I have to say, I found this article overly negative. Newry isn't a good host to startups because 10 years ago their population was 30k and they have a sheep industry?

Just because they're trying to encourage entrepreneurs to flock there doesn't mean they're trying to usurp Silicon Valley. As someone who isn't an American citizen I know how non visa friendly many companies in the Valley are, and I love to see smaller startup hubs around the world starting to pop up. Even if the author doesn't like the climate in Vladivostok (and I incidentally love it), that doesn't mean talent can't start to congregate there.

I think the author probably is maybe annoyed by the "The next Silicon Valley of...." rather than some other places trying to encourage entrepreneurs. It's the same thing like some VCs are annoyed when a startup recommends itself as "The Airbnb of blablalba..." or "The Mint of blablabla..." and such comparisons (although in some cases making such an analogy makes you understand better what they do because it gives you an example everybody knows).

I think there is a big, big difference between "talent can't start to congregate there" and " being the next Silicon Valley."

I guess I don't know how much "being the next Silicon Valley" is pundit talk or their actual stated objective. Newry using the term Emerald Valley is a bit much, but I don't think they should be told to "please stop trying."

I don't think the title was specific to Newry (I could be wrong-I didn't write it).

I think it was a generic answer. There are many examples of cities claiming they are the next Silicon Valley (Silicon alley, silicon prairie, silicon waters, silicon hills, silicon beach and silicon dubai to name a few).

SV is so unique though. I think they might be able to claim what silicon valley was in the 1960's (before the large tech anchors supported the every expanding ecosystem).

We hope that Newry "keeps trying" as is successful. The world could benefit from another silicon valley.