Built on trust, care and practical support

The Computer Lab is run by me, Jonathan McGuirk, from Portarlington, Co. Laois. I help home customers, schools and small businesses with computer sales, repairs, upgrades and practical technology support.

How it started

I started the business in late 2017 after returning from Australia and trying to figure out what to do next. At the time, I was commuting to Dublin for work on building sites — early mornings, late evenings, and living for the weekend. It was a way of life that didn’t make sense to me.

One day, while fixing my own laptop, I thought: maybe I could do this for other people?

I had spent years tinkering with computers, had studied IT in college, and could see that social media was changing what was possible for small local businesses. So I began small — collecting computers, repairing them, returning them, and helping local home customers whenever I could.

How The Computer Lab grew

Over time, The Computer Lab grew from home repairs into supplying refurbished computers. I saw that high-quality used machines were widely available for a fraction of their original cost, while many cheap new computers were poorly built and poor value.

For customers, the difference often made sense straight away: a stronger, more reliable business-grade computer could cost less than a basic new machine and still perform better.

That became a big part of the business — helping people avoid false economy, get better value, and choose computers that would actually last. From there, The Computer Lab expanded into higher-quality business-grade laptops and desktops, custom gaming PCs, support for small businesses, and practical technology support for schools.

What matters now

The heart of the business is still the same: clear advice, fair pricing and practical help. If a repair makes sense, I’ll tell you. If replacing the computer is the better option, I’ll explain why.

What I enjoy most is fixing problems and showing people that a fast, reliable computer doesn’t need to cost a fortune.

As The Computer Lab grows, I’m doing more work with schools, helping them source devices, manage repairs and make sensible technology decisions. But at its core, the business will always be about practical local support and looking after people properly.