Analysis: Bank of Ireland is slowly emerging from the shadow of the past

More than a decade after the state bailout, Bank of Ireland is cruising comfortably through two acquisitions – and on track to become fully privatised again

Francesca McDonagh, chief executive of Bank of Ireland: The bank announced a robust set of half-year results last Tuesday that beat market expectations. Picture: Fergal Phillips

Francesca McDonagh, the Bank of Ireland chief executive, had a note of optimism in her voice last week as she dialled in to an analyst call to discuss her company’s half-year performance.

It’s more than a decade after the financial crash and a state bailout, and Bank of Ireland is now in a much better place with a flurry of activity around the bank.

This year alone, the bank has announced two large acquisitions, striking ...