You can look up company directors in Ireland for free using the CRO's public register or search tools like Businesses.ie director search. Director names, appointment dates, and company associations are public information under Irish company law.
What Director Information Is Public?
Under the Companies Act 2014, the following director details are recorded on the CRO register and available to the public:
- Full name
- Date of appointment
- Date of resignation (if applicable)
- Nationality
- Business occupation
Since 2023, directors' residential addresses are no longer publicly displayed on the register. A service address may be shown instead.
Method 1: Businesses.ie Director Search (Free)
The fastest way to find directors is the Businesses.ie director search. Enter a person's name to see:
- Every Irish company where they are or were a director
- Appointment and resignation dates
- Company status (Normal, Struck Off, Dissolved, etc.)
- CRO registration numbers
This is useful for checking business partners, potential employers, suppliers, or anyone claiming to be a company director.
Method 2: Search by Company Name
If you know the company but not the director's name, search for the company on Businesses.ie. Each company profile shows the current directors and, for subscribers, full appointment history with dates.
Method 3: CRO CORE System
The CRO's own online system at core.cro.ie allows you to search for companies and view their directors. Basic information is free, but downloading documents costs €3.50 each.
What to Look For When Checking Directors
- Multiple directorships: A director holding many current positions may be spread thin, or may be a professional nominee director
- Struck-off companies: If a director has been associated with several struck-off companies, this could indicate a pattern of non-compliance
- Recent appointment: A director appointed very recently to an established company may indicate a change of ownership
- Sole director: A single director who is also the secretary is legal for LTD companies but means less oversight
Cross-Directorship Analysis
Searching for a director's name reveals all their company connections. This is valuable for:
- Due diligence: Understanding a person's business history before entering a deal
- Conflict of interest checks: Identifying directors who sit on boards of competing companies
- KYC/AML compliance: Verifying beneficial ownership chains
- Journalism and research: Mapping corporate networks
Summary
Director names, appointment dates, and company associations are public information on the CRO register. Use the free Businesses.ie director search to look up any person's directorships instantly. The CRO's CORE system also provides this data, but document downloads cost €3.50 each.