150 years of Deloitte Ireland
"Legacy is about more than just longevity, it’s about relevance and evolving and continuing to create impact."
Graham Healy, Regional Lead for Cork, Deloitte Ireland.
When Charles John Higginson established a practice in Cork in 1876, Ireland was a very different place. The economy was largely agricultural, international trade was limited and the businesses that would go on to shape modern Ireland were still decades away.
Over the following 150 years, Deloitte evolved alongside the country itself. Through industrialisation, independence, economic transformation, globalisation and the digital revolution, we’ve helped businesses navigate change, seize opportunity and adapt to new realities.
Today we stand at another pivotal moment. AI, demographic shifts, sustainability and changing geopolitical dynamics are reshaping the way organisations operate and compete. The questions facing leaders may be different, but the challenge is the same; how to build organisations that can thrive in an uncertain future.
Our Chairperson Lorraine Griffin says our purpose has remained remarkably consistent.
Legacy is about more than just longevity; it’s about relevance and evolving and continuing to create impact to the success of our communities and the organisations we serve. 150 years of Deloitte Ireland is a proud history to have, but I’m even more excited about the opportunities ahead for the next 150 which will bring us up to 2176! The future is being shaped by innovation and human ingenuity, and we are committed to helping our clients lead through that change.
Graham Healy, Regional Lead for Cork, Deloitte Ireland.
And that spirit of evolution has never been more important. To mark this milestone for our firm, our CEO Harry Goddard was in Cork to speak to those businesses who have been with us for decades about the impact we can continue to make.
At University College Cork, an institution with which Deloitte has partnered through research, innovation, recruitment and talent development over many decades, Professor John O'Halloran, President of UCC, spoke about the responsibilities of preparing future generations for a world being reshaped by technology: “Every generation has a responsibility to prepare the next for a world that will look different from its own and education and research are the bridge between today’s challenges and tomorrow’s possibilities.”
At the Port of Cork, where investment, infrastructure and global connectivity continue to underpin economic growth, CEO Ann Doherty reflected on the importance of long-term thinking. “For us, legacy is about creating opportunities that will outlast us which is why the decisions we make today about our competitiveness will be what happens over the next 150 years.”
And at Cork City Council, a long-standing collaborator in supporting economic development and regional growth, Chief Executive Valerie O’Sullivan shared her vision for Cork as a leading European city, one capable of combining innovation, sustainability and quality of life to attract talent. “Our history has always been one of resilience and ambition. That spirit remains stronger than ever and what we know is that the most successful cities are those that honour their history alongside embracing the future.”
Our success will increasingly depend on organisations working together to solve problems that no one institution can solve alone. That belief has shaped Deloitte’s approach throughout our history. From supporting family business and entrepreneurs in the nineteenth century to navigating the opportunities of innovation today, our role has always been to help our client move forward. As we celebrate 150 years in Ireland, we do with gratitude for the collaborations that have defined our journey.
