Mayo native Sean Sweeney steps down as head of Metrolink project

The programme director for Dublin's long-awaited MetroLink project has announced he is departing the role for family reasons.

New Zealander Sean Sweeney, a native of St. Patrick's Avenue, Castlebar, took up the position in 2024.

The MetroLink project will see the construction of an 18.8km railway line, most of which will be underground, from Charlemont near Dublin city centre to Swords Estuary in the north of the county.

In a statement, Mr Sweeney said: "After several years away from home, the sacrifice of being separated from my partner, children, and grandchildren, who are over 10,000 miles away, has become unsustainable.

"I know it is the right thing to do for everyone.

"A programme like MetroLink will have many parents and I always believed my role was to get the programme up and running," he said.

"I am proud to leave the programme with a highly committed and experienced executive team, full Government support as well as an operational Railway Order and MetroLink fully funded into construction.

"MetroLink is no longer a 'proposed' plan; it is a live delivery project."