Big things are on the way - Droichead Consulting is now First Bridge
First Bridge is the next chapter for Droichead Consulting: the same commitment to clients, a growing senior team and broader support for important decisions.
This is our temporary website while we prepare our new one. Our full website is coming soon.
First Bridge is a Dublin-based public affairs and strategic communications advisory, helping clients navigate the complexities of politics, media and reputation.
We work with Irish businesses at home and internationally, with particular expertise in supporting companies seeking to establish or expand their presence in the United States and Canada. We also advise North American businesses seeking to engage with political, regulatory and media stakeholders in Ireland, Brussels and London.
Our expertise is rooted in sectors where political decisions, regulation, public policy and reputation have a direct impact on business. We have particular experience in financial services, including the credit union movement; legal and professional services; technology and innovation; pharmaceuticals, life sciences and healthcare; aviation and aerospace; infrastructure and major capital projects; and the not-for-profit and voluntary sector.
We work with businesses, not-for-profit organisations, law firms, professional advisers and individuals, combining sector expertise with a deep understanding of the political, regulatory and media environments in which they operate.
Whether helping organisations navigate complex challenges or supporting individuals seeking to build their public profile and professional reputation, we help our clients strengthen their influence, engage with the audiences that matter and identify new opportunities.
Please feel free to get in touch. We’d be glad to hear from you.
How we help
Three disciplines. One connected perspective.
From the decisions that shape your business to the conversations that define your reputation, First Bridge helps you make your voice count.
01 / Public Affairs
Navigating politics. Shaping outcomes.
Politics affects business, whether business engages with politics or not.
We help clients make sense of political decisions, policy developments and regulatory change. From Dublin and Brussels to London and North America, we bring insight into the institutions, people and processes that shape the business environment.
We develop practical engagement strategies, help clients articulate their positions and build constructive relationships with the stakeholders who matter. Our aim is to help you participate in the decisions affecting your future, rather than simply react to them.
02 / Strategic Communications
We turn complex ideas into compelling narratives.
The right words, delivered at the right moment, can change perceptions, shape conversations and open doors.
We help businesses, organisations and individuals communicate with clarity, confidence and purpose. From developing compelling messages and securing meaningful media coverage to managing sensitive issues and navigating public scrutiny, we provide strategic advice that makes a difference.
Crisis communications & media management
When the spotlight turns your way, you need to know what to do next.
Not every media interaction is one you seek. A difficult story, an unexpected controversy or a reputational challenge can place enormous pressure on a business or an individual. How you respond can define what happens next.
We provide discreet, practical crisis communications advice, helping clients manage media enquiries, respond to challenging coverage, prepare for interviews and communicate effectively when the stakes are high.
Whether you're looking to tell your story or need help when someone else is telling it, First Bridge helps you approach your communications with confidence and a clear strategy.
Because what you say matters most when it matters most.
03 / Reputation & Influence
Make your reputation work for you.
Being good at what you do is one thing. Being recognised for it is another.
Some of the most influential people and organisations aren't necessarily the loudest. They've built reputations that open doors, shape conversations and make others take notice.
At First Bridge, we help ambitious individuals, business leaders and organisations build the profile their expertise and achievements deserve. Whether you're an established leader seeking greater visibility, a growing business looking to make its mark, or a professional who wants to become a recognised voice in their field, we help position you where it matters.
We bring together strategic positioning, media engagement, thought leadership and carefully cultivated relationships to build reputations that carry weight. We identify the conversations worth joining, the audiences worth reaching and the opportunities that can turn recognition into influence.
Because the right reputation doesn't just get you noticed. It changes what's possible.
Same standards. A growing team.
- Company
- Droichead Consulting Ltd, now trading as First Bridge Public Affairs.
- Leadership
- Colm Lawless, Dr Alasdair McDonnell and Tiffany Watkins Ahern lead the practice.
- Service
- The same high-quality service you know: senior-led advice, backed by a capable team.
- Office
- 51 Bracken Road, Sandyford, Dublin 18.
Meet our people
Meet the people behind First Bridge: Colm, Alasdair and Tiffany, backed by a full team.
Colm Lawless
Senior strategist in public affairs, reputation and media, trusted at the top of government, technology and finance.
- Reputation and media. More than a decade working with Government Ministers and TDs on communications and policy, from legislation to major announcements.
- Government. Senior Adviser at the centre of Irish government, advising Ministers on policy and in parliament, including at the former Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, in Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, and for the Tánaiste.
- Cross-party. Colm has a strong track record in working across party lines.
- Technology. Public Policy Manager at one of the world’s leading technology companies.
- Credit unions. Chaired Heritage Credit Union from 2021 to 2025, and served as an elected director of the ILCU board.
Dr Alasdair McDonnell
Party leader, MP and family doctor, trusted across party lines.
- Leadership. Led the SDLP, one of Northern Ireland’s main political parties.
- Parliament. MP for South Belfast in the House of Commons in London for 12 years, on the Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee.
- Assembly. Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for 17 years.
- Belfast. Deputy Mayor in 1995, and a driving force behind the Waterfront Hall, Laganside and the Gasworks redevelopment.
Tiffany Watkins Ahern
Based in Dublin, Tiffany brings a valuable US perspective to important decisions in Ireland and Europe.
- Government. Senior roles with the White House and US federal and state government.
- Campaigns. Deputy Campaign Manager on US Senate campaigns, with senior roles on a presidential campaign and served in a previous White House administration. Tiffany also has strong bi-bartisan credentials.
- Clients. Advised leaders in financial services, technology, energy and healthcare.
- Perspective. More than 25 years in policy, strategic communications and crisis management.
Get in touch
Whatever the introduction, question or brief, we’d like to hear from you.
51 Bracken Road, Sandyford, Dublin 18, D18 CV48, Ireland
Pardon the scaffolding. Our new website is going up, but it’s business as usual behind the hoarding. Any email sent to Droichead Consulting will still reach the right person, with no disruption to our service. Thank you for your patience. It will be worth the wait.