Company Name: Google Ireland Ltd.
Incorporated: 28 February 2003
Headquarters: Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland
Ownership & Corporate Structure
Google Ireland Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., the global parent company of Google. It operates as the European headquarters for Google’s commercial activities and is a cornerstone of Alphabet’s international tax and operational structure. The company is structured under a single-shareholder model and has maintained a consistent directorial composition over the past decade, with key executives appointed from both local and global leadership pools. Directors include senior figures such as Liz Cunningham and Colin Goulding, who oversee compliance, operations, and regulatory affairs within the EU.
Services and Strategic Role
Google Ireland Ltd. is the primary operating entity responsible for Google’s advertising and product services in the European Economic Area (EEA). Under SIC Code 7379 – “Other Computer Related Activities,” it oversees:
• Advertising sales for Google Search, YouTube, and the Google Display Network
• Customer support and technical assistance for AdSense and Google Ads clients
• Hosting, billing, and regulatory compliance for Play Store services
• Data processing and account management for Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
• Regional legal, marketing, and strategic partnerships
Its location in Dublin, Ireland, provides both linguistic and regulatory advantages, enabling it to serve customers across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA).
Financial Performance (2019–2023)
Google Ireland Ltd. has consistently ranked among the largest technology firms in Europe by revenue. Financial performance for recent years is as follows:
• 2019: Estimated revenue over €45 billion, with high reinvestment into cloud and staff expansion
• 2020: Turnover increased, benefiting from a shift to online services during COVID-19
• 2021: Revenue reached €64.8 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of €16.4 billion
• 2022: Continued expansion in cloud services, though revenue growth began to normalize
• 2023: Pre-tax profit rose to €3.57 billion, a 79% increase from 2022
The company has consistently employed over 5,000 people at its Dublin campus, and its contributions to the Irish economy include significant corporate tax payments, employment, and local investment. Google Ireland Ltd. is also one of the largest corporate taxpayers in the state, though it benefits from Ireland’s favorable tax regime.
Regulatory and Public Affairs
As a dominant digital platform operator in Europe, Google Ireland Ltd. is subject to multiple layers of regulation including:
• GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)
• EU Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA)
• Irish Data Protection Commission oversight
The company is a frequent subject of European Commission antitrust inquiries and national-level regulatory scrutiny regarding data use, advertising practices, and content moderation.
Despite this, it continues to operate as a compliant and centralised service entity for Alphabet’s digital operations, leveraging Dublin’s strategic location and infrastructure.
