How Facebook wins friends and influences people in Ireland
With the release of The Social Reckoning, a worthy follow-up to The Social Network in exposing Facebook’s evil ways, another look at Mark Zuckerberg’s latest real estate play in Ireland seems appropriate.
A man must have his castle
From th PHS Blog Aug. 23 2026 - Having read dozens of dispatches since the Irish Times scooped the world on Thursday (Aug. 20), there’s not a lot of NEWS beyond what the master of Meta wants the world to know: That he has joined a handful of billionaires in Ireland who own mansions grand enough to be considered castles. His is called Strancally Castle.
The 16,000 square foot domicile he now owns in Ireland sits on 440 acres along the Blackrock River in County Waterford. Driving time to Meta headquarters in Dublin is about 3 hours. It’s only an hour and 15 minutes to Cork City. (Like Zuckerberg would be driving, right?) You can check out the demesne and mansion and dock on the Blackrock here.
First Zuckerberg donation in Ireland
Small businesses trying to attract local customers will often sponsor the local little league team. Putting their business name on the jerseys and hanging team photos in the front window are tried and true old school marketing methods.
So, what’s the first cause Facebook founder/Meta owner Mark Zuckerberg supports in Co. Waterford?
Sports
Last week it emerged that Mr Zuckerberg and Ms Chan have donated €150,000 to the three GAA clubs which are located closest to Strancally Castle in Co Waterford. The three clubs - Shamrocks GAA in Knockanore, Tallow GAA in Tallow, and Lismore GAA in Lismore - will each receive €50,000.
“The GAA is at the heart of communities across Ireland,” said Mark and Priscilla. “As new members of the Waterford community, we’re proud to support these local clubs and the important role they play.” (Extra.ie)
That’s $168,141 in dollars, which is considerably more than the local pizza parlor owner donates. But Zuckerberg has a lot more at stake and is looking for more than goodwill among his neighbors.
The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC), has fined Meta almost €2.5 billion since 2022, relating to breaches of data regulations. These judgments remain under appeal and the DPC says that just €17 million has been collected so far. (RTE)
The numbers
Facebook, which changed its name to Meta (NASDAQ:META) because of the fallout from the Wall Street Journal’s The Facebook Files, currently employs about 1,800 people in Ireland. A few years ago, it employed 4,000. Facebook also pays a number of contract employes in Ireland who moderate content but don’t work for Facebook directly.
The Gaelic Athletic Association, founded in 1884 to promote home-grown Gaelic games and traditions has an estimated half a million members worldwide and in Ireland will clear close to 100 million Euros in revenue this year. There’s not another national sports organization like it in the world, as far as I know.
Let them have Meta glasses
The GAA donation was just one tactic Facebook uses to win friends and influence people in Ireland.
Tech giant Meta is donating 15,000 free Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses to Vision Ireland, enough for every blind and visually impaired adult the charity supports. Joe.ie
There’s just one problem. The glasses have come under severe criticism for the ability for users to film people in public without their consent. “Pervert glasses” some call them.
The image problem doesn't seem to have been cured by Meta's enlistment this summer of Kylie Jenner, Kim Kardashian's sister, as their prime model. The devices have been dubbed "pervert" or "creepy" glasses. In the UK, JD Wetherspoon pubs, a handful of major theatres, Comic-Con, some schools, and Faslane, home of the UK's nuclear submarines, have all chosen to ban them. BBC Sept. 26, 2026
It’s an old Irish saying, “No good deed goes unpunished.”
Closing Quotes
"Mark and his family are excited to continue caring for this historic home and look forward to spending time in Ireland, where Meta maintains its international headquarters." Prepared statement from Facebook
“We can understand the positive impact of the employment they’ve provided and we can see too how these companies (Meta/Facebook)need to be made to feel happy in Ireland to keep that special relationship going.” Aoife Barry. Author of Social Capital: Life online in teh shadow of Ireland’s tech boom
"My message is very clear to employees in Meta, first of all the government will have your back. We will support you to gain employment again." Irish Govt. Minister when Meta announced layoffs last March.
“The European Union accused Meta on Friday of breaching its social media law by designing Facebook and Instagram to get users hooked, and demanded it disable “key addictive features” like infinite scrolling. The sweeping set of regulations from Brussels requires tech platforms to protect internet users under threat of hefty fines.
Its final decision, which could result in a fine worth up to 6% of the company’s global annual revenue. Facebook and Instagram design features, including personalized recommendations and push notifications, serve up an endless stream of content, putting users' brains on “autopilot” and fueling compulsive use, the commission said.” Associated Press Sept. 26, 2026
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