News Release: 17 July 2008
Martin Cullen TD,
Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism has today (17 July 2008) announced the appointment of Redmond
O’Donoghue as Chairperson of Fáilte Ireland, the National Tourism
Development Authority. His term of office will be for five years. Mr O'Donoghue
will replace Ms Gillian Bowler, whose five-year term of office as Chair has
ended.
The Minister also
re-appointed four outgoing Board members for an additional term. These four members are: Mr Pádraig Ó
Céidigh, Ms Catherine Reilly, Ms Eithne Scott-Lennon and Mr Brian Hughes.
Speaking today, Minister
Martin Cullen TD said: “Tourism is a vital contributor to our economic and
social well-being. Last year a record
number of 8 million overseas tourists spent almost €5 billion visiting Ireland
and domestic tourism contributed a further estimated €1.6 billion to the
economy. In addition to its direct
contribution to exports and growth, the tourism and hospitality industry
employs almost 250,000 people throughout the length and breath of the country.”
The Minister
said: “I am delighted that Redmond O’Donoghue, an accomplished and
highly skilled business professional is the new Chairperson of Fáilte
Ireland. Mr O’ Donoghue has a gift to
lead and an innate ability to identify and seize opportunities which will
undoubtedly help sustain the Irish tourism performance in the coming years. His
wide range of high level experience both nationally and internationally combined
with his vibrancy and enthusiasm for the job in hand, will be of enormous
benefit to Fáilte Ireland, the agency charged with guiding and promoting
tourism as a leading indigenous component of the Irish economy.”
Thanking the
outgoing Chairperson, Ms Gillian Bowler for her dedication and
commitment, Minister Martin Cullen TD said: “The Government is most
appreciative of Gillian Bowler’s generosity and sense of public service in
agreeing to act as the inaugural Chair of Fáilte Ireland over the past five years. To have had somebody of her calibre and
business track record in the early years of the new Authority was critical in
ensuring its launch and continuing success.
The outstanding performance of Irish tourism in recent years and its
important contribution to the national economy speaks for itself and is a
fitting testament to her involvement and commitment.”
Biographical
Note:
Redmond
O'Donoghue is one of Ireland's
leading and most respected businessmen.
Educated at Waterpark College in Waterford and University College,
Dublin, Redmond also studied at Harvard Business School in the US. He is an
Honorary Fellow of Waterford Institute of Technology and is the Chairman of the
Institute's Governing Body. After 17
years with the Ford Motor company in Ireland, the UK and Spain, Redmond
O’Donoghue joined Waterford Wedgwood plc as Sales and Marketing Director of
Waterford Crystal. Mr O’Donoghue
retired in 2005 as Group Chief Executive Officer of Waterford Wedgwood plc -
after almost 20 years in senior positions with Waterford Crystal and its parent
company. He remains on the Boards of both Waterford Crystal Ltd. and Waterford
Wedgwood plc. Redmond is a former
President of IBEC in the South East and is a member of IBEC's National
Executive Council. He is Chairman of Good Food Ireland. He is also a member of the Board of
Greencore plc. He served as Chairman of
Bord Fáilte between 1999 and 2001. He was the 1996/97 Chairman of the Marketing
Institute of Ireland.
Mr Pádraig Ó
Céidigh - Aer Arann
Ms Catherine
Reilly - Brendan Nationwide Vacations
Ms Eithne
Scott-Lennon - Fitzpatrick Hotel Group
Mr Brian Hughes -
Abbeyglen Castle Hotel, Clifden, Co Galway
The Board of
Fáilte Ireland is as follows:
Mr Redmond O’Donoghue, (Chair), Businessman
Ms Maureen Cairnduff, Journalist and Writer
Mr Dominic Dillane, Lecturer, D.I.T. Cathal Brugha
Street
Mr Brian Dowling, CIE TOURS International
Mr John McDonnell, Irish Congress of Trade Unions
Mr Noel McGinley, Businessman
Mr Richard (Dick) Bourke, Irish Tourism Industry
Confederation
Mr Brian Hughes, Abbeyglen Castle Hotel, Clifden, Co
Galway
An tUasal Pádraig Ó Céidigh, Aer Arann
Mr Patrick O'Donoghue, Gleneagle Hotel
An tUasal Páidí Ó Sé, Publican
Ms Eithne Scott-Lennon, Fitzpatrick Hotel Group
Ms Catherine Reilly, Brendan Nationwide Vacations
Issued by:
Michelle Hoctor, 087 8563070, Gary McGuinn, 087 9011222