Ryanair founder Dr. Tony Ryan - - The DCU Ryan Academy for Entrepreneurship has been established to stimulate, accelerate and support entrepreneurship. In its distinctive building situated in the Citywest business campus the academy provides world-class programmes, courses and initiatives to assist and improve the management capability of entrepreneurs and their companies. The academy is a joint initiative between the family of Dr Tony Ryan and Dublin City University.

174 of Ireland's leading entrepreneurs have been made Fellows of the DCU Ryan Academy of Entrepreneurship at a ceremony held in the Academy's campus at Citywest, Dublin on Thursday.

Among the group are Denis O'Brien, Chairman of Communicorp and winner of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 1998, and recent winners of the award, Anne Heraty, CPL Group (06) and Aidan Heavey, Tullow Oil (05)

The entrepreneurs are all finalists of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards 1998-2006 and have been invited to join the Fellowship as part of the Academy's partnership in the Ernst & Young programme.

The Ryan Academy is a joint initiative between Dublin City University (DCU) and the family of Dr Tony Ryan.

Denis O'Brien gave the inaugural speech at the ceremony where he explained the strategic challenges he has encountered in his career. The winners debated issues affecting leadership, company growth and the development of an entrepreneurial culture in Ireland.

CEO of the Ryan Academy, Professor Terri Scott said, "We are building an active community of Ireland's most successful businesspeople who are exemplars to budding entrepreneurs and a catalyst for entrepreneurial growth throughout the island of Ireland and beyond."

"The Fellowship programme will enable business leaders to inform, influence and contribute to the debate on entrepreneurship."

Enda Kelly, Partner-in-charge, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year programme said,"The Entrepreneur of the Year finalists are much-admired leaders in their industries and important role models."

"We are delighted that the Ryan Academy is recognising their achievements through this fellowship and we welcome the opportunity to help share our ten years experience working with some of Irelands leading entrepreneurs to plan with the Ryan Academy their inaugural strategic leadership series for its fellows."

Over the next five months the Ryan Academy will be hosting the inaugural Strategic Leadership Series for its Fellows in conjunction with Ernst & Young. The series of one-day master-classes will cover topics such as Strategic Branding, Growth, Financing and Leadership and will be hosted at the Academy by leading practitioners and academics from DCU and international business schools.

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