Tuesday 28th September 2021: Limerick Chamber has today welcomed the announcement of Pádraig Ó Céidigh as the new Chairperson designate of the Board of Shannon Group as “hugely welcome” for Shannon Airport.Commenting on the news, Limerick Chamber CEO Dee Ryan stated: “The region has waited for over a year for the announcement of a new Chairperson of Shannon Group, which is a key asset for our local economy so we very much welcome the appointment.“Pádraig Ó Céidigh has a background and wealth of experience in the aviation industry and we believe this is critical for the role of Shannon Group Chairperson given that connectivity through the airport is such a key concern for the vast majority of stakeholders across the regional business, tourism and hospitality community. Mr Ó Céidigh’s insights will be hugely beneficial for the airport during the period ahead when route recovery and development together with passenger growth is a key focus for not just Shannon Group but the wider region,” said Ms Ryan.She continued: “Shannon Airport is not just an essential piece of infrastructure for the Limerick metropolitan area, it is a huge asset that over the decades has given the Mid-West, West and South of Ireland direct accessibility to and from our key markets, notably the UK, Europe and the US. COVID has been a devastating blow for aviation and our concerns that Dublin Airport would dominate in reconnection and recovery with regional airports lagging behind, unfortunately is already being realised.“Pádraig Ó Céidigh is not just deeply experienced in aviation, he is of this region and recognises not just the importance of Shannon but the opportunities that can arise from it. His passion for both aviation and the West of Ireland region has been evident throughout his working life and, indeed, we saw it first-hand when he attended the launch of our Copenhagen Economics report not long before COVID hit.“The report ultimately warned about the challenges to airports outside of Dublin as well as the downstream challenge to employment in the regions if airports in the regions are not supported. Mr Ó Céidigh was very vocal and engaged on the topic and we see this as a clear signal of intent with regard to what lies ahead for Shannon Group under his chairmanship.“We look forward to working closely with him and ensure him the support of not just the chamber itself but the wider business community of this region as we collectively seek to rebuild Shannon out of COVID and fulfil the true potential of the airport as a driver of the economy on this side of the island.”
Share On.....