Cork-based Enterprise System Partners (ESP), which provides consulting and manufacturing services to life sciences firms around the world, has been bought by the international giant Accenture.

Women’s portraits have been hung on the walls of the country’s leading academic body for the first time — 230 years after its foundation.

Global management consulting and technology services company Accenture is to create 250 jobs here by the end of August while a sales firm is to create 100 jobs in Dundalk.

Accenture is set to hire around 250 people into its workforce in Ireland by September this year.