Mary Considine departs Shannon and arrives at Irish Rail
She departs after six years at the airport, with passenger numbers for the first six months of this year at Shannon totalling 1.04 million – an increase of more than 7pc on the same period in 2024. Last year Shannon dealt with over 2.1 million passengers, the highest annual total in 15 years.
Ray O'Driscoll, currently deputy CEO, will assume the role of chief executive on an interim basis. The board of Shannon Airport Group will now begin the process of recruiting a successor.
Ms Considine's total remuneration for 2024 amounted to €249,611, made up of a basic salary of €190,000, €47,500 in pension contributions and €12,111 in other taxable benefits. Last year, the Shannon group recorded pre-tax profits of €48.43m on the back of revenues increasing to €73m.
Irish Rail's new boss has a long career in aviation, after she rose quickly through senior roles - including Shannon Airport director, chief financial officer, deputy CEO, before taking over the top job in 2019. The Shannon Airport Group has a significant property portfolio, and says it supports over 20,000 jobs and is contributing €4bn to the Irish economy.
Speaking on behalf of the group, its chairman Conal Henry thanked Ms Considine for her exemplary service and wished her well.
He said: 'In her time at Shannon, Mary has been central to all that has been positive. In her six years as CEO, she has established The Shannon Airport Group as the national force for regional balance that it is today. She has shown that she is a leader with vision, courage and integrity and she will be sorely missed.'
Reflecting on her time as CEO, Mary Considine said: 'Leading The Shannon Airport Group has been an extraordinary journey. Together, we've navigated challenges, embraced innovation, expanded global connectivity, enhanced passenger experience, and strengthened our role as a gateway for trade and tourism."
She added: 'I'm incredibly proud of the progress we've made and deeply grateful to our talented employees whose dedication, creativity, and resilience have been the driving force behind our success. I also want to thank our chair, board, partners, stakeholders, and communities for their unwavering support. I leave with immense gratitude and full confidence in the exceptional team that will carry this legacy forward.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
Half the country away: How Munster fans can get to Croke Park Oasis gig as Irish Rail puts on extra trains
Oasis will grace an Irish stage for the first time in 17 years this weekend, finally fulfilling the hopes of tens of thousands of fans that the most famous rift in rock would somehow be healed. Tickets for Oasis's Croke Park gigs this Saturday, August 16, and Sunday, August 17, sold out in minutes last August, and some 160,000 rock 'n' roll fans from across Ireland and further afield are expected to pack out the home of the GAA over the two nights. Doors open at 5pm, with the first support act — Verve front man Richard Ashcroft — due on stage at about 6pm. Once his set concludes, Liverpool rockers Cast will take to the stage. If Oasis's previous gigs on this tour are anything to go by, Liam and Noel Gallagher, Gem Archer, Andy Bell, Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs, and drummer Joey Waronker should begin their approximately two-hour set about 8.15pm. Dublin is sure to be extremely busy in the run-up to and aftermath of both gigs, so fans, particularly those travelling into the capital by train from other parts of the country, have been advised to plan their journeys in advance. Iarnród Éireann will be running additional services both nights. These are: 07.45am Cork to Dublin Heuston (Sunday only); 8am Cork to Mallow will operate to Dublin Heuston (Saturday only); 10.15am Waterford to Dublin Heuston (Saturday only); 10.45am Waterford to Dublin Heuston (Sunday only); 23.59pm Dublin Connolly to Belfast (both nights); 12.30am Heuston to Galway* (Saturday night only); 12.40am Heuston to Cork* with connection to Limerick Colbert (both nights). The final two trains on this list will appear on Iarnród Éireann's Journey Planner for the following day, ie the 12.40am services will appear on the schedule for Sunday, August 17, and Monday, August 18, respectively. A spokesperson for the company said intercity trains were likely to sell out "very quickly", and tickets would not be available at stations on the day. Indeed, at time of writing, the 8am, 9.25am, 10.25am, 11.25am, and 12.25pm trains from Cork (Kent) to Dublin (Heuston) this Saturday are sold out, though there are still some spots available on the 1.25pm, 2.25pm and 3.25pm services. The 12.40am service from Dublin back to Cork in the early hours on Sunday morning is also almost at capacity. It's a similar picture for Sunday, with the 8.25am, 10.25am, 12.25pm, 12.50pm, and 2.50pm services from Kent to Heuston fully booked at time of writing. There is some availability on the 2.25pm and 3.25pm services, however. A small number of tickets are also still available on the 12.40am service from Heuston to Kent on Monday, August 18 also.
Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
Irish people 'complicit in genocide' if Occupied Territories Bill not enacted, Taoiseach told
Members of the public told the Taoiseach Irish people would be 'complicit in genocide' if the Government did not enact the Occupied Territories Bill and stop the sale of Israeli bonds. New documents released to the Irish Examiner under Freedom of Information (FOI) laws show Micheál Martin was implored to fully ban imports from illegally occupied Palestinian territories. Just one email, out of a sample of 50 pieces of correspondence released, asked Mr Martin not to pass the legislation, urging him to consider 'making a political statement at the expense of real Irish workers'. The Government is progressing legislation that will ban the importation of goods from Israeli settlements in Palestine. The plans, approved by Cabinet in May, have been criticised by the opposition for not going far enough as it does not include services. Correspondence sent to the Taoiseach showed members of the public calling for the Occupied Territories Bill to be passed. One writer said 'diplomatic pressure has been put on the Government by the Americans and other Israel-aligned groups to scupper the bill'. 'But this is not the time for kowtowing to other countries' special interest groups. This is the time for clear and decisive moral action — the display of a little national dignity and backbone,' they added. Another person said the Government had 'left it too late' and should have implemented it before Donald Trump was re-elected US president. 'Stop kowtowing to this maniac, will make no difference,' they said. Another person called on the Government to 'enact the OT Bill now' and 'do whatever you can with trade embargo's' [sic]. 'As an Irish person, I am now complicit in a genocide because we are not doing enough,' they said. Another writer told Mr Martin that 'economic considerations should be set aside'. However, one concerned worker urged the Government to reconsider, adding they worked for a US multinational and expressed concerns about the impacts it would have. 'While I understand and respect the desire to express strong moral stances, it is my view that policies should be crafted with careful consideration of their practical consequences,' they said. As a citizen who cannot afford the luxury of symbolic gestures at the cost of real jobs and investment, I am asking you to reconsider the approach being taken. 'Ireland has always been proud to lead with its values on the world stage. However, the Occupied Territories Bill risks making a political statement at the expense of real Irish workers — people like me who rely on US-Ireland business relationships for our families' security.' The public also called on the Taoiseach to stop the facilitation of Israeli war bonds through the Central Bank of Ireland. The Government has stated this cannot be done under EU treaties. The Government voted against a Sinn Féin motion to end the sales. This led to further correspondence being sent to Mr Martin. Several writers said the Government was 'complicit' in Israel's genocide by not stopping the bond sales. 'Our Government's passive complicity is a stain on our proud history of standing against oppression,' one person said. Another wrote: 'While the Irish Government mostly say the right words, it's your actions — or inactions — that speak the real truth."
The Journal
an hour ago
- The Journal
The millionaire millennial seeking the presidency: How did Gareth Sheridan get so rich?
