It has been reported that US oil pipeline billionaire Kelcy Warren, who owns Castletown House and Estate in Co. Kilkenny, is behind the €30m investment in Waterford Airport.
While the identity of the investor has not been released publicly, due to a non-disclosure agreement between shareholders and stakeholders, Mr. Warren’s name has been strongly linked to the investment. Earlier this week, national media named him as reportedly being behind the €30m investment.
It follows reports that the investment deal is almost finalised, with the transaction signed and due to be formalised in the coming days. It is understood a new company was formed to own and run the airport, which is believed will be controlled by Mr. Warren. The new company, Waterford Airport Limited, was set up on Tuesday, 12 August, 2025.
Last October, Waterford City and County Council approved by a majority, the private investment, which saw public land valued at nearly €2.3m, sold to the private investor by the council for €50,000. There is a clause attached that the lands cannot be sold until the airport development works are completed.
All airport staff are to be retained as part of the deal and the Search and Rescue services will continue uninterrupted at the airport.
A majority of the shareholders of the airport, largely made up of local people and businesses, agreed to relinquish their shares without receiving any money, at an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) held last December, so that the new €30m investment deal could proceed, which would allow the airport to be further developed for the region.
The runway extension at Waterford Airport is expected to begin later this Spring, which will allow the airport to accept larger commercial aircraft. The works will transform Waterford Airport to become a fully functioning and commercially viable regional airport, expected to deliver significant socio-economic benefits for Waterford and the south east region. Works are expected to last 12 months, after which, it is hoped that scheduled passenger services will commence sometime in 2027.
Who is Kelcy Warren?
Kelcy Lee Warren (aged 70) is a Texas native of the United States. He is a self-made billionaire and is the executive chairman of Energy Transfer LP, a company he co-founded in 1996. It is one of the largest energy companies in the US operating thousands of kilometres of pipeline for natural gas and oil.
Photo caption: Waterford Airport. Photo: Pól Ó Maonaigh
