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.

“We are delighted at the results of the 2003 Student Awards survey which indicate the spirit of entrepreneurship is alive and well in third-level education and we look forward to an exciting and successful competition this year,” said Donal Duffy, business and corporate banking, Ulster Bank.

Now in their 21st year, the awards have attracted entries from 10,000 students who submitted over 3,000 business projects aimed at setting up manufacturing industry or internationally traded services.

The value of the awards in encouraging entrepreneurship was reinforced in the survey carried out among last year’s entrants. It revealed that 90% of students would think about starting their own business as a direct result of participating in the awards.