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One of the founding Directors of Ei Electronics in Shannon was recently honoured by University College Dublin at its 2018 Alumni Awards.
Dr. Mike Byrne received the 2018 Award for Science from UCD in recognition of his lifelong contribution to the development of smoke and gas sensing products. The award also recognised his achievements in building Ei Electronics into the global success it is today.
In 1973 Mike completed his PHD in Atmospheric and Aerosol Physics at UCD and today he holds over 25 patents in alarm design and related technologies. On receiving the award, Mike commented “It honours not only me, but all the members of Ei and my family who have been a tremendous support to me over the years.”
Mike was part of the Management Buyout of General Electric’s Irish manufacturing operation in Shannon in 1988 which led to the creation of Ei Electronics. Today the Company is the largest employer in Shannon, and a leading European manufacturer of Fire and Carbon Monoxide detection products for the residential sector. With over 700 employees, a turnover of €200 million, and exports to 30 countries worldwide it is an exemplar of a successful indigenous Irish company.
Commenting at the awards ceremony, Dr. Joe McCarthy, Dean of Science UCD said, “UCD is delighted to honour Dr. Mike Byrne, a fantastic ambassador for science, and an outstanding role model for our students”.
The Class of 2018 UCD Alumni Awards took place on Friday 9th November 2018, at a black-tie ceremony in the O’Reilly Hall, UCD in front of an audience of over 400 distinguished graduates, friends and staff of UCD. Other notable recipients of awards this year were Irish Rugby International Rob Kearney, award winning Irish Times journalist Fintan O’ Toole and the first female Master of the National Maternity Hospital Dr. Rhona Mahony.