Pictured outside Ericsson's Athlone building in April of this year were: Sinéad Pillion, Ericsson Athlone Head of Operations; Borje Ekholm, Ericsson CEO; and Denis Dullea, Ericsson Athlone Site Head. The company has indicated that it's planning to relocate to the IDA Business and Technology Park in Garrycastle. Photo: Naoise Culhane.

Ericsson plans move to new purpose-built premises in Athlone

Adrian Cusack

Published: Thu 18 Dec 2025, 12:13 PM

One of Athlone's biggest employers is on the move.

After being based for more than 50 years in the Cornamaddy area, Ericsson has indicated this week that it intends to relocate to a "more modern" purpose-built premises at the IDA Business and Technology Park in Garrycastle, Athlone.

The company employs around 1,300 staff in Athlone, and the employees have been briefed on the planned move, with Ericsson holding a question and answer session with the local staff at 11am today (Thursday).

The company said its proposed new home at the IDA park in Garrycastle is expected to provide "9,000 square metres of office space across two buildings and three floors", and that the site would provide "an inspiring, innovative, attractive, efficient and sustainable" workplace.

Ericsson told its Athlone staff: "This is a positive and strategic step for our future, and a commitment to offer you the best employee experience that will help us deliver on our business priorities".

The company said a "detailed architecture design" process for its new premises will be starting "immediately" and that it intends "to secure the necessary approvals from the relevant stakeholder boards" during the first half of 2026.

"Over the coming months we will keep you informed and engaged with updates as we move forward with the project," Ericsson staff in Athlone were told.

"Our aim is to ensure a smooth transition to our new location with minimal disruption and plenty of support along the way."

When contacted by the Westmeath Independent today, a spokesperson for Ericsson said it had been "undergoing a review of its future workplace requirements" in recent months and was "seeking opportunities" in Athlone.

The spokesperson said there were no plans at this stage for changes to Ericsson's staff numbers in Athlone as a result of the move.

"More information will be available during (the second half of 2026) as the project progresses and the necessary details are in place," the company spokesperson added.

In April of this year, Ericsson announced a €200 million investment, over the next three years in what it described as a pioneering research, development, and innovation project at its Athlone facility.

The project, which is being supported by the Government through IDA Ireland, relates to the company's development of "world-leading capabilities for the management of high performing, open programmable networks" which are used to help communications service providers improve their operational efficiency.

The €200 million investment was described by the company as a "huge vote of confidence" in Athlone.

Ericsson has been based in Athlone for the last 51 years, after initially opening as a factory, with 250 workers, in 1974. The company marked the 50th anniversary of its presence in the town in September 2024.