A new dedicated location for data storage is opened by Microsoft in Dublin.
The new Microsoft mega data centre at Grange Castle in Dublin will provide storage and connection services forcutomers in business and the public sector.
The centre buildings cover 303,000 square feet that will store online information.
It's basically a huge online data storage centre.
Paul Rellis, Microsoft Ireland, describes it as a centre for cloud computing where large amounts of data is stored and applications are run.
Grange Castle is the first Microsoft mega data centre in Europe. Ireland was chosen for its geographical stability, proximity to fibre optics and affordable energy rates. Jean Philippe Courtois, President of Microsoft International explains that the weather in Ireland was an important factor in choosing to locate the data centre here.
The air and the fact that it's pretty cool here in Ireland makes it very compelling for us.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen, speaking at the opening, welcomed the first Micropsoft data centre outside the US to Ireland which brings an investment of $500 million. The centre will only employ fifty staff.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 24 September 2009. The reporter is Bethan Kilfoil.
