Ryanair boss ‘most admired entrepreneur in the country’

RYANAIR boss Michael O’Leary towers head and shoulders above other contenders for the slot of most admired entrepreneur in the country - according to a survey of third-level students who took part in last year's Ulster Bank-sponsored enterprise competition.

Getting 37% of the vote, the outspoken airline chief executive streaked ahead of Ireland’s Formula One racing team owner Eddie Jordan (17%), followed by supermarket supremo Senator Fergal Quinn (12%) and fashion designer Louise Kennedy (11%).

The results were given at the launch of the Ulster Bank-sponsored Students Awards 2004 competition in which 30 colleges throughout the island of Ireland will compete for a prize fund of €40,700. The cross-border initiative is organised jointly by development agencies Enterprise Ireland and Invest Northern Ireland.