The Childcare Directory Ltd. was established in 2000 and began trading in 2001.

It was founded by Jamie Lawlor, a former crèche & Montessori owner. Jamie Lawlor also holds a Degree in marketing, along with a number of business certificates, and is currently completing a Masters in eBusiness with the Smurfit Business School.

The primary aim of The Childcare Directory Ltd was to help parents in Ireland find quality childcare solutions within their area. This service was put in place with the establishment of the website www.childcare.ie, a portal that allows parents to log in and search for childcare by type and location, in addition to providing them with a range of information resources. Currently the website is used by up to 25,000 parents each month and this figure is steadily growing.

In 2002 Jamie Lawlor recognised the fact that the Irish childcare industry needed a dedicated trade publication and set about publishing Childcare.ie magazine. This 48 page glossy magazine is posted every two months to the majority for preschool services in the country, approx 4,500 in total. An additional 2,000 copies retail through newsagents and a further 3,000 copies are delivered to childcare training centres, HSE representatives, childcare committees and relevant associations.

Childcare.ie is Ireland's leading Early Years Education magazine and its success and popularity is mainly due to the fact that Mr. Lawlor has maintained this 'hands-on' approach and remains the editor of the publication.

In 2006 The Childcare Directory went on to establish The Early Years Education Show www.eyeshow.ie which was the first dedicated exhibition / trade show for the preschool industry in the Republic of Ireland. Held in the RDS in April each year, it brings together over 50 leading suppliers to showcase their products to some 2,000 visiting professionals. The show also includes a number of free seminars and talks given by some of Ireland's leading educational and child development professionals. The show has been highly successful and has established itself as an annual event in the preschool calendar.