Limits to FDI-driven growth in Ireland: A newspaper content analysis for investment, upgrading and divestment

What are the consequences and the future of foreign direct investment (FDI)-driven growth for Ireland? In this paper, we conduct content analysis of newspaper reports on instances of investment, divestment and relocation before, during and after the Celtic Tiger period. We examine reasons for investment and divestment and associated job creations and losses in three different decades in order to better understand Ireland's changing position as an FDI location. We also illustrate the countries and regions that have emerged as competitor locations for Ireland's FDI through analysing the instances of relocations. We conclude that Ireland is faced with a challenge quite distinctive from its Asian Tiger counterparts. © 2009 Geographical Society of Ireland.