Appointed as chair of Waterford Airport board ‘for my sins’: Records reveal fallout from Government negotiations
Chairman of the Waterford Airport board Michael Walsh (left) and Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien (right). Waterford Airport image: Joe Evans
“For my sins I have succeeded Dan Browne (may he rest in peace) as Chair of Waterford Airport Board.”
They are the words of former Waterford City and County Council Chief Executive Michael Walsh in a message to the Department of Transport on July 18, 2025.
The message is part of a wider tranche of documents released to the through the Freedom of Information Act that illuminate dealings between Waterford Airport’s board and the Department of Transport.
The documents showcase the communications between the two bodies that eventually led to the Airport seeking private investment as opposed to previously planned state funding.
Importantly, the decision for the state to reject Waterford Airport’s previous business plan and request a restart of the process appeared to be one made before the Department of Transport met Airport board members.
In June 2025, memos began to circulate through the Department of Transport in anticipation of a scheduled meeting in Leinster House on July 2.
Expected attendees for the meeting included Waterford junior ministers Mary Butler and John Cummins, Waterford City and County Council Chief Executive and Director of Services Seán McKeown and Michael Quinn, as well as Department of Transport civil servants.
In a note prepared by Department of Transport civil servants, the Airport’s case was outlined.
- On June 7, 2019, “in what was a very balanced decision” Government gave a principal approval of support funding of €5 million for the Airport runway’s extension, which was then projected to cost €12 million in total.
- Former Minister of Transport Shane Ross wrote to the chair of Waterford Airport that funding was contingent on the Airport board proving the extension could be delivered for €12 million.
- Despite ongoing engagement, the Airport did not produce a Project Outline Document until December 13, 2023. Projected costs for the runway’s extension had ballooned to €27 million.
- The programme for Government, published on January 23, 2025, committed to "working with all stakeholders to quickly progress the Waterford Airport project…building on the previous Government decision of 2019."
Before the meeting took place, a funding agreement was in place between the Airport and the Comer brothers who had agreed to inject €12 million into the airport. The agreement was contingent on matched state support.
Ahead of the scheduled meeting, key talking points were highlighted for Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien.
It was suggested that he reference the passing of Dan Browne, who had served as the chair of the airport for 15 years.
It was specifically asked that "no letter of comfort" be provided to the airport.
The key message for the meeting was to ask Waterford Airport to submit a renewed preliminary business case, which would then allow the Minister to make “an informed decision” on whether to progress the airport.
That message was decided before the department heard a planned presentation from the Airport’s representatives.
The instructions to start the funding application process afresh came as a major blow to the airport.
The decision eventually led to the Airport seeking alternative private investment and created a void for US oil billionaire Kelcy Warren to occupy with a proposed €30 million investment.
The airport board did initially consider re-applying for state funding.
On July 18, 2025, newly appointed chairman of Waterford Airport Michael Walsh emailed Nicola Hayes, the principal officer for the department’s airport division, asking about the requirements for the Airport’s preliminary business case.
“An understanding of the key issues would be of assistance and allow us advance work on the submission and determine what needs to be done,” Mr Walsh wrote.
“This would do at a very high level and we would be happy to explore detail in a Teams meeting.”
On July 21, Ms Hayes responded.
Ms Hayes outlined how the Waterford Airport business case had been reviewed in the context of the department’s Project Outline Document. In the department’s eyes, the airport had fallen far below the threshold required for exchequer funding.
“As has been raised previously with the Airport, there is currently a lack of hard evidence from the airport in relation to the demand analysis for services, in terms of passenger and airline demand, for example,” Ms Hayes wrote.
“In the Preliminary Business Case that is submitted, the airport will need to demonstrate that sufficient demand exists for the service and provide evidence that industry commitment exists for Waterford Airport to facilitate regular scheduled passenger services on a year-round basis.
“It is important that the Airport can provide convincing evidence that passenger services can be resumed on a sustainable basis.”
In the July Leinster House meeting, a query was raised on whether Minister O’Brien could guarantee a decision for a new proposal.
Ms Hayes wrote: “While a guarantee can be given that the Department will prioritise the necessary appraisal, a favourable outcome cannot be predicted with certainty.”
The decisive rejection appeared to be the catalyst for change.
The next recorded correspondence between the Airport and the Department of Transport took place on August 22, penned by Michael Walsh.
“We are currently looking at an alternative investment proposal for the Airport that would not involve state funding and if this transpires I will be happy to brief you in the next couple of weeks.”
On November 2, Mr Walsh provided a lengthy explanation of the nature of the private investment.
The explanation was redacted by Department of Transport FOI decision makers on the basis of “commercially sensitive information.”
Development on the Airport’s runway extension has moved rapidly over the intervening period.
Shareholders of the Airport’s previous governing company, Waterford Regional Airport Plc, agreed to relinquish control of their shares in order to clear a pathway for private investment.
In February, the Waterford News & Star reported that Mr Warren had been granted Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) clearance, another crucial moment in the runway’s extension.
Mr Warren’s executive assistant Brooke Seims is listed as a company secretary for Waterford Airport Ltd, the newly formed Airport company. William Bolster is listed as the director of the company.
Construction works on the runway’s extension are expected to begin in April.
