A well-known figure in the European port sector

Eamonn O’Reilly was Chief Executive of the Port of Dublin between 2010 and 2022. He was also President of the European Sea Ports Association (ESPO) from 2016 to 2020.

As Ireland’s population and economy grew consistently over decades, the relationship between the capital city and the largest port on the island became strained to the point of breaking. By initiating Masterplan 2040, he helped re-establish the port’s strategic direction through detailed and continual dialogue and engagement with stakeholders.

Reconnecting Dublin Port to Dublin City – both physically and culturally – was key to re-establishing the lost relationship essential for the development of each.

Masterplan 2040 was approved in 2012, revised in 2018 and set out how the port would be developed to its ultimate capacity by 2040 while, at the same time, reinvigorating its contribution to the cultural life and heritage of the city and of the UNESCO recognised Dublin Bay Biosphere.

Understanding how challenges – similar to those faced by Dublin Port – had been resolved elsewhere, learning from best practice in other port-cities around the world, and developing a strategy appropriate to local circumstances was key to reinvigorating the relationship between port and city.

Eamonn O’Reilly

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