Ireland On-line was the first commercial internet service provider in the state.
The company was formed in 1992 by Barry Flanagan, and was reported to have launched "Ireland's first mass-market Internet service" in January 1994.
Two years later, it was sold to Esat Telecom Group plc for IR£ 115m.
A year later, Esat Telecom was taken over by BT Group plc.
[2] In 2009 BT Ireland withdrew from retail telecommunications and transferred retail operations, along with IOL's former subscribers, to Vodafone Ireland.