*Mary Considine. Photograph: Brian Arthur
CEO of the Shannon Airport Group, Mary Considine has been named as the 2025 Clare Person of the Year by the Clare Association Dublin.
Lissycasey native Mary has been recognised for her contribution to the Irish aviation industry and her role in helping Shannon Airport bounce back from the pandemic with her selection for the accolade. In 2024, passenger numbers grew by seven percent to 2.1m, the highest number at Shannon Airport in fifteen years.
Michael J Kerin, a native of Kilnamona will also be honoured by the Association. He is internationally known for his work in breast cancer research, he will receive the Hall of Fame award.
Both awards will be made at the Association’s awards night and dinner dance in the Falls Hotel, Ennistymon on Saturday, September 6th.
Prior to becoming CEO in October 2019, Mary held senior roles including Airport Director, Deputy CEO and CFO of the Shannon Airport Group. She was instrumental in the establishment of the Shannon Group in 2014. She has extensive experience in roles such as aviation, commercial development and finance.
A board member of Ibec and national council and President of IBE Mid-West Regional Committee, Mary is also a member of Ibec’s Experience Economy Committee and a member of the Board of Trustees and the governing authority of Mary Immaculate College. She is also on the board of Limerick Chamber, a past president of Shannon Chamber and a member of the Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce.
Her nominator for Clare Person of the Year award stated that Shannon Airport is a national strategic asset crucial for Ireland’s economic future, creating high-quality jobs and enabling global trade, investment and tourism. “Under her steady leadership, Mary guided the business through the airport’s recovery from the pandemic and the airport welcomed over 2.1m passengers in 2024, its best year in fifteen years,” the nomination stated.
Professor Kerin is a general surgeon with a special interest in breast cancer and endocrine surgery. He leads a breast cancer research programme at the Lambe Institute for Translational Science at University of Galway and is the Research Director of the National Breast Cancer Research Institute. He is also co-investigator on numerous other cancer research initiatives including Precision Oncology Ireland and the All-Island Cancer Research Institute (AICRI). He has more than 450 peer reviewed papers and 25,000 citations, and more than 50 MD and PhD students have come through and been mentored as part of the breast cancer research programme.
At a ceremony at University of Galway he was conferred with the special Degree of Doctor of Science from the National University of Ireland, testament to his remarkable contribution to breast cancer research for over 40 years.
