Waterford records positive digital growth and enters new domain

Waterford businesses have taken Ireland’s .ie domain to new heights as the county records positive digital growth.

A .ie domain snapshot revealed that 5,859 Waterford businesses now have .ie domains, with 979 new registrations in 2025.

A spokesperson for the domain said the figures reflect "steady confidence in .ie" and that demand for .ie domains across Waterford continues to rise.

At county level, Waterford recorded a 2.06 per cent increase in its total database, with steady new registrations.

Nationally, .ie domains reached 332,984, which was up 2 per cent year-on-year.

The figures also indicated that that construction continues to lead growth across the .ie database, increasing by 4.19 per cent year-on-year, to 12,861 domains nationally, aligning with rising demand for housing nationwide. 

The spokesperson said that was followed by: Utilities (+3.54 per cent) and Information and Communication (+2.89 per cent), highlighting an increase in demand for infrastructure, energy and digital services.

Other sectors showing sustained growth and adoption of a .ie address include Arts, Entertainment and Recreation (+2.37 per cent) and Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities (+2.03 per cent), which the spokesperson said reflected increased online engagement from both creative and knowledge-based industries.

Cork also remains part of .ie folklore following last year’s record-breaking longest domain name. 

In 2024, a Cork-based website captured national attention with the web address ‘corkcorkcorkcorkcorkcorkcorkcorkcorkcorkcorkcorkcorkcorkcork.ie’ at 63 characters long.

In 2025, however, the longest domain name title has been claimed by a Mayo business with tongue-in-cheek address ‘ohthegreenandredofmayoicanseeitstillitssoftandcraggyboglandsits.ie’, stretching to 66 characters, a playful nod to the now “infamous” Cork entry.

The study also showed a resurging grá for the Irish language. 

In 2025, new .ie registrations containing a fada increased by 69 per cent, year-on-year, signalling renewed interest in Irish-led branding and digital identity among businesses and communities across Ireland.

Commenting on these findings, David Curtin, CEO of .ie, said: “A website remains the prime digital real estate for any business. With over 333,000 .ie domains now registered and new registrations continuing to grow, Irish businesses are clearly choosing trusted, .ie web addresses as the foundation of their online presence."

"We can see this with Ireland's construction sector, which is one of Ireland’s most vital industries," he said.

"It has experienced the highest increase in overall .ie database registrations, as those within the sector continue using .ie addresses as their online shopfront. Social media cannot replace a secure website that a business owns and controls - the most effective digital strategies use social platforms to drive customers back to that trusted core, prime online real estate".

Speaking about the value of having a .ie address, Warren Collins, Managing Director at Collins Construction, added: “Collins Construction and Project Management Ltd has found that using a .ie domain  - www.ccpm.ie  - has been instrumental in strengthening its presence, particularly across South County Dublin. The Irish domain, which the company first adopted in 2009, clearly communicates CCPM’s local roots and expertise, helping the company connect with homeowners, architects, and designers seeking a trusted construction partner for high-end, architecturally designed homes."

He went on to comment that by using a .ie web address, local customers can easily find CCPM when searching for the right contractor to deliver a new home project, reinforcing credibility, trust, and relevance in a competitive local market. 

"This strong local identity has supported CCPM in attracting some of the best architecturally designed residential projects where local knowledge and reputation are key decision-making factor," he said, before commenting that .ie strengthens market share and continues to strengthen its position as Ireland’s leading domain extension, increasing its market share of hosted domains from 54.20 per cent in 2024 to 55.75 per cent in 2025.