South Dublin Chamber of Commerce Year Book
John Dunne Ex CEO – Personal Reflection
April 2004

When I joined the Chamber it was in the process of extending its remit from Tallaght to encompass the entire county. The branch structure presented numerous challenges and, to my regret, we never managed to resolve the problem of Clondalkin’s unofficial chamber, but overall it was a remarkably success innovation and I have many happy memories of branch meetings in different parts of the county over the years.

The development of the Industrial Estates network and in particular the refurbishment of the Cookstown Industrial Estate was genuinely innovative in terms of the Irish chamber movement. This strand of work culminated with the purchase of the Tallaght Business Centre from the IDA.

Considering that we needed a mortgage for 110% of the purchase price it required considerable ingenuity and courage on the part of the Council at the time.

Developing the Dublin Science, Technology and Innovation Centre into Growcorp Limited and seeing that small venture become a multi-million euro resource to support high tech development in South Dublin was another memorable project. We enjoyed many other successes including getting the National Digital Park located at CityWest and securing an early government commitment to the Tallaght Luas line.

We didn’t succeed in everything but even some of the disappointments – such as our failure to make the critical breakthrough on Baldonnel – offered their own satisfaction.

Leaving South Dublin chamber for CCI was a very difficult decision because I knew I was leaving a work programme that I believed in unfinished and going to a very different working environment and, at least initially, to a far less rewarding agenda. But I did have the very real satisfaction that the chamber was being left in hands as capable as those of Peter Byrne.

 
Copyright 2007 Growcorp Group. All Rights Reserved.
Office: Growcorp Group Limited, 3015 Lake Drive, Citywest Campus, Citywest, Dublin 24 | Telephone: +353 1 4661000 | Fax: +353 1 4661002
2009
Merrion’s new facility at Citywest officially opened by Minister Harney 29 October 2009. Growcorp the founding Shareholder of Merrion Pharmaceuticals the Irish Stock Exchange listed company today announced it was delighted with the opening by Merrion Pharmaceuticals of it new facility in Citywest.

Merrion Pharmaceuticals has purchased a new facility in order to expand its current research and development operations.
Merrion has acquired a 26,684 square foot pharmaceutical facility in Citywest, Co Dublin.

Merrion Lands Second $58M Deal. Irish drug development firm Merrion Pharmaceuticals has inked a second deal with Denmark-based medicine supplier Novo Nordisk that could be worth up to $58m (Eur44m) for the Dublin-headquartered company. Merrion was founded by Growcorp Group Ltd when it acquired extensive IP from Elan in early 2003 following over one years due diligence. Growcorp then developed a business plan and hired all senior management.

2008
Galway and Dublin. Wednesday, 3rd December, 2008: Growcorp Group, the Irish investment vehicle, will earn over Eur 7m following the acquisition this week of Irish theranoistic company Neutekbio by Danish biotechnology development company Merrion Pharmaceuticals has signed a multi-million euro deal with Novo Nordisk to develop oral diabetes products.

2008
DUBLIN, Ireland, Nov 5, 2008 an international specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced that it has been awarded the Frost & Sullivan 2008 Osteoporosis Technology Innovation of the Year Award

2008
DUBLIN, Ireland, Nov 5, 2008 an international specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced that it has been awarded the Frost & Sullivan 2008 Osteoporosis Technology Innovation of the Year Award

2008
Merrion Pharmaceuticals the TCD based Irish American company has confirmed that it has begun a joint feasibility study on oral drug delivery with Swiss based multinational Ferring Pharmaceuticals.

2007
Merrion Pharmaceuticals Plc was admitted to the IEX today and commenced
unconditional trading.........