

Kind regards / bien cordialement,

Cliona McGowan
Director / Directrice Générale

THIS MONTH'S HIGHLIGHT

We were delighted to host the France Ireland Chamber of Commerce Business Lunch this week at the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, Dublin City, welcoming over 120 guests from across the Franco-Irish business community.

The lunch brought together Chamber members, partners, business leaders and guests for an afternoon of networking, discussion and insight. It was a wonderful opportunity to gather representatives from a wide range of sectors and organisations, all with a shared interest in strengthening business links between France and Ireland.

Our sincere thanks go to our sponsors, BNP Paribas and Crédit Agricole Creditor Insurance, for their continued support. Their contribution helped make this event possible and reflects the strength of collaboration within the Franco-Irish business network.

We were honoured to welcome H.E. Céline P. and Chris Smyth, President of the France Ireland Chamber of Commerce, who opened the discussion by setting the economic context from a Franco-Irish perspective. Their remarks provided valuable insight into the broader relationship between France and Ireland, as well as the opportunities and challenges currently shaping the business environment.

Our guest speaker, Professor Alan Barrett, then delivered a thoughtful and engaging overview of the Irish economy. His address explored key growth trends, labour market developments and the outlook for the months and years ahead. He also underlined the importance of continued investment in infrastructure to support sustainable growth, competitiveness and long-term economic resilience.

Professor Barrett’s remarks sparked lively and insightful discussions around the room, with guests exchanging views on the future of the Irish economy, the needs of businesses operating in Ireland and the role of international partnerships in supporting continued growth.

Beyond the keynote address, the lunch was also a valuable occasion to reconnect with familiar faces, meet new contacts and build relationships in a relaxed and friendly setting. The strong attendance and level of engagement throughout the afternoon reflected the continued vitality of the Franco-Irish business community.

We would like to thank everyone who joined us, including our members, partners and guests, for contributing to such an enjoyable and meaningful event. We are grateful for your continued interest, support and participation, and we look forward to welcoming you again at future France Ireland Chamber of Commerce events.

Photos from the event are available on our website.

A très bientôt !