Lyft snaps up two Irish taxi giants in major expansion across Dublin and Limerick
- Perry Richardson
- 10 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Lyft has expanded its presence in Ireland after announcing that Freenow by Lyft has acquired Lynk and Swift, two of the country’s best-established phone-based taxi dispatch businesses.
The deal brings Dublin-based Lynk and Limerick’s Swift Taxis into the Freenow by Lyft network, combining traditional telephone bookings with app-based services. The company says the move will increase the number of available drivers, reduce passenger waiting times and create more journey opportunities for drivers across the combined operation.
The acquisition also strengthens Freenow by Lyft’s position in the corporate transport market. Lynk has built a strong reputation as a business travel provider for public sector organisations and hundreds of local companies, while Swift, best known through its long-running 313131 booking number, serves major pharmaceutical and healthcare organisations across Limerick.
Drivers currently operating with Lynk and Swift are expected to become available through the Freenow by Lyft app as the businesses are integrated, while passengers will continue to have the option of booking by telephone. The company said existing business customers and public sector partners can expect services to continue without disruption, with staff from both dispatch operations remaining in place.
The move reflects the continued importance of traditional taxi booking methods in Ireland. Despite the growth of app-based services, Lyft said that more than half of all taxi bookings in the country are still made offline, making established telephone dispatch businesses an important part of the market.
Danny O’Gorman, General Manager at Freenow by Lyft Ireland, said: “Limerick has always been important to us. It’s one of the first cities Freenow launched in Ireland, and Swift’s position as the city’s top dispatcher builds directly on that history. At the same time, Lynk strengthens our position in business travel, an area we’re actively growing. Across both, our focus is the same: working with drivers to deliver prompt, safe, reliable service for passengers.”
Noel Ebbs, CEO at Lynk, said the acquisition would help expand opportunities for drivers while maintaining existing customer service standards.
He said: “As a leading taxi dispatcher and a trusted B2B partner for many local businesses, we’re excited to start a new chapter with Lyft. Together, we’ll be able to continue the excellent service we’ve provided to clients and passengers, and make more trips available to drivers.”
A spokesperson for Swift Taxis added: “After 35 years serving Limerick, we’re looking forward to the future with Lyft. Combining our local roots with Freenow by Lyft’s technology means we can keep Limerick moving, with even better taxi service for drivers, passengers, and business partners across the city.”
The Irish acquisitions follow Lyft’s recent purchase of Gett’s UK business, further expanding the company’s footprint across Europe. While Lyft did not disclose the financial terms of either deal, it said both transactions are financially immaterial to the wider business.
