Strategic Focus
Monaghan: A Smart, Sustainable Investment
Monaghan County Council is committed to fostering sustainable economic growth and proudly positions the county as a strategic location for investment. As outlined in the County Development Plan 2025-2031, Monaghan offers a strong value proposition for businesses, combining a skilled, adaptable workforce with competitive commercial rents and housing costs well below the national average.
Ideally situated between Dublin and Belfast, Monaghan benefits from excellent connectivity, robust infrastructure, and a supportive, collaborative business ecosystem. These assets, along with our focus on innovation, sustainability, and quality of life, make Monaghan a future-ready location for enterprise and investment.
In short, Monaghan is a smart, sustainable choice for businesses seeking growth, resilience, and long-term success.
Specialist Sectors
Agri-Food
Monaghan is strategically positioned as one of Ireland’s foremost centres for premium agri-food production. The county has developed strong specialisations in high-quality Dairy, Pork, Poultry & Eggs, and Mushroom production sectors that not only underpin local economic resilience but also drive significant export value.
Remarkably, 90% of Monaghan’s agri-food output is exported, reflecting strong international demand and a well-established global supply chain presence.
The agri-food sector accounts for 12.5% of total employment in Monaghan, demonstrating its critical role in sustaining the local economy and community. This concentration of skilled labour, sectoral expertise, and established infrastructure presents a compelling case for investment, innovation, and expansion.
As global demand for sustainable, traceable, and high-quality food products continues to rise, Monaghan offers a unique investment proposition. The Council is actively supporting initiatives that enhance food innovation, value-added production, and climate-smart agriculture, reinforcing the county’s position as a competitive, future-ready agri-food hub.
Manufacturing and Engineering
Monaghan is firmly established as a key regional hub for Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering, home to a dynamic ecosystem of companies producing world-class, globally exported products.
This sector represents one of the most strategically important industries worldwide driving innovation, enabling digital transformation, and supporting resilient supply chains. For Monaghan County Council, continued investment in this sector not only enhances local economic growth and high-value employment but also aligns with national and EU priorities for sustainable industry, technological advancement, and smart specialisation.
Through a strong base of indigenous and multinational firms, Monaghan contributes meaningfully to Ireland’s global reputation for engineering excellence and manufacturing innovation. The Council recognises the sector’s strategic value and remains committed to supporting its growth through targeted infrastructure, skills development, and innovation partnerships.
Investing in Monaghan’s Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering sector is an investment in the future of high-tech industry, locally rooted, globally connected.
Renewable Energy
Monaghan is home to a growing cluster of innovative renewable energy companies, positioning the county as a national leader in the transition to a low-carbon, sustainable future. From bioenergy and solar solutions to energy efficiency technologies and community-led sustainability projects, Monaghan is at the forefront of Ireland’s green economy.
Monaghan County Council is committed to supporting the continued growth of this vital sector. Through strategic planning, investment in infrastructure, and collaboration with industry stakeholders, the Council is fostering an environment where renewable energy enterprises can thrive. Initiatives are actively promoted within the region to drive innovation, create local employment, and contribute to national climate targets.
As global focus intensifies on sustainability and energy security, Monaghan’s strong ecosystem of renewable energy businesses, supported by a proactive local authority, makes it an ideal location for green investment, research, and development.
Together with industry Monaghan County Council is committed to building a cleaner, more resilient future for the county and beyond.
Commercial Rents
Monaghan continues to offer highly competitive commercial lease rates, with the average annual rent in 2024 standing at €11,506, substantially lower than Dublin’s average of €51,797.
This significant cost differential highlights Monaghan’s appeal for businesses seeking a strategic location with lower overheads, while still benefiting from access to Ireland’s broader market infrastructure.
The affordability of commercial space in Monaghan presents a strong value proposition for startups, expanding enterprises, and remote-working hubs alike.
Commercial Leases - Average Annual Rent 2024
Invest
Innovation Hubs
The M:TEK Building, located just outside Monaghan Town, offers two state-of-the-art commercial buildings designed to meet the needs of today’s agile businesses. M:TEK I is home to the North East Digital Hub, providing a mix of flexible office spaces, 14 fully serviced hot desks, training and meeting rooms, high-speed broadband, and free on-site parking, making it ideal for startups and growing companies. Adjacent to it, M:TEK II offers an impressive 34,500 sq ft of premium office space across three bright, modern floors, perfect for larger enterprises looking to expand in a professional, connected setting.
Just minutes from the town centre and Ireland’s first certified Biophilic Hub, M:TEK also promotes wellness and creativity through its integration of natural light, greenery, and sustainable design. This unique atmosphere enhances employee productivity and workplace satisfaction, helping to attract and retain top talent in a competitive market.
A short drive away, C:TEK offers a strategic base near the Dublin-Belfast M1 corridor, with regular bus links to both cities. With flexible office sizes, hotdesking options, remote work facilities, generous parking, and kitchen access, C:TEK is the ideal solution for entrepreneurs, SMEs, and hybrid workers. Together, these three properties represent a rare investment opportunity in a thriving, well-connected region with strong enterprise support and growing demand for flexible, high-quality commercial space.
Clones Business Technology Park
Situated on the Monaghan – Fermanagh border, the Clones Business Technology Park offers a compelling investment opportunity in a growing cross-border region. Its location between Monaghan Town and Enniskillen makes it a strategic base for businesses seeking access to both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland markets.
This modern, two-storey facility provides 750 sqm (8,000 sq ft) of flexible office accommodation, making it ideal for companies of all sizes, from regional service providers to remote operation hubs. Located near the town centre and benefiting from ample on-site parking, the park combines convenience with strong connectivity in an increasingly attractive area for enterprise development.
With untapped potential, competitive operating costs, and increasing focus on regional economic growth, Clones is primed for business investment. The town’s unique location, combined with available infrastructure and proximity to major towns, presents an excellent opportunity for investors looking to grow in a dynamic and supportive environment.
Food Innovation
Strategically located in Ballybay, just south of Monaghan Town, the Ballybay Food Hub is a state-of-the-art food production and innovation facility designed to drive high-impact growth across Ireland’s Northeast. Monaghan is one of the country’s premier food-producing counties, home to leading national and international agri-food companies. The Hub builds on this strength by fostering innovation, collaboration, and business clustering to support the development of scalable, sustainable, and profitable food enterprises.
Purpose-built to support both start-ups and scaling food businesses, the Hub offers a unique mix of infrastructure and opportunity. Facilities include a fully equipped test kitchen, 500 sq ft starter units, and 1,500 sq ft production spaces, allowing companies to trial, refine, and launch new products in a low-risk, innovation-focused environment. This makes the Ballybay Food Hub the ideal launchpad for new market entrants and a valuable expansion site for established producers.
Investors have a unique opportunity to become part of a thriving food ecosystem in a region that combines agricultural heritage with modern, forward-thinking enterprise support. With access to local talent, transport links, and a proven track record of food innovation, the Ballybay Food Hub is primed to deliver long-term returns for visionary investors in the agri-food space.
Support Available
Monaghan County Council provides guidance on accessing national funding, site development support, and infrastructure investment to attract inward investment. In addition, the Council actively collaborates with IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland to support larger-scale investment projects, offering tailored assistance to investors seeking to establish or grow their operations in the region.
