Ireland’s biggest strike in 20 years hits as AI summit opens in Dublin. Data centers draw protests outside.

More than 300,000 public sector workers walked out for 24 hours. Teachers, nurses, doctors, civil servants. Most schools closed. Thousands of hospital appointments canceled. Courts and Leinster House shut. Pay talks stalled after the last deal expired in June. Unions reject the government’s €1.2 billion offer. Another strike set for October 21. Minister Jack Chambers called it unnecessary, then said he was open to talks with pay first.

Same day, Ireland hosted the International AI Summit at the RDS as part of its EU presidency. Taoiseach Micheál Martin opened it. Speakers included Microsoft’s Brad Smith, OpenAI’s Sarah Friar, Google DeepMind’s Demis Hassabis, and EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen. Hassabis called recent AI agent hacks “early warning shots.” Martin announced a new Cabinet AI committee and a labor forum on workplace impacts. He said AI will not displace public service jobs.

Outside, data center critics protested: “energy vampires and job robbers not welcome.” People Before Profit joined. Data centers already take a large share of Ireland’s power. EU says the bloc needs to triple capacity in five to seven years. Summit organizers said external contractors meant the strike would not stop the event. Pickets were nearby. Weather warnings for wind and rain also delayed Met Éireann updates.

https://www.rte.ie/news/2026/1014/1595279-public-sector-strike/

https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-the-taoiseach/speeches/opening-address-by-taoiseach-miche%C3%A1l-martin-international-ai-summit/

https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2026/10/14/tech-leaders-outline-ai-dangers-and-opportunities-at-dublin-summit/

https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/irish-ai-summit-sees-question-37770662