I warmly welcome the news that Mary Considine will take up the role of CEO of Irish Rail later this year. I warmly welcome the news that Mary Considine will take up the role of CEO of Irish Rail later this year.
Mary’s appointment is particularly significant for Limerick and the wider Midwest.
During her six year tenure as CEO of the Shannon Airport Group, Mary has consistently championed the potential of our region. Having been on the board of the Group for a time before my election, I saw first hand her immense skills at navigating business challenges like the pandemic while all the time keeping an eye on the big picture, as well as key operational matters like safety for passengers.
She has done immense public service to Limerick and the broader region in renewing Shannon as a vital international gateway with annually increasing passenger numbers. In my opinion she is an excellent choice for her new role and I have no doubt that these qualities will once again be put to great use at Irish Rail.
We must not underestimate the scale of the opportunity, both here in Limerick and further afield, that comes with leading a critical piece of national infrastructure such as our rail network.
I know that Mary shares my ambition for connecting Shannon Airport and the Shannon Free Zone Industrial Estate to the rail network, as well as building up Limerick’s commuter rail system. I very much look forward to continuing to collaborate with her in her new role on those priorities as well as the long standing Colbert Quarter development.
I also had the privilege earlier this week of meeting with outgoing CEO Jim Meade, to get updates on key rail projects for Limerick, like Moyross railway station and the Adare-Foynes freight and passenger lines. I have always enjoyed immensely working with Jim, whose leadership over many years helped Irish Rail map out a very ambitious future and in recent years, deliver it relentlessly as funding became available. I wish him every success in the next chapter of his life and look forward to his continuing advice once he’s had a (short!) well deserved ‘break’!
As Mayor of Limerick, I am ambitious for what we can achieve with the right national partners. The More for Limerick Mayoral Programme 2024-2029 identifies expanded and reliable rail services as a key pillar of a stronger, more connected Midwest.
Now, more than ever, national investment in rail must match the pace of our ambition in Limerick and the Midwest.
I look forward to working with Mary and her team to ensure that Limerick and the Midwest get the most that we possibly can from our rail system and continue to lead the way in ambition, action and delivery.
