The economic boom means more Irish people have extra money burning a hole in their pocket and many have turned to the Internet for advice and information on possible investments.
Although there are a wide range of US and British sites to cater for all tastes in the financial sector, for Irish investors there is a dearth of Ireland-specific sites.
Internet service provider, Ireland Online (www.iol.ie) offers a good range of search tools for finding Irish financial sites and information on the Web as well as short views and reviews on the engines.
Irish Finance 99, which is accessible through IOL.IE and Yahoo, has a comprehensive guide, index, and list of links on everything from financial services and banks to budgets and share prices.
The site, (http://ireland.iol.ie/-rclapham/finance3) under the tutelage of Robin Clapham, offers a long list of links comparable only to the selection offered by Finfacts (www.finfacts.ie).
Among them are links to Mart-Eye, Datastream/ICV's service for the serious investor. There is also a link to Moneyworld UK - a winner of a Sunday Times award - which has useful information on financial services and investment in Ireland, and guides interested parties through every aspect of the Irish economy.
Finfacts, the self-styled Irish Business Web Gateway, gives a huge range of news, links, prices and quotes for all aspects of investment in Ireland and worldwide.
Information on interest rates, stocks, currencies, fund rankings and Irish financial products are among the many services this exhaustive site provides.
Both the casual and serious investor should look at the range of financial products on the market, and Finfacts has devoted a section to links of reviews and comparisons available on the market. More popular Internet stocks and e-business as well as the business news media are given particular attention by the site.
The search portal Yahoo UK and Ireland gives the prospective investor the facility to search for financial information on an Ireland-only basis.
The site contains an extensive range of information in its UK and Ireland Finance section on financial news, stock markets, currencies and personal finance.
Links to companies, banks, brokers, financial services agents and the stock exchange are all included in the selection and like Ireland Online, the portal provides a link to Finance 99.
For a company-specific approach www.kompass.ie offers a business directory including information on Irish sectors, companies, and products and services for those wanting to take the plunge.
Meanwhile Ireland.com gives a selection of information on Irish and International shares, a guide to money matters as well as stock market indices, European exchange rates and the main movers on the stock market. First-time investors can consult the "bluffers' guide" which gives an explanation of business and stock market terms and a short history and explanation of each of the major stock markets.
Through either Tinet.ie or Ireland Online investors can access Doras directory which gives a range of business resources and links, including a link to NUI Maynooth for those more interested in the academic side of things.
Stock quotes, prices, currency rates and finance links are also available in different amounts at a number of stockbrokers' sites including Campbell O'Connor, Davy, NCB and Morrogh.
Investors can always go straight to the source and access the Irish Stock Exchange at www.ise.ie for up-to-date news on all aspects of its dealings.
