Tony Ryan: Ireland's AviatorIn this authorised biography of one of the most remarkable Irishmen of the twentieth century, Richard Aldous is independent in his judgements and frank in his examination of his subject's shortcomings and eccentricities. But most of all, he writes with verve and pace. Tony Ryan was born in a railwayman's cottage and rose to enormous success, overseeing the spectacular making of two business fortunes and the dramatic loss of one. After an early spell in Aer Lingus, he set up an airline leasing company, Guinness Peat Aviation (GPA), which had its headquarters in Shannon and quickly became the largest such enterprise in the world. Ryan was a hard taskmaster and the company reflected his ferocious work ethic. Yet, despite a stellar board of directors, a botched and poorly timed Initial Public Offering in the 1990s saw GPA crash and burn. Ryan lost almost everything. All that remained was a little airline running massive deficits. Ryan set about turning Ryanair around, putting in one of his assistants, Michael O'Leary, to help knock it into shape. The rest is history. Ryan remade his fortune, lived lavishly and elegantly, was a generous patron of the arts, and in every respect larger than life. His spirit is one that Ireland needs more than ever today. As the nation strives for its own recovery, it can find inspiration in the story of how one of its most famous sons rose and fell, and then rose again. Not one to stand still or lament mistakes, Tony Ryan's determination never to give up is the real lesson of this story. He was in so many ways Ireland's Aviator. |
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Contents
A new lease on life | |
Startup | |
Going it alone | |
A pint a paper and an electric shock | |
London Luton calling | |
Better to wear away than rust away | |
Icarus melting | |
Project Rebound | |
Ryan redux | |
In the lions domain | |
Ryanair is terrific | |
A place better than Lyons | |
A Note on Sources | |
Acknowledgements | |
Crying all the way to the bank | |
Images Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
Aer Lingus aircraft airline Airport already American announced arts asked aviation Bank became become began beginning believed boys bring cent chief executive close continued deal Declan Dublin early established fact father flight followed GECC getting give going GPA’s idea important industry initial interest investment involved Ireland Irish Kennedy Kilboy kind later leasing least London look Lyons meant meeting Michael million months move needed never noted O’Brien O’Leary O’Neill offered operation passengers plane position potential profits recalls relationship remained remembers reported resign route Ryanair says seemed Shannon shareholders shares staff story success talks things thought told Tony Ryan Tony’s took turned United wanted wrote
Bibliographic information
| Title | Tony Ryan: Ireland's Aviator |
| Author | Richard Aldous |
| Publisher | Gill & Macmillan Ltd, 2013 |
| ISBN | 0717157830, 9780717157839 |
| Length | 320 pages |
| Subjects | › Biography & Autobiography / Business Biography & Autobiography / Sports |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |