Intro

Early life and career 

Beginnings at Cairn

Turnover growth from €4 million to €1 billion

Becoming a public company 

Changing Irish culture around housing

Cairn results 

Cost of housing in Ireland 

Raising more capital

General housing market and public opinion

Michael's policy recommendations 

The number of houses needed per year

In this episode of the Renatus Podcast, our host, Greg Dilger, talks to Michael Stanley, the Co-founder and CEO of Ireland's biggest house builder - Cairn Homes plc. Founded in 2014 by himself and Alan McIntosh, the company went public the following year and has thrived ever since. In 2024, it achieved nearly €1 billion in revenue, delivering 2,241 completed units. There is much to admire about Cairn Homes - not least its CEO’s entrepreneurial instincts but also its unwavering commitment to quality - with modern design, sustainability and energy efficiency right at the heart of everything they do.

In this episode of the <a href="https://renatus.ie/">Renatus</a> Podcast, our host, Greg Dilger, talks to Michael Stanley, the Co-founder and CEO of Ireland's biggest house builder - Cairn Homes plc. Founded in 2014 by himself and Alan McIntosh, the company went public the following year and has thrived ever since. In 2024, it achieved nearly &euro;1 billion in revenue, delivering 2,241 completed units. There is much to admire about Cairn Homes - not least its CEO&rsquo;s entrepreneurial instincts but also its unwavering commitment to quality - with modern design, sustainability and energy efficiency right at the heart of everything they do.

The Renatus podcast, hosted by Greg Dilger, is a series of conversations with people in business - owners, operators, and investors. At Renatus, we believe that there is no more powerful way of learning than listening to high achievers talk about their businesses and challenges.

The Renatus podcast, hosted by Greg Dilger, is a series of conversations with people in business - owners, operators, and investors. At Renatus, we believe that there is no more powerful way of learning than listening to high achievers talk about their businesses and challenges.

The Renatus Podcast

Renatus Capital Partners is an Irish private equity firm based in Dublin that provides supportive and strategic capital to ambitious SMEs.

The Renatus Podcast, hosted by Greg Dilger, is a series of conversations with people in business - owners, operators, and investors. At Renatus, we believe that there is no better way of learning than listening to high achievers talk frankly about their businesses and their challenges.

Renatus&nbsp;Capital Partners is an Irish private equity firm based in Dublin that provides supportive and strategic capital to ambitious SMEs.
The Renatus Podcast, hosted by Greg Dilger, is a series of conversations with people in business - owners, operators, and investors. At Renatus, we believe that there is no better way of learning than listening to high achievers talk frankly about their businesses and their challenges.

Building Success: The Vision and Teamwork driving Michael Stanley’s Cairn Homes.

On this episode of the Renatus Podcast, Greg Dilger speaks with Sean O’Driscoll, former CEO and Chairman of Glen Dimplex and one of Ireland’s most respected business leaders.

Now Chair of the ESRI and a member of the Government’s 2025 Accelerating Infrastructure Task Force, Sean discusses the structural challenges slowing Ireland’s infrastructure delivery — from planning and housing to energy and grid capacity — and what must change to unlock growth.

A candid discussion on leadership, accountability and delivering at scale.

On this episode of the <a href="https://renatus.ie/">Renatus</a> Podcast, Greg Dilger speaks with Sean O&rsquo;Driscoll, former CEO and Chairman of Glen Dimplex and one of Ireland&rsquo;s most respected business leaders.
Now Chair of the ESRI and a member of the Government&rsquo;s 2025 Accelerating Infrastructure Task Force, Sean discusses the structural challenges slowing Ireland&rsquo;s infrastructure delivery &mdash; from planning and housing to energy and grid capacity &mdash; and what must change to unlock growth.
A candid discussion on leadership, accountability and delivering at scale.

“We’re playing Russian Roulette with our economy and society” with Sean O'Driscoll, Chair of the Economic & Social Research Institute (ESRI) & former Chair / Chief Executive of the Glen Dimplex Group

In our latest Renatus Podcast, host Greg Dilger chats with Luke Mackey, the 31-year-old Co-founder and CEO of employee-benefits platform Kota.

We dig into Luke’s early life and the entrepreneurial streak that drove him. He talks about the creation and scaling of Kota and how the backing of some top-end international VC firms (including Ireland’s Frontline Ventures) has made him think even bigger.

Luke’s relentless focus on product quality and customer experience is obvious throughout. It’s a big part of what sets him apart.

In our latest <a href="https://renatus.ie/">Renatus</a> Podcast, host Greg Dilger chats with Luke Mackey, the 31-year-old Co-founder and CEO of employee-benefits platform Kota.
We dig into Luke&rsquo;s early life and the entrepreneurial streak that drove him.&nbsp;He talks about the creation and scaling of Kota and how the backing of some top-end international VC firms (including Ireland&rsquo;s Frontline Ventures) has made him think even bigger.
Luke&rsquo;s relentless focus on product quality and customer experience is obvious throughout. It&rsquo;s a big part of what sets him apart.

“I quite like the chaos of startups” with Luke Mackey, CEO of Kota.

In the latest Renatus Podcast, host Greg Dilger speaks with Steve Tennant, Managing Partner of Grant Thornton Ireland and Head of Grant Thornton Advisors EMEA.

Charismatic and highly engaging, 47-year-old Steve Tennant brings a fresh perspective and energy to the world of professional services. His natural ability to connect with people, communicate big ideas simply, and inspire confidence has made a significant impact within Grant Thornton Ireland.

Following the recent private-equity-driven merger of Grant Thornton Ireland and Grant Thornton Advisors USA, Steve was appointed to lead their fast-growing EMEA business — a strong endorsement of both Steve and the Irish firm.

In this podcast, he talks about his early days in Aberdeen and Leeds, and how he ultimately ended up working for Grant Thornton in Dublin.

He discusses Grant Thornton’s phenomenal growth in recent years, the hows and whys behind the merger with the US business, and, of course, his exciting new role building out the EMEA organisation.

In the latest <a href="https://renatus.ie/">Renatus</a> Podcast, host Greg Dilger speaks with Steve Tennant, Managing Partner of Grant Thornton Ireland and Head of Grant Thornton Advisors EMEA.
Charismatic and highly engaging, 47-year-old Steve Tennant brings a fresh perspective and energy to the world of professional services. His natural ability to connect with people, communicate big ideas simply, and inspire confidence has made a significant impact within Grant Thornton Ireland.
Following the recent private-equity-driven merger of Grant Thornton Ireland and Grant Thornton Advisors USA, Steve was appointed to lead their fast-growing EMEA business &mdash; a strong endorsement of both Steve and the Irish firm.
In this podcast, he talks about his early days in Aberdeen and Leeds, and how he ultimately ended up working for Grant Thornton in Dublin.
He discusses Grant Thornton&rsquo;s phenomenal growth in recent years, the hows and whys behind the merger with the US business, and, of course, his exciting new role building out the EMEA organisation.

Building Success: The Vision and Teamwork driving Michael Stanley’s Cairn Homes.

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