**We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming to bring you this special announcement**

Hello friends,

Today is a very exciting day. For those beginning to wonder if my trip across the pond was strictly a ploy to document the lives of the talented Galway street musicians (it’s crossed my mind more than once), I’ve got news for you: Earlier this morning the IDA sent out their press release welcoming SmartBear Software to Ireland. A little more than two years since we started internal discussions around international expansion, SmartBear Ireland is officially live to the world. The IDA is the Irish government authority that attracts and advises on foreign inward investment from multinational companies that are interested in opening an office in Ireland. We’ve partnered closely with the IDA for the last six months and they have been a tremendous help. Everything from advising on strategic financial decisions all the way to recommending a decent place to find a meal when I landed in town back in March, they have been there for us. Without the IDA’s help we wouldn’t have made nearly the amount of progress in such a short amount of time. Most companies take over a year to accomplish what we have in the last few months. I can’t thank all involved enough for all their help along the way. It’s been quite a ride. Here you can find the link to the official release, and I’ve also included the full text below. Exciting day for SmartBear Ireland!

http://www.idaireland.com/news-media/press-releases/smartbear-software-establ/index.xml

SmartBear Software Establishes European Headquarters in Galway

Leading Software Application Quality and Performance Management Company to Create 100 Jobs over 5 Years in Galway Region

GALWAY – June 12, 2014 – Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD today announced that SmartBear Software, the choice of more than two million software professionals for building and delivering the world’s best applications, is expected to create up to 100 jobs over five years at its new European Headquarters in Galway. The investment is supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation through IDA Ireland.

Headquartered in Beverly, Massachusetts, SmartBear develops software that other software developers use to ensure their applications provide a superior user experience. Anyone using some of the world’s most popular online applications have benefited from SmartBear’s technology as it may have been used to develop, test or monitor the operation of these applications. SmartBear has customers in over 90 countries and additional offices in the United States, Sweden, Spain and Russia.

Making the announcement, Minister Bruton said, “ICT is a key sector which we have targeted in our Action Plan for Jobs, and over recent years, we have seen substantial growth in this area. Today’s announcement that SmartBear, a leading U.S. software application quality and performance management company, is establishing its European Headquarters in Galway and expected to create a hundred jobs is a great boost. This builds on the significant progress we have seen in the job market in the past two years, and I wish them every success with this project.”

“We are excited about opening our European Headquarters in Ireland,” said Doug McNary, CEO, SmartBear Software. “We were impressed by Galway’s vibrant ICT cluster, pro-business environment and attractive lifestyle. This coupled with the support of IDA Ireland makes Galway the perfect choice for SmartBear.”

Welcoming the announcement, Barry O’Leary, CEO, IDA Ireland speaking from Galway, where he will address the Galway Chamber, said “SmartBear’s decision to set up its European headquarters in Galway bolsters the city’s reputation as a location of choice for leading international technology companies. The Irish centre is strategically important to SmartBear as it will drive international growth for the company.”

The new office will create roles in Inside Sales, Marketing, Customer Support, Operations, Finance and Software Development.

For recruitment opportunities, email jobs@smartbear.ie.