Director Shareholding

W.H. Ireland Group PLC
25 March 2003


                                           SCHEDULE 11

                  NOTIFICATION OF INTERESTS OF DIRECTORS AND CONNECTED PERSONS

1.      Name of Company

W.H. Ireland Group plc

2.      Name of Director

Derek Francis Ashford

3.      Please state whether notification indicates that it is in respect of holding of the
        shareholder named in 2 above or in respect of a non-beneficial interest or in the case of
        an individual holder if it is a holding of that person's spouse or children under the age
        of 18 or in respect of a non-beneficial interest

As above

4.      Name of the registered holder(s) and, if more than one holder, the number of shares held
        by each of them (if notified)

Catillon Limited, a company owned and controlled by Derek Ashford and family

5.      Please state whether notification relates to a person(s) connected with the director
        named in 2 above and identify the connected person(s)

As above

6.      Please state the nature of the transaction. For PEP transactions please indicate whether
        general/single co PEP and if discretionary/non discretionary

Share purchase

7.      Number of shares / amount of stock acquired

3,000

8.      Percentage of issued class

0.02%

9.      Number of shares/amount of stock disposed

N/A

10.     Percentage of issued class

N/A

11.     Class of security

Ordinary Shares of 5p each

12.     Price per share

19p

13.     Date of transaction

24 March 2003

14.     Date company informed

25 March 2003

15.     Total holding following this notification

171,320

16.     Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification

1.16%

If a director has been granted options by the company please complete the following boxes.

17.     Date of grant



18.     Period during which or date on which exercisable



19.     Total amount paid (if any) for grant of the option



20.     Description of shares or debentures involved: class, number



21.     Exercise price (if fixed at time of grant) or indication that price is to be fixed at
        time of exercise



22.     Total number of shares or debentures over which options held following this notification



23.     Any additional information



24.     Name of contact and telephone number for queries

Paul Lines                                                                          0161 831 9133

25.     Name and signature of authorised company official responsible for making this
        notification

Derek Ashford                                                                    Finance Director

Date of Notification

25 March 2003




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