The Irish Academy of Engineering (IAE) awarded its highest honour, the 2026 Parsons Medal, to leading engineer, industrialist and philanthropist, Dr Michael Guinee.
The Academy awards the Parsons Medal to an Engineer, who has made an exceptional contribution to the practice of engineering on the island of Ireland that has resulted in significant social or economic impact.
Dr. Michael Guinee has made outstanding contributions to engineering, business, industry, academia and Irish society generally over the past four decades.
The Academy is an all-island Academy and our thanks go to the members of the Academy Parsons Medal Committee and its chair Sir John McCanny.
Academy Hon. Secretary David Dumigan read out the Citation.
Academy President Sean Finlay, Dr. Michael Guinee, Lady Alicia Clements, Hon. Sec. David Dumigan
© IAE, Birr Castle Demesne and Alf Harvey
Dr Guinee is a native of Mallow, Co Cork. After graduating from UCC with a Bachelor of Engineering degree he completed a Masters-degree in Industrial Engineering in UCD. Dr Guinee was also awarded an honorary doctorate from UL in 2025 in recognition of his work. Mick, as he is better known, started work with ESB before moving to GE first in Dundalk and then closer to home in Shannon in 1981. He was the Managing Director of EI Company, a subsidiary of GE, and a founding member of Shannon Chamber of Commerce.
In 1986, Mick was informed that GE planned to close the facility in Shannon as part of its future strategic vision for the company with the loss of hundreds of jobs during a difficult time of recession and emigration in 1980s Ireland. Without the benefit of state support, Mick negotiated a management buyout and EI Company became Ei Electronics. Ei Electronics became a very successful indigenous Irish manufacturing company trading on international markets and employing 1250 people.
Ei Electronics has grown into a global leader in the design and manufacture of fire and carbon detection products for the residential sector with an annual turnover in 2025 in excess of €400 million. Mick also introduced lean manufacturing to Ei Electronics in 1996 and is considered to be a founding father of Lean Manufacturing in Ireland.
In recent years Dr Guinee has increased the use of industrial automation to double capacity while maintaining the same workforce in Shannon now and into the future. It is estimated that over 17,000 people have worked for Ei since its inception.
Mick is a strong supporter of developing engineering skills in the Mid-West. He established the Ei Women in Engineering Scholarship in University of Limerick in 2019. Ei’s graduate programme recruits engineering and science graduates annually and supports UL’s cooperative education programme. Dr Guinee has made significant contributions to education, sport, arts and culture, health and welfare and communities across the Mid-West region.
In 2025 he retired from the role of CEO and is now Chairman of the Board of Ei Electronics. He also established the Michael Guinee Charitable Foundation to support his philanthropic pursuits into the future.
Lady Alicia Clements, Michael Guinee, Academy President Sean Finlay, awarding the Citation and Parsons medal 2026
© IAE, Birr Castle Demesne and Alf Harvey
Fittingly the Award was held at Birr Castle Demesne, ancestral home of Sir Charles Parsons, eminent Irish engineer, and namesake of this medal, inventor of the compound steam turbine in 1884.
This was an opportunity for the Academy and Michael Guinee to celebrate with family and friends.
Lady Alicia Clements, Jim Duignan, Michael Guinee & his partner Mary Duggan, Dr Michael Byrne, Peter Murphy, President Sean Finlay.
© IAE, Birr Castle Demesne and Alf Harvey
The citation was presented to Vincent by Sir Charles Parson’s descendant, Lady Alicia Clements. Alicia is an aeronautical Engineer and manages the estate and gave us a tour of the visitor centre after the award ceremony.
Lady Alicia Clements also gave a tour of the visitor centre after the award.
© IAE, Birr Castle Demesne and Alf Harvey
Sean Finlay, President, the Irish Academy of Engineering commented,
“Mick Guinee is an exemplar of engineering excellence, entrepreneurship and transformative support for third level education. The Irish Academy of Engineering is proud to recognise his outstanding accomplishments with the Parsons Award at Birr Castle today”
Dr. Michael Guinee commented, “In 1988, driven by a sense of social responsibility, I led a management buyout to save jobs that would otherwise have been lost with the closure of the General Electric subsidiary, Ei Company, during a time of over 20% unemployment.
By maintaining 100% of our manufacturing in Shannon, we have maximised our social and economic impact. More importantly, our purpose is keeping people safe and well in their homes. Today, over 100 million Ei Electronics alarms fulfil that mission around the world.
Charles Parsons showed what an Irish engineer could achieve on the world stage.
I hope the Ei Electronics story demonstrates that the same spirit of engineering, innovation and enterprise continues to make a difference, from Shannon to the world.
I accept the Parsons Medal with great pride and humility. Engineering is a team endeavour, and I accept this honour on behalf of everyone who has shared the Ei journey with me.”
The Academy Executive and Academy past Presidents and guests accompanied by Lady Alicia Clements were given a tour of the Castle and grounds including the famous Birr Castle Leviathan telescope.
Conor McCarthy FIAE, Michael Byrne, Jim Duignan, Anne Marie Conibear FIAE, Sean Finlay, Lady Alicia Clements, Michael Guinee, Mary Duggan, Joe Harford FIAE, Tom Leahy FIAE, David Dumigan FIAE, Peter Murphy.
Lady Alicia Clements brought the Academy and guests of the Parsons medal winner on a tour of the Castle gardens
© IAE, Birr Castle Demesne
A plaque commemorating all the Parsons medals awarded now hangs in the Birr castle visitor centre.
After the award ceremony Michael, his family and friends and members of the Academy were invited to lunch. After lunch, tea and pastries were enjoyed in the dining room of Birr Castle. A tour of Birr Castle was hosted by Lady Rosse.
Michael Byrne, Joe Harford FIAE, Sean Finlay FIAE Jim Duignan, Peter Murphy, Michael Guinee, Mary Duggan, David Dumigan FIAE, Anne Marie Conibear FIAE, , Lady Alicia Clements, Tom Leahy FIAE, Conor McCarthy FIAE,
Academy and Guests at Birr Castle – tour hosted by Lady Rosse
© IAE, Birr Castle Demesne
Explore Birr Castle Demesne and the legacy of the Parsons family, renowned for their pioneering work in science, engineering, and astronomy over 400 years.
The Academy’s awarding of the Parsons Medal 2026 to Dr. Michael Guinee, who has made an exceptional contribution to the practice of engineering on the island of Ireland, is an example of how the Academy recognizes excellence in Engineering and delivers on its mission of providing thought leadership in a time of great change.