Falling for Galway’s Tech Scene & Culture

A thirst for adventure and a desire to see the world saw Philipp jet away from his home in Germany to travel. But a chance encounter in Galway saw the tech expert setting up home in the West. Now part of the team in SAP Ireland’s Galway head-quarters, Philipp says he has found the perfect place. He admits: “I’m really happy here. My girlfriend and I have good jobs, and we really love living in Galway.”

An Unexpected Stop

Keen to explore Europe, Philipp took time out from his job in Germany to travel for a year. But fate intervened just over 10 months ago. He explains: “I arrived in Dublin originally with just my flight booked over here. I didn’t have any other plans apart from that. At the time, I was planning to travel on. But everyone I met was so lovely and suggested that I go and see Galway. When I came here, I really liked the whole atmosphere, the mentality of everyone and how everyone was so friendly.” Along with the culture, Philipp also fell for his girlfriend after meeting her during his visit – and decided to stay on in Galway.

Opportunities in Galway’s Tech Scene

With a background in technology and design, Philipp is now part of the Cloud Solutions team in SAP. A Cloud Associate, he describes his day-to-day job as an ideal fit for his background. “Currently, my role involves working with customers to go through incidents they report on any Cloud product and working with the team here to resolve these,” he explains. With a vibrant and international group of colleagues, Philipp adds: “I’ve never worked anywhere as lovely as here. Everyone is very welcoming, really approachable, and supportive. You can lay out your own goals and speak to your managers about how you want to progress.” To help people shape their progress, SAP offers people the ability to move between departments if needed. Philipp notes: “What’s great about working for a big company is that you can move into different departments if you want to work in a different area or try a different role. I really am very lucky.”

A Close-Knit Community

Outside of work, Galway’s compact size and coastal lifestyle suit Philipp and his girlfriend. Originally from South-West Germany, he particularly loves living close to the ocean. “Where I’m from in Germany is not close to the coast, so it’s great to live so close to it here. You have all the amazing restaurants, pubs, and places in the city and then access to the sea as well.” While the city’s changeable weather is a big talking point, Philipp is a fan. “People complain about the weather but I actually really like getting out and about in the fresh air,” he says. As for his next steps, Philipp is keen to make the most of his new home. “I don’t know where I’ll be in ten years, but for now we really like our jobs here and our life and we’re very happy.”

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