The global landscape has shifted dramatically recently. With economic indicators flashing red, geopolitical tensions mounting, and markets swinging unpredictably, words like volatile, uncertain, and chaotic have become part of the daily vocabulary. Yet, amid the gloom, Ireland’s M&A market continues to show remarkable resilience, as recently discussed by Katharine Byrne, Alan Mahon, and Gavin O’Flaherty at Datasite’s Dealmakers Dialogues event in Dublin.

Age and agility as an advantage

While the broader macro picture paints an uncertain scene – from elections and conflicts to looming tariffs and warnings of job losses – Ireland’s dealmaking ecosystem is finding ways to adapt and even thrive. Last year was a standout year for Irish M&A, particularly in the fourth quarter, with value and volume metrics hitting levels not seen since 2021. This success speaks to the country’s agility, a strong domestic economy, a well-educated workforce, and the maturing of its private equity sector.

Ireland may be a relative newcomer in the PE space – still in its “teenage years” – but this is proving to be an advantage. The market is nimble, creative, and less rigid than its global counterparts, enabling Irish businesses to act quickly in response to economic and geopolitical shifts. Mid-market deals continue to dominate the landscape, accounting for 80-90% of activity, largely driven by private capital and family offices.

Moreover, looking at Datasite’s anonymized platform data, there’s further optimism as deal initiations rose 17% in the UK and Ireland last year. The average due diligence period shortened, indicating greater efficiency, but completion rates slightly dipped, often due to deals being paused, not failed – suggesting a potentially strong 2025 pipeline. Though whether that will change in light of current events remains to be seen.

But this strength isn’t just in the numbers. It’s also in the mindset: a growing domestic ecosystem, a generation of entrepreneurs reinvesting locally, and an international investor community that sees Ireland as a reliable, high-performing market, even in uncertain times.

Valuation, speed, and sector dynamics

So, what is needed to actually get deals done in Ireland? Accurate valuation remains a critical factor in closing successful M&A deals, particularly in a post-COVID environment where gaps in expectations between buyers and sellers are more common. There’s a growing emphasis on ensuring realistic pricing is agreed upon early, avoiding mismatches that can derail deals later. 

Which leads to the critical role of advisors and proper communication with clients, as poor or misaligned advice can inflate expectations and greatly hurt the chances of successfully closing a deal – even more so than due diligence red flags, which have historically been major obstacles. However, sellers appear to be more prepared and transparent, with issues surfacing early to ease the due diligence process. Regulatory hurdles, though not insignificant, are less frequently a deal breaker in this region, given the generally open approach of local competition authorities.

In terms of sectoral trends, Ireland is seeing strong M&A activity in tech, healthcare, insurance brokerage, wealth management, and professional services, driven by PE. Aggregation and consolidation are accelerating, with recurring revenue and cash flow stability as key value drivers. Emerging dynamics include founders seeking continuity over full exits, and discussions around long-term exit strategies, especially in professional services.

Technology as a deal enabler

Technology is also increasingly seen as a key enabler across the M&A lifecycle – particularly in due diligence, efficiency, analytics, and deal sourcing. While some firms are not using tech to its full potential, there’s growing interest in leveraging AI, automation, and platforms like Datasite to get deals across the finish line.

Adoption challenges remain, especially with legal risk aversion and data-sharing concerns, but the trajectory is clear: tech is freeing up advisors to focus more on strategy and client engagement. “Tech supports the deal, but people still buy from people.”

Learn more about how Datasite can help you with your next deal.