Ireland’s business and luxury sectors mark a significant milestone with the launch of  VYKO GROUP.

Founded by Galway-native Ashley McDonnell, this will be the country's first dedicated luxury brands group, established to unify, scale, and globalise Irish premium brands. The company aims to raise €50 million to support its first acquisitions by the end of 2026, marking a major step toward building a scalable national platform for Irish luxury. Despite a global luxury market valued at approximately €358 billion, Irish premium brands have historically struggled to scale due to fragmented distribution, limited access to capital, and the absence of a domestic group structure.

VYKO has been established to address this gap directly, creating a platform that enables Irish brands to compete with international luxury groups while retaining their identity and independence. By combining centralised capital, shared infrastructure, and global distribution capabilities, VYKO aims to accelerate international expansion and long-term value creation for Irish-founded brands. Speaking on the launch, founder and CEO Ashley McDonnell said: “This is about building a national platform for Irish brands to scale internationally.

“Ireland has long produced exceptional talent and products but have long been without the infrastructure to compete globally. VYKO is designed to change that.” She added: “The launch of VYKO represents a decisive step towards a more structured and scalable premium brand ecosystem in Ireland.

“It ensures the potential to retain ownership, talent, and long-term value within the Irish economy.” VYKO is supported by an Irish and international team and advisory network with experience across luxury, finance, technology, and international markets. Alexis Delannoy, Private Equity at Alpera Partners and advisor to VYKO Group, added: “France’s ability to financially structure luxury groups that employ hundreds of thousands of citizens, manufacture products locally, and export goods globally has been instrumental in dominating the European market capitalization and strengthening the country’s economy.

“Ireland’s answer to this is VYKO.” VYKO’s strategy includes consolidating high-potential Irish brands across sectors including fashion, beauty, food, and premium consumer goods, with a focus on expansion into key markets such as the United States, the Middle East, and China. The company has already reviewed over 500 Irish brands, engaged with more than 35, and progressed multiple acquisition opportunities, with initial transactions underway.

By applying a technology-led operating model, VYKO aims to deliver accelerated revenue growth across its portfolio while strengthening Ireland’s position within the global luxury sector. At the helm of VYKO Group is Ashley McDonnell, a Galway native with over a decade of international experience across the luxury and technology sectors. Her career spans senior roles with leading global organisations including LVMH in Paris, Google in Dublin, and Puig in Geneva, where she worked on scaling brands through digital, media, and e-commerce strategy.

McDonnell has also played a significant role in shaping Ireland’s creative and entrepreneurial ecosystem. As founder of Ireland Fashion Week, she established the country’s first nationwide fashion week and a leading incubator supporting designers with over €1.4 million annually. She previously served as Chair of Digital Business Ireland, representing more than 8,000 businesses and engaging with key government stakeholders.

She is also the founder of Tech Powered Luxury, a global media and events platform with over 500,000 podcast downloads. The company’s first employee, Laoise O’Connell from Dublin, brings experience from leading luxury houses including Chanel and Givenchy, as well as deep knowledge of the Irish fashion landscape. O’Connell noted: “We are building a culture-first, digital-forward conglomerate that will finally give Irish luxury the global platform it deserves.

“What we lacked in Ireland before is the house to support key Irish brands globally. VYKO Group is now that home.” The launch comes amid growing global demand for niche, high-quality brands and increasing international appetite for culturally distinctive products.

With strong diaspora connections and export potential, VYKO is positioned to unlock new growth opportunities for Irish businesses.