Tá Pádraig faoi láthair ina sheanadóir neamhspleách (arna ainmniú ag an Taoiseach) agus ina bhall den Chomhchoiste ar Iompar, Turasóireacht agus Spórt. Is Gaeilgeoir líofa de bhunadh Chonamara é Pádraig agus fuair sé a oideachas tríú leibhéil in Ollscoil na hÉireann Gaillimh sular thug sé faoi ghairmeacha beatha sa chuntasaíocht, sa teagasc (Coláiste Iognáid) agus mar dhlíodóir.
Bhunaigh Pádraig Aer Arann Express agus Aer Lingus Regional agus ainmníodh é le haghaidh Fiontraí Domhanta na Bliana agus iarradh air dul ar ais faoi dhó mar mholtóir. San iomlán tá corradh is 1,000 post lánaimseartha cruthaithe ag Pádraig in Éirinn.
Tá Pádraig paiseanta faoin tacaíocht pobail, agus bhí sé i mbun ócáidí tógtha airgid a thiomsaigh méid nach beag d’Ospidéal Mhuire do Leanaí Breoite, Cromghlinn, Ospidéal Shráid an Teampaill i mBaile Átha Cliath agus carthanais éagsúla eile i rith na mblianta. Is pátrún é do roinnt carthanas eile.
Is Ollamh Taca le Fiontraíochta agus Gnó é in Ollscoil na hÉireann Gaillimh, bhí sé in chathaoirleach ar Bhord Comhairleach na Scoile Gnó, agus is céimí é de chuid Ollscoil na hÉireann Gaillimh agus Scoil Ghnó Harvard. Bhronn Ollscoil na hÉireann an gradam Céimí Gnó na Bliana air. Fuair sé gradam Ernst and Young d’Fhiontraí Óg Éireannach na Bliana. Is iarchomhalta boird é de chuid RTÉ, CROI, Bhord Iascaigh Mhara, Fáilte Éireann Thiar agus is cathaoirleach é ar Bhord Taighde Náisiúnta CLG.
Tá roinnt comhlachtaí eile bunaithe aige sna earnálacha seo a leanas: foilseachán, ceol, cothabháil aerárthaí, seachfhoinsiú, cúram baile agus margaíocht idirlín.
*************************************************************************************************************
Pádraig is an Independent Senator appointed by Taoiseach Enda Kenny (one of the 11 appointed Senators) in May 2016 to the 25th Seanad Éireann. He is currently a member of the Joint Committee on Transport, Tourism & Sport and the Public Consultation Committee. He was the chair of the Joint Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services.
He is the founder of Aer Arann Express and Aer Lingus Regional. Pádraig has started and grown businesses in various industries such as publishing, music, aircraft maintenance, outsourcing, homecare and internet marketing both in Ireland and abroad. In total, Pádraig has created over 1,000 full time jobs in Ireland.
A fluent Gaelic speaker and Connemara native, Pádraig received his third level education in NUIG before having careers in accountancy, teaching and as a solicitor. Pádraig is also a Harvard University Alumni. Pádraig is passionate about community support, he led fundraising events which raised significant funding for Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children, Temple Street Hospital in Dublin and various other charities over the years. He is also patron to a number of other charities.
Pádraig was named Ernst and Young Irish Entrepreneur of the Year and went on to represent Ireland in the World Entrepreneur of the Year in 2003, the former Chair of the Alumni Board. He chaired the Judging Panel for the Irish Entrepreneur of the Year until 2014, and a member of the EY World Judging Panel in 2004 and again 2005 being the only person ever to be a world judge for 2 years running. He was also named NUIG Business Alumni of the year in 2002 for his contribution to the Irish economy and entrepreneurship and as Galway Person of the Year in 2004. Harvard Business School selected Pádraig to be the subject of an entrepreneurship leadership case study in 2010. He is an Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship and Business in NUIG and board member of Croke Park Teo. He was awarded Business Alumni of the Year by NUIG.
Pádraig has served on the following public bodies boards: RTE, Fáilte Ireland, Chairman Ireland West Tourism, Bord Iascaigh Mhara, CROI, Chairman of National GAA Research Board and Chairman of NUIG Business School Advisory Board.
