Ireland’s largest educational laptop and tablet supplier, Olive Media, has demanded a public apology and retraction from its main competitor, Wriggle Learning, over claims made regarding Olive’s financial stability. The dispute, escalating publicly this week, centers on an email sent by Wriggle to Irish schools referencing ongoing High Court proceedings involving Olive Media.
The conflict began after Jamie Johnson, Wriggle’s head of educator development, emailed school principals sharing a report from The Irish Times detailing a legal action taken by Olive For Education (OFE) against its former chief executive, Ian Gaughran. The email, as reported by the Irish Times, highlighted claims made by Gaughran’s legal team concerning the “financial viability” of the Olive Group of companies. Johnson’s email stated he wanted schools to be aware of the legal action and the associated claims, citing the importance of “device availability, repair operations, support continuity and programme stability.” He offered schools an “independent review” of their device supply options.
Brendan Kavanagh, chief executive of Olive Media, responded swiftly with an email distributed to a broad range of schools, including those not currently OFE customers. Kavanagh characterized Wriggle’s communication as an attempt to undermine Olive’s reputation and secure commercial advantage. He stated that Olive initiated legal action against Gaughran over allegations of a planned diversion of business to a new venture, a case scheduled for a hearing on March 13th. Kavanagh insisted the legal action was a protective measure, “not a sign of instability.”
“Those statements are untrue and unfounded,” Kavanagh wrote, asserting Olive’s financial health and operational capacity. He emphasized Olive’s 20 years of business experience and strong relationships with major device vendors in Ireland. Kavanagh confirmed that Olive’s legal counsel had been instructed to demand an apology and retraction from Wriggle.
The dispute unfolds as OFE has gained significant market share in Ireland’s secondary school IT supply sector, reportedly winning contracts from former Wriggle clients over the past three years. According to LinkedIn posts by Paul Dooley, Olive Media has attracted high-profile investors, including Irish rugby stars Brian O’Driscoll and Caelan Doris, through Kavanagh’s separate company, Grinds 360.
Wriggle Learning has declined to comment on the exchange, stating through a spokesperson that its focus “remains on delivering the best possible service to our customers.” Olive Media similarly declined to provide further comment on the matter. The outcome of Olive’s demand for an apology and retraction from Wriggle remains unresolved.
