Holding(s) in Company

W.H. Ireland Group PLC
07 January 2004

                                                                  7 January 2004

                W.H. Ireland Group plc ('WHI' or the 'Company')
                               Holding in Company

WHI has today been notified by Nick Alexander and John Eastgate that as a result
of the recent share issue announced on 31 December 2003 their shareholdings in
the Company have increased as follows:

Nick Alexander acquired 173,825 ordinary shares of 5p each ('Ordinary Shares')
representing approximately 1.11% of WHI's issued Ordinary Share capital, taking
his total holding to 584,460 Ordinary Shares (representing approximately 3.73%
of WHI's issued Ordinary Share capital).

John Eastgate acquired 173,825 Ordinary Shares representing approximately 1.11%
of WHI's issued Ordinary Share capital, taking his total holding to 608,212
Ordinary Shares (representing approximately 3.88% of WHI's issued Ordinary Share
capital). These shares are beneficially held by John Eastgate (584,460 Ordinary
Shares) and the Winterthur Account JT Eastgate SIPP a/c 68014569 (23,752
Ordinary Shares).

The percentage holdings have been calculated using a total issued Ordinary Share
capital figure of 15,689,746 which includes the recent share issues announced on
31 December 2003 and 6 January 2004.


Enquiries:

Derek Ashford, Finance Director                                    0161 832 6644


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