Business Plus – Issue 5 2026

Summary

Ireland's top PR leaders reveal how AI is transforming their industry, House of Hackney director Frieda Gormley is redefining success, and a Korean chef pioneers his country's cuisine in Dublin — Business Plus Issue 5 2026 leads with the cover story "What's the Story?" Professor Maura McAdam reveals how to beat imposter syndrome, and cyber security experts assess the latest threats in an exclusive industry survey. Gavan Reilly reports on the government's unorthodox financial planning.

The cover story (p.52) interviews 5 PR agency heads about how AI tools are reshaping media monitoring, press release drafting, and crisis communication. The house price per hour of work metric is discussed as agencies shift from billable-hours to value-based pricing. The Frieda Gormley profile (p.16) covers how she turned a fashion brand into a homeware empire with sustainability at its core. Gunmoo Kim's Korean cuisine story (p.20) tracks the 3-year journey from pop-up to a 60-seat restaurant in Dublin 2.

Regular sections include Editor's Note, Executive Chair, Politics, Frame by Frame, Up to Speed, Business, Sport, Motoring, Lust List, and Wine.

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Content Guide

▸ Cover Story / Media & AI

p.52 · What's the Story? — Ireland's Top PR Leaders on How AI is Transforming Their Industry
Five agency CEOs report that AI now handles 40 percent of media monitoring and 25 percent of first-draft press release writing. However, all agree that crisis communication and C-suite media training remain human-only domains. The article notes that 3 of the 5 agencies have moved to value-based pricing, abandoning the billable-hour model. PR agency owners can use the 40 percent AI-monitoring benchmark to reassess their own operational efficiency.

▸ Profile / Entrepreneurship

p.16 · A Face of Nature — House of Hackney Director Frieda Gormley
Gormley co-founded House of Hackney, a London-based homeware brand that mixes Victorian-inspired prints with sustainability. The company uses 100 percent organic cotton and regenerative farming practices for its textiles. Revenue grew 35 percent year-on-year to 12 million pounds. Sustainable fashion entrepreneurs can use the 35 percent growth rate as a benchmark for scaling mission-driven brands.

▸ Food / Cuisine

p.20 · Made in Korea — Gunmoo Kim Pioneers His Country's Cuisine in Ireland
Kim opened Seoul Kitchen in Dublin 2 in 2023 after a 2-year pop-up circuit. The 60-seat restaurant now serves 500 covers per week, with Korean fried chicken accounting for 40 percent of orders. He sources 70 percent of ingredients from Irish suppliers. Restaurant investors can use the 60-seat-to-500-covers metric to model Korean cuisine concepts in European capitals.

▸ Self-Development / Psychology

p.10 · Express Yourself — Professor Maura McAdam Reveals How to Beat Imposter Syndrome
McAdam, a professor of management at Dublin City University, presents research showing that 62 percent of Irish professionals experience imposter syndrome at some point in their careers. Her recommended strategies include creating a "personal board of directors" of 3-5 mentors and tracking achievement metrics weekly. HR professionals can use the 62 percent figure to build a business case for mental health workplace programmes.

▸ Politics / Finance

p.14 · Gavan Reilly on the Government's Unorthodox Financial Planning
Reilly reports that Ireland's 2026 budget includes a 2.5-billion-dollar windfall tax on energy companies, earmarked for a sovereign wealth fund targeting 20 billion euros by 2035. The plan is criticised by industry groups but supported by climate advocates. Tax policy analysts tracking windfall tax models can use Ireland's framework as a case study.

▸ Technology / Security

p.44 · Cyber Security — Industry Experts Assess the Latest Threats
The exclusive survey of 50 Irish CISOs reveals that ransomware attacks increased 45 percent year-on-year, with the average ransom demand rising to 1.8 million euros. Phishing remains the top attack vector at 62 percent. The survey also reports that only 34 percent of Irish companies have cyber insurance. IT security teams can use the 45 percent increase data in their board-level risk presentations.

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Editor's Take

Business Plus Issue 5 2026 is a well-rounded edition covering PR disruption, entrepreneurship, and cybersecurity with genuine data. The AI-in-PR cover story is timely and specific about which tasks are being automated and which are not. The Frieda Gormley profile adds a strong sustainability-business angle. The cyber security survey is the issue's hidden gem — the 45 percent ransomware increase and 1.8-million-euro average demand are boardroom-ready data points. The weakest section is the Motoring page, which feels out of place in this otherwise digital-forward issue. The Lust List is filler.

Strengths
• AI-in-PR cover story with specific automation percentages (40 percent, 25 percent)
• Cyber security survey with hard threat data (45 percent increase, 1.8 million euros)
• Frieda Gormley profile with measurable revenue growth

Weaknesses
• Motoring page feels incongruent with the issue's digital theme
• Lust List adds no editorial value

Verdict: Recommended — Buy for the AI-in-PR cover and cyber security survey; the imposter syndrome piece is a bonus for HR leaders.