Former boss of five-star hotel selected to steer ship at Shannon Chamber

SHANNON Chamber has a new president, with former managing director at Dromoland Castle, Mark Nolan, taking the reins.

He succeeds the outgoing leader of the business group, Eoin Gavin, the managing director of Eoin Gavin Transport, based at Bunratty.

Mr Nolan has served as managing director of the five-star Dromoland Castle resort in Newmarket-on-Fergus since 1996.

He added the post of managing director of The Dromoland Collection in 2009 where he undertook a four-year management contract with Castlemartyr Hotel and Resort in Cork.

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He also founded Hallmark Management Ltd, a company he created to undertake small design and fit-out projects at other five-star hotels.

The businessman also sits on the boards of Ibec, the Atlantic Connectivity Alliance, and the school advisory board of Atlantic Technological University.

He also sat on the board of directors of the Shannon Airport Authority between 2010 and 2011.

After 35 years in Dromoland, he left the hotel earlier this year.

Shannon Chamber chief executive Helen Downes said: “Mr Nolan’s selection as president is a natural progression in his tenure as a board member. His guidance and contribution as a director since 2009 have been invaluable and he has a vastly experienced track record at leadership level. This expansive and cumulative wealth of experience will enable him to steer the board as we work to deliver on a very wide range of programmes to benefit our 330 member companies and the region as a whole."

She also thanked outgoing president Mr Gavin for his work for the Chamber.

She pointed out his tenure marked the first time a Chamber president held office for a three-year term