Emigrant Gerry McCaughey came home in 1990 to become one of Ireland’s most successful green builders, writes John Reynolds. Published on 30 September, 2007. Although he netted €31m for his 32 per cent stake in the timber frame company when Brendan Murtagh, founder of housebuilder Kingspan, paid €98m for it … Continue reading
Yearly Archives: 2007
Old world elegance is made law of the land
Published on September 23, 2007. By John Reynolds The rest of Dublin’s legal fraternity might have decamped to shiny modern offices in the docklands and the IFSC, but Laurence Shields and his firm LK Shields have remained in the heart of Georgian Dublin. Nineteen years ago, there were ten people, … Continue reading
Irish firm in UK green scheme
Published on 16 September, 2007. By John Reynolds A 100-year-old Irish construction firm has made the shortlist to build Britain’s first carbon neutral housing scheme next year. MJ Gleeson, which was founded in 1903 by Galway bricklayer Michael Joseph Gleeson, has outlined plans for a pioneering £35m (€53m) green homes … Continue reading
Quiet man is just too quiet
Published on 2 September, 2007. By John Reynolds Although tourist numbers have increased this year, the famous Quiet Man Cottage in Cong, Co. Mayo, where John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara starred in the 1953 film, is in danger of closing. Traditionally a popular attraction for many of the 1 million … Continue reading
Building a brave new world of education
Published on 26 August, 2007. By John Reynolds Diarmuid Hegarty used to lecture in accountancy and economics at UCD. Now he owns and runs Dublin’s Griffith College. Turnover last year was €22m plus about €3m from its 700-room student accommodation. Sitting on seven acres on the South Circular Road, the … Continue reading
Ireland will top debt league
Published on 26 August, 2007. By John Reynolds Ireland will secure its place at the top of Europe’s personal debt league next year on the 51st anniversary of the founding of the European Union. Using the Central Bank’s latest figures, it is estimated that the value of our personal debt will … Continue reading
Naughton backs Airtricity
Published on Sunday 19 August, 2007. By John Reynolds BILLIONAIRE Dr Martin Naughton, founder of Glen Dimplex has emerged as a backer of global wind energy giant, Airtricity. Speaking to the Sunday Independent recently, the owner of the €2bn Dundalk-based heater manufacturer revealed he had a stake in the €1.25bn … Continue reading
Shannon: Win, win, win for Michael O’Leary
No wonder Michael O’Leary was skipping along with a big grin on his face when he held a press conference at Shannon airport earlier this week. For the Ryanair chief executive, the Shannon-Aer Lingus debacle presents a win, win, win situation. Here’s why: It’s highly unlikely, but let’s suppose there was a … Continue reading
Shannon Sellout?
With Aer Lingus pilots threatening to strike next week, I have a feeling that there is something that the public and the people of Shannon and the mid-west aren’t being told over the Aer Lingus Shannon-Heathrow debacle. I suspect there’s been some murky deal here, where the government have agreed … Continue reading
Treasury is holding all the keys
Published on 12 August, 2007. By John Reynolds Appropriately enough, Richard Barrett, the joint founder of property development giant Treasury Holdings, has got the builders in. We chat in a boardroom in the company’s opulent offices in Ballsbridge, the heart of upmarket Dublin 4. “We believe in leaving a place … Continue reading