Cork Airport Board named

Beamish boss Alf Smiddy is one of seven directors appointed today to the board of the new, independent Cork Airport.

The board of 12 members will be chaired by Joe Gantly of Apple, whose position was announced some time ago.

Today’s announcement by Minister for Transport Seamus Brennan revealed that along with Alf Smiddy the board line up is: Pat Dalton, Bord Gáis; Veronica Perdisatt, former vice president of EMC; Humphrey Murphy of Togher-based Global Stainless Ltd, businessman and close personal friend of Minister for Health Micheál Martin; Owen Kane, a Dingle-based businessman in the fish industry; John Cullinane, whose Clonakilty-based family has been in the travel business since the 1960s and Loretto Glucksman, from East Ferry, who is a member of the American Ireland fund.

Ms Gluxman is understood to have been the personal choice of Taoiseach Bertie Ahern for the board. Her husband is a member of the UCC Foundation.

Mr Murphy, who is also on the board of governors of UCC, the VHI Board and is a member of Cork Chamber of Commerce, told the Evening Echo he was honoured to have been selected.

“We have a major challenge ahead of us but this is a magnificent opportunity for Cork Airport and for the greater Cork area as a whole. I look forward to the challenge and expect Cork to be highly competitive in the international aviation sector.”

The remaining four board members will be worker’s directors.

Today Fianna Fáil TD Noel O’Flynn welcomed the ministerial announcement and said Cork was now on course to be a totally independent and competitive airport.

Deputy O’Flynn said he was delighted with the people nominated as they had vast experience and influence in the international business and travel market.

Minister Martin said: “This is a significant day for Cork. Cork Airport has done spectacularly well over recent years and now it has been given its independence in the aviation sector, I am confident it will continue to grow.”

He said the new board was a highly capable group who, together with the current investment being undertaken for the airport, promised much for the future.

Joe O’Connor, airport manager, offered his congratulations to the board members.