The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, Batt O’Keeffe TD, today announced 50 jobs over 3 years in a 'pioneering' new Irish internet platform that allows enables people with skills to connect with those who need them.

Weedle, an Irish technology company in Blackrock, Dublin, has developed a free website that enables users to showcase any skill, expertise or talent they have to family, friends and social and professional contacts. It is claimed that thousands of people from over 50 countries are using Weedle to help them be found by people who need their skill. These include artists, accountants, architects, beauticians, carpenters, copywriters, doctors, designers, electricians, photographers, vets and others.

Weedle is said to leverage "social media and semantic web technologies for the new platform." The project is supported by Enterprise Ireland.

Announcing the jobs today, O'Keeffe said: "Weedle typifies the strong capacity of indigenous Irish firms to innovate in niche markets with high-potential online platforms that can spur the next generation of global internet brand-leaders.

‘Internet giants such as Google, Facebook and eBay have already hubbed in Ireland. Now Weedle, an exciting Irish innovator in the internet sector, is an export-oriented firm the Government is keen to support in moving Ireland up the value chain.

"Importantly, the company is collaborating with focused higher education research activity, commercialising it and bringing it to market - - and that process of commercialisation is key to the Government’s 'smart' economy
plan."

Weedle was founded by Iain MacDonald, former chief executive of broadband provider Perlico, and Michael Gallagher who has worked in telecommunications and financial services in the US and Ireland.