Market Research Agency Ireland

Kadence is a trusted market research agency supporting brands across Ireland with insight that drives confident decisions. Whether you are targeting Irish consumers or you are an Ireland-based organization looking to research markets across Europe, Asia or globally, we combine international research expertise with an understanding of the Irish market to help organizations make informed, evidence-based choices.

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Ireland has established itself as a European hub for technology, pharmaceutical and financial services companies, while its domestic consumer economy continues to evolve rapidly. For brands operating here, understanding Irish audiences requires research that accounts for the country's unique blend of global connectivity and local identity.

Kadence in Ireland

We work with brands across sectors including technology, financial services, FMCG, healthcare, retail and professional services. Our research for the Irish market covers consumer segmentation, brand health tracking, concept testing, communications evaluation and market entry assessments.

For multi-market studies that include Ireland alongside other European or global markets, Kadence coordinates through our office network to ensure consistent methodology and comparable data. This is particularly relevant for organizations using Ireland as a European pilot market before scaling research across the continent.

Our researchers adapt methodologies to suit Irish market conditions, whether that means designing studies for a relatively small but highly engaged consumer base, managing recruitment across urban and regional audiences, or accounting for the cultural factors that influence Irish purchasing behavior.

Many of Ireland's most significant companies - whether homegrown or international headquarters - operate across multiple markets from day one. When a Dublin-based tech company needs to validate product-market fit in Asia, or a pharmaceutical firm is assessing patient attitudes across European markets, Kadence coordinates research through our global offices with genuine local expertise in each territory. Ireland's position as a European launchpad means research here often serves as the starting point for multi-market programs that our London, New York, Tokyo and Singapore teams deliver seamlessly.

Our Global Expertise for Ireland

Kadence operates from offices across Asia, Europe and the Americas, with our London office providing a strong European base. Our global network includes teams in Shanghai, Tokyo, New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Jakarta, Manila, Singapore, Bangkok, New York, San Francisco and Ho Chi Minh City.

For Irish brands with international growth ambitions, particularly in Asian or North American markets, our global network provides seamless coordination and local expertise in each market.

We’re consistently recognised as a leading market research agency across multiple markets.

AURA Innovation of the Year award

Innovation of the Year

Finalist

— The AURAs, 2021
Agency of the Year Awards, 2021

Market Research Agency of the Year

Winner – Gold

— Agency of the Year Awards, 2021
Marketing Interactive Agency of the Year, Winner - Gold, 2021

Consultant of the Year

Winner – Gold

— Agency of the Year Awards, 2021
Kadence team collecting Agency of the Year award

Consultant of the Year

Winner

— Agency of the Year Awards, 2020
Agency of the Year Awards, 2020

Market Research Agency of the Year

Finalist

— Agency of the Year Awards, 2020
Quirks Supplier of the Year Kadence International

Market Research Supplier of the Year

Winner

— Marketing Research & Insight Excellence Awards – 2019
Kadence International Market Research Agency of the Year Singapore

Market Research Agency of the Year

Winner

— Agency of the Year Awards, 2019
Kadence International is Highly Commended for Global Agency of The Year

Global Agency of the Year

Highly Commended

— Market Research Society Awards, 2019
Market Research Society's Operations Awards, 2019

Best Data Collection (face-to-face)

Finalist

— Market Research Society's Operations Awards – 2019
Best Data Collection, Finalist — Market Research Society's Operations Awards, 2019

Best Data Collection (telephone)

Finalist

— Market Research Society's Operations Awards, 2019
MRS Opperations Awards Trophy

Best Training and Development

Highly Commended

— Market Research Society's Operations Awards, 2019
MRS Young Researcher of the Year

MRS Young Researcher of the Year

Finalist

— MRS, 2023
ESOMAR Best Congress Paper

ESOMAR Best Congress Paper

Winner

— ESOMAR, 2023

Ireland Market Research

Ireland's economy punches well above its weight. The country is home to European headquarters for many of the world's largest technology and pharmaceutical companies, while a strong domestic sector in retail, food and beverage, financial services and professional services creates a diverse commercial environment.

Irish consumers are digitally sophisticated, well educated and brand-aware. Dublin dominates as the primary commercial center, but Cork, Galway, Limerick and other regional cities each contribute distinct consumer dynamics. The relatively small population of just over five million people means word of mouth, community reputation and trust carry significant weight in purchasing decisions.

