Shareholders clear the air with O'Reilly

WATERFORD WEDGWOOD annual meetings are glossy, high quality affairs when the faithful who have weathered the company's fortunes from the bad times of a decade ago to the good times of the past few years and are staying with it through the rocky road ahead.

It is the day when 500 ex-employees and small shareholders get their own audience with the kingpin of Irish business, Dr Tony O’Reilly.

There may have been 18 other members of the board at the “top table” running across the majestic round room in Dublin’s Mansion House, but there’s really only one star of the show.