Dunloe Ewart, the all-Ireland property group, has announced the appointment of Mr Barry Gilligan, as an executive director of the group. He had been chief executive of Ewart which operates the Northern Ireland portfolio.

Mr Gilligan had led the executive team of Ewart in that company's opposition to the bid from Dunloe, the property company controlled by Dublin solicitor Mr Noel Smyth. He was retained in his position following the successful acquisition of Ewart by Dunloe. The move is a "further recognition of the importance of Northern Ireland in the company's overall strategy" Dunloe Ewart said.