Kelleher visits ACI Worldwide's Limerick data centre

MEP Billy Kelleher visited ACI Worldwide's data centre in Limerick as the site marked its tenth year in operation.

Located in the National Technology Park, the facility serves as ACI's European hub for digital payments infrastructure. It supports customers across Europe, the Middle East and Africa and provides the systems behind real-time digital payments.

The Limerick site also extends ACI's private cloud, allowing customers to use its payment software without running systems on their own premises. This supports services including real-time electronic banking, card processing and merchant acquiring.

The centre underpins payment services used by large merchants, intermediaries and financial institutions in Europe, including Ireland's two biggest banks. It was built with backup across power, network and operations to maintain uptime, and is designed to keep data within the region in line with European privacy requirements.

The visit highlighted both ACI's long-standing presence in Limerick and Ireland's wider role in hosting international data infrastructure. The company has operated in Limerick for more than a decade and continues to invest in the region.

Regional role

ACI's European operation forms part of a broader payments business with a large international footprint. The company processes 320 billion card transactions each year, enables real-time payments in more than 90 countries and works with the world's top 20 banks.

Executives attending the visit included Martina Power, Global Head of Client Delivery and Site Leader; Jimmy Hennessy, Global Head of AI & Data Science; Shane Blake, Regional Director, Human Resources; Peter Gorley, Regional Sales Director, UK & Ireland; and Mike Holden, Head of Data Centre Operations.

Power described the Limerick operation as central to the company's work in the European payments market.

"Payments are the backbone of Europe's digital economy, and from Limerick we power the secure, real-time services that keep commerce moving. Our European data centre has grown into a dynamic hub for banks and payment providers across the region, ensuring millions of everyday transactions happen safely and seamlessly.

"The operation reflects the incredible expertise of our team in Limerick and ACI's long-term commitment to driving innovation in digital payments across Europe," she said.

Ireland focus

Kelleher said the site reflected Ireland's importance as a destination for technology investment, linking the Limerick facility to employment, regional skills and the development of digital infrastructure.

"Ireland continues to play an important role as a hub for technology investment, supporting jobs and innovation across the region.

"Operations such as ACI Worldwide's Limerick data centre demonstrate how long-term investment, combined with skilled regional talent, contributes to the development of secure and reliable digital infrastructure. I welcome ACI Worldwide's ongoing commitment to Ireland and the positive contribution this site makes to the local and national economy," he said.

The Limerick centre is part of a sector that has become increasingly important to Ireland's economy as international technology groups expand infrastructure in the country. For ACI, the site is both a local employer and a strategic location for serving payment providers and banks across the EMEA region.

The operation provides the environment required for core payment functions used by banks, merchants and processors, including real-time banking and card-related services that depend on continuous system availability.

By handling data within Europe, the site also addresses a key concern for financial institutions and payment providers operating under regional compliance rules. That has become a significant factor for firms deciding where to host systems tied to payments and transaction processing.

Kelleher's visit drew political attention to that role at a time when digital infrastructure is facing greater scrutiny from policymakers focused on economic resilience, data governance and investment outside capital cities. In Limerick, the ACI site stands as an example of how a regional technology base can support services used across multiple international markets.