Apple invests 1.7bn euros in data centres in Republic of Ireland and Denmark

The centres will be used by Apple to operate services such as its online music and app stores

Apple is to invest 1.7bn euros (£1.25bn) developing data centres in the Republic of Ireland and Denmark.

The centres will be located near Athenry in County Galway and Viborg, central Jutland.

The County Galway centre will be built on land owned by the state forestry agency in the Republic of Ireland, Coillte.

It will create work for up to 300 people, though most of those jobs will be in the construction phase.

The company is aiming to have the centre powered entirely by renewable energy.

Data centres contain racks of computer servers and consume a large amount of power, keeping them cool.

The centres will be used by Apple to operate services such as its online music and app stores.

The Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny said: "It is a very significant investment in the west of Ireland and is fantastic news for Athenry with significant knock-on benefits for the region."