For international brands, Ireland also serves as a valuable testing ground for broader European launches. The country's English-speaking population, EU membership and cultural openness make it an accessible market for pilot research before wider rollout.

Kadence brings over 30 years of experience conducting research across international markets, and our team understands how to design studies that capture the nuances of Irish consumer behavior.

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FAQs

How diverse is Asia Pacific culturally?

The short answer is that Asia is incredibly rich and nuanced from a cultural standpoint: the multitude of religious beliefs, histories, languages, and other cultural markers means that each market is more different than similar. This can make Asia Pacific market research challenging without the right partner to help you understand the intricacies of each country. That said, though, the ‘urban Asia’ experience is similar to some extent, and popular culture does form the basis to link up a couple of the Asian markets, so there can be ways to seek out common threads amidst the vibrancy of difference.

Do I need to do all my market research in Asia in local / vernacular languages?

As a rule yes. By conducting research in the local language, consumers will have the capability and confidence to express their thoughts and feelings toward the brands, products or services in question. Unlike some market research agencies in Asia, Kadence has a range of languages in-house thanks to our network of Asian offices, so local language moderation is a service we can provide. That said, it is possible to carry out research in English in some markets (e.g. Singapore, India, Philippines), depending on the subject matter and education level of the respondents you want to reach.

For large Asian markets like China and India, how many cities do we need to cover with our research?

We recommend at least a combination of 1st tier and 2nd tier cities, as well as 3rd tier and rural locations, if possible. On top of getting a read on geographic and demographic differences in the reactions to your products and services, lifestyle / intra-market attitudinal variations exist, so the wider you are able to carry out your research, the more comprehensive your resulting understanding of the market will be.

Are there certain research approaches or methodologies that work better in one Asian market, compared to another?

Yes. Cultural differences between Asian markets mean that you need to carefully consider your methodology. For instance, we find that in-depth interviews, rather than group-based discussions, can work better for some topics in markets like Japan, where there can be a tendency to ‘self-censor’. In contrast, the one-on-one format lends itself better to building trust and establishing bonds between interviewer and respondent, often leading to more productive conversations. 

You’ll also need to consider the technological infrastructure of the markets you’re researching. In India, for instance, you’ll need to take a mobile first approach for reaching those outside metros and tier 1 cities. This is also true of mobile-first markets like Indonesia and China. Whilst cultural considerations can be diverse and numerous, we’re on hand to help, based on our long history of conducting market research in Asia.

Does the sequence of which markets I do my research first in Asia matter?

Unless there are specific roll-out plans that have strategic importance for your product or service across markets, our experience has taught us that any order comes back down to organizational preference. Your internal stakeholders may want to start the research in a market that is a stronghold for the brand to establish ground understanding, then venture into unfamiliar grounds to gather ‘new news’, or vice versa. Ultimately, Kadence is flexible in terms of how / when / where to start a piece of research, and in the absence of real preference, is willing to provide our suggestions and justifications for any arrangements.

Our Customers

View all case studies
Bloomberg
Unilever
Samsung
Panasonic
Mitsubishi
Mars
Arla
Discovery Networks Asia Pacific
wallstreetjournal-logo

FAQs

Can Ireland be used as a pilot market for European research?

Yes. Ireland's English-speaking population, EU membership and cultural openness make it an accessible market for international brands looking to test propositions before a wider European rollout. Kadence designs pilot studies that generate insight applicable to both the Irish market and broader European strategy.

How does Kadence recruit research participants in Ireland?

We manage recruitment across Ireland's urban and regional populations, including Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and surrounding areas. For a relatively small but highly engaged consumer base, our team uses targeted recruitment strategies to reach the right audience segments efficiently.

What makes Irish consumer behaviour distinct for research purposes?

Ireland's small population means word of mouth, community reputation and trust carry significant weight in purchasing decisions. Consumers are digitally sophisticated and brand-aware, but local context and personal recommendations often influence choices more than in larger European markets. For Irish organizations expanding into new markets, our global network provides coordinated research to evaluate consumer expectations and competitive dynamics in those destinations, building on the deep local knowledge our teams bring in each region.

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