Alright, I know what you’re thinking: Not another feckin’ predictions list.
But come on, you’ve got to give me some credit! After hitting a 50% success rate last year, I’m basically the Nostradamus of the Silicon Docks (if Nostradamus wore a GAA hoddie and drank Guinness). People have been asking for my take, and look I’m a man of the people. If you want a 50/50 shot at knowing the future, you’ve come to the right place.
Last year, we called the rise of AI agents and the "Stripe Summer." This year, the vibes are shifting toward a maturing economy, a changing map of the Irish diaspora, and dare we say it some long-awaited glory on the pitch.
As always, these aren't just guesses; they’re high-conviction takes we’re prepared to be mocked for in December if they go south.
1) The Next Members of the Herd? 🦄
Bobby Healy - Founder of Manna Drone Delivery
We’ve been tracking the "Soonicorn" stable for a while, and three names are screaming for major valuation announcements in 2026. These aren't just companies; they are "category kings" solving hard problems with high-altitude ambition.
Manna Drone Delivery: Bobby Healy (the legendary founder behind CarTrawler) has moved past the "pilot" phase. After raising $30M last year and securing EU-wide approval for "Beyond Visual Line of Sight" flights, Manna is no longer a Dublin novelty; it’s a global logistics play. With operations now scaling in Texas and Finland, 2026 is the year their valuation finally catches up to their altitude.
Kota: Formerly Yonder, this team is led by Luke Mackey (ex-Bolt), Patrick O'Boyle, and Deepak Baliga. Having secured $14.5M in Series A and Central Bank of Ireland authorization, they are building the "Stripe of Benefits." They’ve successfully moved into the UK and Italy, proving that automating employee health and pensions is a universal pain point.
&Open: Founded by the Legge family and Ciara Flood, &Open is the "thoughtfulness" engine for giants like Airbnb. In an era of AI-generated noise, their curated, sustainable physical gifting platform is hitting its stride with a new "Self-Serve" model for SMEs that is driving massive volume.
Prediction #1: At least one of Manna, Kota, or &Open will officially cross the $500M+ valuation mark this year, cementing their status as the next pillars of the Irish tech scene.
2) The Irish Banking "Great Rotation" 🏦
People are waking up to the fact that the US market is highly overpriced. After a decade of "Big Tech" dominance, the S&P 500's multiples have reached a point where even the most optimistic bulls are starting to sweat. Throughout 2025, investors rotated toward European stocks in search of real "value," and Ireland is a prime beneficiary.
While European stocks started 2025 with a record-breaking bull run, delivering their best performance relative to the US in decades, they faced a mid-year lag due to geopolitical jitters. However, we are now poised for a massive comeback. When you zoom in, it’s clear this surge is being driven by a resurgent EU banking sector, which recently hit its highest levels since 2008.
While the S&P 500 sweats over AI multiples, Irish pillar banks have become capital-generating machines:
The Stat: AIB recently reported a staggering 75% share price increase over 12 months, crushing broader global indices.
The Trigger: With the State finally exiting its share register in late 2025, these banks are now "unleashed," offering dividend yields (like BOI’s ~9.6%) that make US tech look like a risky bet.
Prediction #2: Irish banking stocks will outperform the S&P 500 in 2026 as global capital pivots to high-yield EU value.
3) Parrott Flies High as Ireland Ends the Drought ⚽
It’s been a long, cold winter for the Boys in Green, but the tide is turning. We’re predicting that Ireland won't just limp into the World Cup: they’ll qualify with a bit of swagger.
The catalyst? Troy Parrott. After finding his feet on the continent with a prolific run at AZ Alkmaar, we expect a massive summer move to a "Big Six" EPL club (think a Spurs return or a move to a striker-hungry Liverpool or United). That momentum carries us through the group stages for the first time since 2002.
Prediction #3: Ireland qualifies for the World Cup and get out of their group; Troy Parrott secures a record-breaking move.
4) The Reverse Census: Coming Home 🛬
For 150 years, the Irish story was about "escaping" to build a life elsewhere. In 2026, we’re calling it: the story has flipped. This isn't just a shift; it's a demographic glitch in the matrix.
The raw data is already screaming. In the last year, we saw a 96% explosion in moves from the US to Ireland. While 6,100 left for the States, nearly 10,000 people (mostly diaspora) packed their bags for Ireland. Simultaneously, the "Sydney Dream" is hitting a wall. While emigration to Oz peaked in 2025, the return flow has already begun: for every 13 people who headed to Australia last year, 10 came back.
But we think the "Spiced Up" 2026 drivers are even weirder:
The "Sun Tax" Breaking Point: The novelty of a $25 avocado toast in Bondi or a $4,000 studio in San Francisco has officially worn off. 2026 is the year of Value-of-Life Arbitrage.
The "US Stability" Hedge: With the US political climate reaching a fever pitch in 2026, the Irish passport has become the ultimate "Plan B." We’re seeing a surge in "Passport Returnees" people who haven't lived in Ireland for 20 years suddenly moving to West Cork for the "quiet life."
The AI "Brain Gain": Ireland is the AI middleware capital of Europe. As the AI hype settles into actual engineering, the "Lads in London" and "Girls in Google SF" are moving home because the highest-conviction AI jobs are now ironically based in the Silicon Docks.
Prediction #4: 2026 will be the year of the "Net-Positive Citizen." After three years of a narrow gap, the number of Irish citizens returning will officially overtake those leaving for the first time in this decade.
5) Irish Insights: The 5k Milestone 📈
We’re putting our own skin in the game for 2026. Irish Insights started as a passion project, a way to bridge the gap between the Silicon Docks and the global Irish diaspora.
In 2025, we officially crossed the 2,000 subscriber milestone, a feat we honestly didn't think possible when we were sketching out ideas over pints a couple of years ago. Our growth hasn't come from a massive marketing budget; it’s come from you. It’s come from the WhatsApp groups, the "Did you see this?" Slack messages, and the founders abroad who finally feel like they have a direct line back to the Irish ecosystem.
But 2,000 is just the beginning. This year, we’re aiming for the big 5,000. If you haven't shared this with your network yet... now is the time!
Prediction #5 Irish Insights will surpass 5,000 subscribers.