Eoghan Powell, Centre Director at WorkIQ, examines why generating bigger entrepreneurial and innovation ambitions for places like Tallaght, Tralee, or Toormakeady is the key to Ireland’s economic future

An Irish unicorn founder recently shared something that stuck with me.

“I’m an eejit,” he said. “But there are no geniuses leading these companies. You just have to go out and get it done.”

Solving problems is the only thing that matters, and if you’re going to do it, aim high, because there are no small problems.

That, ultimately, is the difference between success and stagnation. It’s not talent, it’s not geography, it’s not even funding (though they all help).

It’s ambition, followed by drive. Ambition is the multiplier of success.

Without it, even the best infrastructure, policies, and funding fall flat. With it, obstacles become surmountable, and new industries emerge.

“Sure, why not?” should be the attitude we adopt.

And if there’s one thing holding places like Tallaght back from becoming a true hub of innovation and entrepreneurship, it’s not a lack of smart people or good ideas - it’s a collective belief that we can, and should, be aiming higher.

So, the real question is: how do we foster bigger ambitions in places like Tallaght, Tralee, or Toormakeady?

Part of the answer lies in visibility. When someone who looks like you, comes from a similar place, or shares your past breaks through, you ask “If they can do it, why can’t I?”

When you see them as fallible people, it becomes easier to envision success.

Take Bobby Healy, for example. He built Manna Drones in Ireland, a country known for its slow regulatory pace.

Instead of saying, “we don’t do that here”, he just did it.

Now he’s running one of the most exciting startups to come out of Ireland in years, with the Irish Aviation Authority viewed as an important partner instead of an impediment.

If Healy had been waiting for someone to tell him where the right place for drone delivery was, he’d still be waiting.

And that’s the lesson. When young entrepreneurs see someone like Bobby breaking new ground with Manna Drones, it chips away at the notion that big ideas only happen elsewhere.

That’s why Tallaght isn’t waiting. It’s building. The question is, who’s going to step up next?

The Myth of ‘The Right Place’

We tell ourselves stories about places. Dublin city centre is where startups thrive.

Grand Canal is the “Silicon Docks”.

Tallaght? It’s a place of industry, not innovation. But the truth is, few places inherently deserve to succeed. In many cases, there are good reasons why they shouldn’t.

Pittsburgh was once the steel capital of the US. Written off when the industry collapsed in the 1980s.

Today? It’s a leading hub for robotics and AI, home to Carnegie Mellon’s top tech programs.

The transformation didn’t happen overnight. It required investment in research, incentives for startups, and, crucially, a shift in mindset.

Manchester is another example. A post-industrial city now buzzing with startups and innovation districts, it leveraged universities, improved connectivity, and attracted investment.

However, not every transformation has succeeded. Some cities built innovation hubs without ensuring local talent had access, leading to gentrification.

The lesson is clear: real success comes when ambition is embedded in the local DNA.

Tallaght is no different. South Dublin County Council has made strategic investments, from the best football stadium in Ireland to the first district heating system.

The area also boasts a €16m startup hub, talent, universities, and excellent transport links, with thousands of new housing units under construction.

What it needs is the belief that it can be more. If we can make it work here, we can make it work across Ireland. Success breeds success.

The more people see ambition rewarded, the more they believe they can follow suit.

The Spark, Not the Solution

This is where places like WorkIQ come in. Not as silver bullets - because no innovation hub, no government policy, no funding round can substitute for ambition - but as a spark.

They provide a space where entrepreneurs can meet, test ideas and take a first step towards something bigger.

But let’s be clear: if this wave of development only serves a bunch of tech elites, we’ve failed.

Regeneration must support the people of Tallaght, not price them out of their own community. Innovation here should create opportunity for those already here.

That’s why we are out in the community every day trying to be their Sherpa through the maze of entrepreneurship.

Tallaght’s next chapter is unfolding. The only question is: do you want to join the movement from the start, or will you be just another late bandwagon jumper once it’s all worked out?