On Friday, 17 February 2012, An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny T.D., officially launched our US expansion at a reception to mark the opening of our North American headquarters in Boston.

We are investing over €3 million in our expansion in North America and will create 50 jobs over the next 18 months.  30 jobs will be created between our Boston and Carlow operations by the end of 2012, bringing our total employment to over 120 people.  Kathleen O’Toole, the former Boston Chief of Police has joined the Netwatch Board and is helping us to drive into the US market.

Speaking at a reception in Boston, An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny T.D., said: “There is a long and close social, cultural and economic relationship between Boston and Ireland. That relationship is stronger today than ever before and it is reflected in the decision of Netwatch to establish its North American headquarters in this great city.

Oil Theft

Friday 11^th February 2011 Netwatch, Ireland’s leading Protection Specialists, have warned businesses and private home owners to take extra precautions to secure their oil supplies, as unscrupulous criminals are seeking out fuel to sell as an increasingly valuable commodity on the black market.

During the final quarter of 2010 intervention specialists at Netwatch recorded a 15% increase in incidents where fuel appeared to be the intended target, compared with the same period in 2009 and thieves are targeting both businesses and residential premises. Residential properties, often without an intruder alarm, are being targeted for home heating oil, with criminals siphoning oil into transport canisters in the majority of cases. Given the quantities of oil involved, some people are not even aware that they have been targeted, but isolated houses in rural communities are particularly vulnerable.

However, commercial properties housing large quantities of transport diesel have become a particular target. David Walsh, Managing Director of Netwatch says criminals are taking advantage of the rising cost of fuel to profiteer from this valuable commodity on the black market, “We are aware of one incident in Dundalk where a gang managed to siphon more than €50,000 worth of oil from a company with a large transport fleet.”

Our second Employee of the Year awards took place recently in the beautiful surroundings of the Step House Hotel in Borris, Co. Carlow.

The event is a celebration of employees who have gone above and beyond for Netwatch in the past year and the achievements of the Netwatch team as a whole and is a great way of getting us all together.

David Walsh, our Group CEO said the night honoured all staff and how we as a team rose to the challenges and through hard work and dedication grew the business significantly in 2011.

David Walsh to speak at Techovate

YOU no longer have to be a ' whizz kid' to get on board the technological liferaft, which is saving thousands of Irish businesses from going bust. That's the message of the organisers behind the Techovate 2012 conference, a two-day business and technology conference which will be held on March 21 and 22, aimed at driving business development through technology.The conference will use dialogue, seminars and workshops to show business people how they can use technology to gain a competitive advantage and accelerate growth in a fast-moving global marketplace.

Technovate 2012, launched last week at Wexford Opera House, offers a unique opportunity for Irish businesses of all sizes and sectors to interact and learn from senior global executives of some of the world's leading technology companies, including the 'Big 5' - Microsoft, Google, IBM, Facebook and Linkedin. There has been a phenomenal response and support for Techovate from vice-presidents and directors of big global technology companies, all of whom have volunteered their time to address the conference in person or via video link, and attend forums and panel discussions. It is hoped that they will deliver insights into how to accelerate business growth in a fast-moving global marketplace.

“I said to my wife this morning, did you ever think when we started just 8 years ago that I’d be sharing the same stage in Thomond Park with the legendary Mick Galwey..’ said Niall Kelly, Netwatch co-founder as he spoke to the crowd at the Netwatch  Crime Prevention Lunch.

Over 100 of Limerick’s leading business and political figures gathered in Thomond Park on Friday, 22nd July to discuss the need for increased business security at the first Netwatch Business Lunch.

As Mick Galwey regaled us with yarns his trials and triumphs on the pitch we overlooked (and some unorthodox security methods in his hometown of Castleisland, Co. Kerry), I couldn’t help glancing over at the Thomond Park score emblazoned with ‘Welcome Netwatch’.