In the context of Ireland's increasing levels of outward foreign direct investment (FDI), the strategic importance of the indigenous software technology sector and increasing levels of globalisation, this paper describes an exploratory study of the internationalisation of the indigenous Irish software technology sector. Recent research has challenged the stage theories of internationalisation and suggests that small firms in knowledge-intensive industries are internationalising more rapidly and from inception. A different view of the role of knowledge is provided in this emerging pattern of internationalisation -- knowledge as a driver of internationalisation rather than a barrier to be overcome in an incremental process. The paper concludes by comparing and contrasting the findings across research on the high-technology sector in other countries.