New President Elected to Lead Shannon Chamber
Newly elected president of Shannon Chamber, Mark Nolan (front left), pictured with fellow directors (from row): Helen Downes and Eoin Gavin; (centre row): Ray O’Driscoll, The Shannon Airport Group, David Keating, Ei Electronics and Marlo Kearney, PPG Shannon; and (back from left): Colin MacDonald, Fine Grain Property, Eoin Hoctor, Eason Shannon; Kevin Thompstone, The Thompstone Group; Ian Barrett, Care About You Ltd; Adrian Sylver, Shannon College of Hotel Management; and Edmund Jennings, CREGG Group.
Shannon Chamber announces the appointment of Mark Nolan, former managing director of Dromoland Castle Hotel, as its new president. Mr Nolan succeeds outgoing president Eoin Gavin, managing director of Eoin Gavin Transport.
Mark Nolan served as managing director of Dromoland Castle since 1996, adding the post of managing director of The Dromoland Collection in 2009 where he undertook a four-year management contract with Castlemartyr Hotel & Resort in Co Cork. He worked closely with the six-member Board to maintain Dromoland Castle’s sterling reputation as one of Europe’s finest resorts and, in 2012 welcomed the Clare Inn Hotel now rebranded ‘The Inn at Dromoland’ to The Dromoland Collection.
Mark Nolan’s boundless energy extends also to Hallmark Management Ltd, a company he created to undertake small design and fit-out projects at other five-star hotels; he 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 in 2010/2011.
Mark, after 35 years at the helm, stood down from his role as Managing Director and General Manager at Dromoland Castle Resort in February 2025. He remains on as a board member, investor/shareholder and consultant. He also continues to sit on the board of IBEC and has set up a new company Hallmark Hospitality that offers expertise to the luxury hospitality industry.
Announcing Mr Nolan’s appointment, Shannon Chamber CEO 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,” added Ms Downes.
Thanking outgoing president Eoin Gavin for his untiring work for the Chamber, Ms Downes said that his tenure marked the first time a Chamber president held office for a three-year term. She thanked Mr Gavin for his dedication to the Chamber and looked forward to his continuing involvement as a director.