‘Influential’ former IDA Ireland chief Barry O’Leary dies at 71

O’Leary worked at IDA Eire for virtually four many years and led the Condition agency through a very important period of time for the state.

Barry O’Leary, the former CEO of IDA Ireland, has died at the age of 71.

O’Leary was appointed chief government of the Point out company dependable for inward overseas direct expense in 2008.

He led IDA through a turbulent time period for Ireland’s overall economy, but when the place noticed key expense from organizations this sort of as Facebook, Qualcomm, In fact, McAfee and Intel.

O’Leary unveiled IDA Ireland’s Horizon 2020 blueprint in 2010, which aimed to develop more than 100,000 new careers by 2014 and regenerate metropolitan areas, towns and areas across the nation.

He was at the helm of the company until 2014, when he was succeeded by Martin Shanahan.

‘Barry contributed a massive volume to the basis that IDA is now constructed on’
^{– MARTIN SHANAHAN}

“Barry fought tirelessly to earn investment for Ireland in the course of his substantial occupation and illustrations of the tasks he was influential in profitable are dotted throughout the region to this working day,” mentioned Shanahan, who is stepping down from the CEO part next year.

“I was always impressed by his passion for IDA and the career that he was carrying out and his singular aim on successful investment for Eire. I am mindful that the achievement in successful financial commitment that IDA Eire enjoys currently is constructed on these that went right before and Barry contributed a huge volume to the foundation that IDA is now designed on.”

More than the program of his vocation, O’Leary labored throughout several places of IDA Eire these as lifestyle sciences and ICT. Just after stepping down as chief govt almost a decade in the past, he went on to keep several board roles.

Shanahan added that O’Leary created a “huge contribution” above his 38 years of services to the State company.

“Our ideas right here at IDA Eire are with Barry’s spouse Mairéad and his sons Barry and Ciarán at this time and his lots of mates in IDA Ireland and over and above.”

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