Digital Crew: Internet Application Developers

Granite Digital and Fireball Media to merge

Wednesday 27 November 2013

Two of Cork’s leading web development companies Granite Digital and Fireball Media are to merge following recent discussions on the advantages of a combination of the two businesses.

Granite Digital has signed an agreement with Cork firm, Fireball Media Group, which will see Granite Digital run the combined web design business, commencing on December 1st 2013, with all Fireball Media’s current employees joining the Granite Digital business. The combined business will offer a wider range of products and services to clients of both companies, and combined revenues in 2014 will be in the region of €1mn.

Speaking about the merger, Granite digital director, Robert Carpenter who is overseeing the transfer of clients stated: “This merger is fantastic news for both companies. We at Granite Digital are delighted to get the opportunity to work with Fireball Media’s existing customers, and believe that our wider range of digital services will enable them to grow their online profiles in 2014.”

He added “Additionally, we are very much looking forward to working with the existing web team at Fireball Media and using the company’s fantastic suite of products, including their excellent Flow CMS. Our successful previous experience in mergers was a huge motivation behind the deal.”

Granite Digital has experience of combining web businesses, having very successfully executed a merger with Digital Crew in November 2011, which went on to become the largest specialist digital agency in Munster.

Founded by partners Conor Buckley, Seamus White, Ger O’Shea, Robert Carpenter and Alf Smiddy in 2009, Granite provides a full service web agency delivered by a talented and experienced team, operating from offices in Cork and Dublin. In just five years, the original team of four will have expanded to 20 following this deal. The team offers a full range of digital services to an impressive list of clients including Cork Institute of Technology, Bon Secours Hospitals, University College Cork, Munster Rugby, Institute of Technology Dublin, Meadows and Byrne, Blarney Woollen Mills, World Choice Travel, and Enterprise Ireland.

Fireball Media director, Jaclyn Ward stated: “Due to Granite’s excellent track record on the successful integration of Digital Crew’s client base, we are confident that the team is more than capable of looking after our much-valued and prestigious clients. The increase in services and resources that will now be available will be a great asset to our clients in further developing and growing their online presence.”