A Discovery Trip to Ireland

Last month I spent time in Ireland visiting Dublin, Cork,and the beautiful countryside in between, as part of a discovery trip for Skellig Automation.

While the schedule was filled with engaging conversations and site visits, the fundamental goal was quite simple: listen, learn, and better understand the unique cultural dynamics that shape the way Irish engineers and manufacturers work within our industry.

Without question, Ireland has become one of the most important hubs in the industry for advanced manufacturing and Life Sciences. Being able to meet people face to face and physically step foot in facilities provides a level of perspective you simply can't get across an ocean. Insight into a market often reveals itself in subtle ways. You can feel cultural elements come through in what questions clients ask, how they describe their pain points, and how they frame success. Often, it's actually the moments in between questions that are the most informative.

Making a Difference for Clients and Engineers

Just as clients should vet Skellig Automation for how we can support their needs, we need to equally vet client sites for how our engineers will experience these environments. Will they be set up to do their best work? Will there be autonomy and mutual respect between teams? Will engineers be trusted to apply their judgment and expertise when inevitable complexities arise? We must do our due diligence to set our engineers up for success as much as our clients must do their due diligence to ensure we meet them where they need us most.

For clients, the critical questions are: what does Skellig Automation bring that is different, and where can we add unique value to their operations?

The answer comes back to something fundamental in how we think about engineering:

At Skellig, we believe exceptional delivery starts with exceptional people. Our business is built around enabling highly capable engineers to do their best work, and that comes through technical ownership and a culture that gives them space to think, solve, and build.

Translating this operating philosophy to a different market and culture is the hard work in front of us. Our core values must remain if we want to maintain our culture (and we do), but how they take shape within a new environment is the creative and perhaps most rewarding part of geographic expansion.

At a broader level, I see Ireland as a technical talent hub that could ultimately plug into a multinational Skellig ecosystem. With many clients operating across the globe, we need to begin positioning ourselves as a cross-border strategic partner capable of connecting engineering talent and project execution across different regions.

Resonating with Our Roots

On the final day of the trip, as a busy week settled into quiet reflection, I was fortunate enough to get a personal tour up the eastern coast of Ireland. My colleague Steve Brannigan took us past the Comeragh Mountains into Waterford, through Wexford, Curracloe Beach, Wicklow,and various scenic detours along the way, along narrow roads that somehow claim to be two-way.

Visiting Ireland carries a natural resonance for us as a company. Skellig takes its name from Skellig Michael, the island off Ireland’s southwest coast known for its steep cliffs and centuries-old stone monastery built by monks who believed meaningful work required both patience and craft. Although I was too far from Skellig Michael to see it in person (this time!), being in Ireland still brought that connection a little closer to my heart.

I am so grateful to everyone who took the time to meet, share perspectives, and offer insight during the visit. Looking forward to continuing these conversations, and hopefully the beginning of a bigger adventure!