SEVENTEEN IRISH publicly quoted companies attended the annual Irish Equity Market Conference in New York, including CRH, Ryanair, Kerry, Elan, Grafton, Bank of Ireland and Irish Life Permanent.

The seventh such event, organised by Davy Capital Markets, saw a series of one-on-one presentations from Irish executives to major investors from North America. Among the Irish chief executives presenting at the conference was Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary. He said too much attention in recent months had focused on banks, instead of Ireland’s “world leading companies such as CRH and Ryanair”.

“We and other Irish plcs have a strong story to tell the markets and we will continue to sell Ireland as a great place to do business in, and to invest in,” he said.

More than 150 money managers from institutions in North America attended the event.

“Investor interest in this year’s conference has been very strong,” said Paul Burke, head of corporate broking at Davy.