Limerick is an attractive base for tech firms, according to an entrepreneur based in the city. Shane McAllister is the founder of MobaNode, a tech company he started in 2007 that builds apps for clients in the corporate and enterprise app space.

“If I was in Dublin trying to run MobaNode, my costs would be much higher. Being in Limerick allows us to compete. We get a lot of work in the UK and Northern Ireland because we’re able to stay competitive,” he said.

“They would have access to an equally talented pool that would perhaps cost less because Dublin is an expensive city to rent in. That’s why we do quite well in Limerick. The rents are nowhere near equivalent to Dublin.”

He also says smaller tech companies like MobaNode must make an effort to compete with larger companies known for giving perks to employees.

“You have to endeavour to make it an interesting workplace because these staff are in demand, and they can go elsewhere,” he said.

McAllister did this by buying an office space on the quays in Limerick and making the company a flexible, open work environment. “We’re hiring all the time. Our biggest problem is we may shortly outgrow the space we’re in,” he said.

McAllister will speak at the Start-up Night in Limerick on Wednesday, July 8th. Niall McGarry, founder of Maximum Media, will also speak at the event. The company is behind JOE.ie and Her.ie and recently expanded into the British market with the launch of JOE.co.uk.

One of the Academy's finalists from last year, Bernie Kinsella of Worldbox, will pitch her shipping company to the Limerick audience. Hannah Wrixon of Last Minute Minders and Natalie King of Natalie King Design will also give start-up pitches. AIB Start-up Academy: What is it? The AIB Start-up Academy is a joint venture between The Irish Times and AIB to help start-up ventures by providing information and networking opportunities.

A series of Start-up Nights are taking place across the country over the course of the summer, including one in Limerick this Wednesday, where seasoned entrepreneurs share their insights and experiences. The Start-up Nights aim to connect entrepreneurs with like-minded people and the wider start-up community.

The Academy also wants to find the top start-up talent in the country. Entrepreneurs can apply for a place on the intensive eight-week training course that begins in early 2016.