Gillian Bowler
Gillian Bowler (1952 – 14 December 2016) was an Irish businesswoman. She was chair of Fáilte Ireland and the first chair of the Irish Museum of Modern Art. She was also the first female chair of an Irish banking institution, the Irish Life & Permanent. Personal life Bowler was born in London and grew up on the Isle of Wight. She left school at 14 after illness, and attended a secretarial college. She got a job working for the council, but found it boring and started a side business organising dances. She then moved to work at a travel agency in London. Bowler was married to Harry Sydner and had a stepdaughter and granddaughter. She died of kidney disease on 14 December 2016. Career Bowler moved to Dublin as a young woman. She and Harry Sydner founded the package holiday company Budget Travel in 1975. The company was known for realistic advertising, and was very successful. Bowler spoke later of the sexism she had experienced in business as a young female outsider. Bowler and Sydner sold most of the company to Granada in 1987, and their remaining stake in 1996. In 1998, Bowler became a member of the board of