Today we had an enlightening tour of the docklands area of Dublin, where many major tech organizations such as Google and Indeed have set up base. We were given an much more in depth understanding of the history of this district and how it has grown with Ireland’s current business support system. We deeply discussed the old vs. the new, and I have thought a lot about how here in Ireland, due to rapid development, the country was completely different 60 years ago. This rapid change must be exciting to experience, but also overwhelming for people of the country who are accustomed to a completely different lifestyle. One thing I have noticed is that the past is very much ingrained in the present here in Ireland. Most people we talk with here are very well educated on the history of the area, and discuss it and its implications on their day to day life frequently.
While in the docklands we were welcomed by Google for a site visit. Through the visit we were able to ask questions about current topics such as employee opinions on AI, Google work culture, remote working, and more. We also were able to see some of the campus and learn about the facilities available to Google employees in Dublin. Personally I do not think I would be interested in working for Google at this time. Although they have amazing facilities available to staff that include incentives such as free lunch, gyms, massage therapists, game centers, and more, the company is just so large that I feel I would miss some more personal and emotional connection that I look for in business and work. However, once actually working in the professional world, I may feel differently.
After the visits we were able to explore some shops near Temple bar, have a great dinner at an Italian restaraunt, and attend trivia night nearby. On the way home we stopped at a pub reccomended by one of our tour guides earlier this week called The Stags Head. We were a bit out of place, clearly surrounded by locals only, but had a great time. I’ve been having a blast exploring all there is to do here in Dublin, and bonding with everyone along the way.