BUSINESSMAN GARETH SHERIDAN is seeking to become the youngest-ever Irish presidential candidate during this year's election, and claims to have secured support to make that possible. Much of the Irish public were introduced to 35-year-old Sheridan for the first time this week as a millionaire, pharmaceutical tycoon who recently returned to Ireland having spent the last seven years building up his company in the US. But how, exactly, did he earn his millions? And what does his company do? Acquisitions and mergers Nurtiband, a US-based healthcare-led company valued at approximately $80m, was started by Sheridan in 2012, during his final year at DIT in Dublin, where he was studying businesses and management. Taking inspiration from a transdermal patch his father had for a heart condition, Sheridan wrote his undergraduate thesis on providing properly-dosed medicine to patients through more accessible means, like patches, which are less likely to abuse. Early social media posts from Sheridan show that the company began by selling supplements, such as energy and metabolism-boosting patches, but the Dubliner wanted to branch out into the opioid market. Former Áras contender Seán Gallagher was later enlisted as the company's President (he has since left and has no current relationship with Sheridan) as the CEO worked towards getting the company listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange. Nutriband's strategy focused on carrying out a number of mergers and acquisitions, purchasing companies through its own stock options as a private company, over the last ten years, Sheridan explained on The Entrepreneur Experiment podcast in April. Sheridan focused on merging with firms with existing specialities in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. It listed on the New York-based stock exchanged in October 2023, generating over $6m on its first day. Nutriband has now focused wholly on opioids through transdermal patches – similar to products used for nicotine-replacement therapy. Opioids, a type of pain-relief medication, have proven to be addictive among some patients. While they are an effective method to treat chronic pain, doctors – particularly in the US – have been reluctant to prescribe the medicines. Image posted by Sheridan in 2023 after his company was listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange in New York. Gareth Sheridan Gareth Sheridan As a result, more people have sought to purchase opioids illegally, and the black market drugs trade responded by introducing potent or synthetic alternatives over the last decade. The most-famous of these in the US is fentanyl, currently. Sheridan said that the most-important of Nutriband's acquisitions was the purchase of 4P Therapeutics in 2018, a company from two pharma veterans who created AVERSA technology , which prevents the misuse of opioids. It is today his lead product. During one acquisition, Nutriband pulled out of purchasing the manufacturer of transdermal patches . It was subsequently reported that a lawyer representing the firm did not disclose their ownership position in both companies. Asked about this on RTÉ Radio One yesterday, Sheridan explained that it was the only time that his firm had faced any trouble with US authorities and that, for Nutriband, it was seen as a minor issue and required the firm to correct submitted paperwork. Advertisement Unique selling point Sheridan has said he wants Nutriband to benefit those who are ill, developing patches that provide patients with a safe dose of medicines that are commonly abused – primarily opioids – targeting those who are in need of the controversial medicines. If abused, the drugs can cause long-term health complications, impact organ health and – in the case of synthetic and potent alternatives especially – minor doses can result in death. We're up and running! Excited to have announced my intention to seek a nomination for the upcoming Presidential election. I look forward to setting out my values and vision for the Presidency over the coming days and continuing to engage with Councillors across the country. — Gareth Sheridan (@GPSheridan1) August 11, 2025 Sheridan's business case is that there are still many people, in the US particularly, who need these pain medicines for proper health-related reasons. He believes the managed doses from his firm's patches is a unique selling point and a prevention of abuse and addiction. He said that there's been an increase of American patients being told to use over-the-counter pain medication for illnesses, and claims his patches could be a safer and more appropriate option. Pharmaceutical patches Sheridan in April said acquisitions and mergers were 'the strategy' for the company. Some of the previous owners from the purchased companies went on to join Sheridan and held positions at Nutriband for a short time. He explained, due to his own lack of expertise in pharmacology, he needed those who could help actually develop his ideas. He added: 'It also kept us away from expensive money. I am able to retain today a good proportion of the company because we didn't do angel [investor] rounds, seed rounds. We didn't do the traditional route.' News reports of the company's activities recently have focused on its newest patch, which would deliver a proper prescribed dose of fentanyl . The firm is still in ongoing discussions with the US's drugs regulator, the Food and Drug Administration. In preparation for its approval, it has offered shareholders particular stock options to raise funds. Success? Nutriband is yet to generate any revenue. In its most-recent public quarterly report, at the end of October last year, it recorded a net-loss of $1.3m. Speaking to The Entrepreneur Experiment in April, Sheridan said: 'In most public companies it's either one person makes a million dollars or, years later, dozens of people make multiple millions of dollars. So there's patience and trust involved.' The Áras hopeful, who has stepped back as CEO from Nutriband to pursuit the election later this year, said he is certain the company will be worth a billion dollars in the future. Sheridan said the firm has been careful not to waste any funding too: 'We've been very careful not to raise money that we don't need – money that is sitting in a bank account at the expense of shareholders [...] It's just little things like that.' He told RTÉ Radio One yesterday that he believes Nutriband will still achieve that goal, with or without him. He said that he intends to have a stake in the firm, should he be placed on the ballot and elected President. Sheridan said he is seeking to be nominated as a candidate to represent the interests of young people who feel that they must emigrate for work and other opportunities due to the housing situation here. He is due to announced his platform's values later this week. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
