Monday, 26 August 2024
The Tip O’Neill Irish Diaspora Awards return for 2024 to the Inishowen Gateway Hotel in Buncrana on Friday, 27th September, from 7pm. Over the next number of weeks we will be profiling the three awardees for 2024, starting with Irish-American entrepreneur David McCourt.
David McCourt grew up in Boston, Massachusetts and is a graduate of Georgetown University. David’s grandparents hailed from Craughwell, Co. Galway, and set sail for America from Cork at just 16 years of age like tens of thousands of others for a better life.
David’s late mother Katherine married Irishman Frank McCourt, from Co. Tyrone, and had David along with six siblings. They lived under one roof, with his grandparents living out back, and attended local Irish Catholic schools near their home in Watertown, Massachusetts.
Fast forward to present day and David is the founder and Chairman of Granahan McCourt Capital and the Chairman of National Broadband Ireland. David has been one of the most prominent investors and entrepreneurs in the technology, media and telecommunications (TMT) industries for the past 30 years. David has founded or bought more than 20 TMT companies in nine countries and is widely renowned as a transformational force in the telecommunications industry.
As the owner and Chairman of National Broadband Ireland, David is currently working in partnership with the Irish Government in the largest Public Private Partnership in European telecoms to deliver Ireland’s €5bn National Broadband Plan. Globally, this is the single largest investment ever in telecoms infrastructure by Government intervention and is widely regarded as the World’s most ambitious broadband rollout to revitalise rural communities and stop the creation of socio-economic divides.
David founded Corporate Communications Network, America’s first competitive phone company, which was later merged with MFS Communications, to create MFS McCourt. MFS later sold to WorldCom for $14.3 billion. Following the sale, David founded and ran Europe’s largest designer and builder of telecom networks; built and owned networks in South America; as well as owned the largest satellite equipment manufacturing company in North America and Europe.
David’s work in media has seen him found a television network as well as produce award winning TV shows and documentaries. David personally won an Emmy for his role producing the long-running PBS Kids series ‘Reading Rainbow’. David has produced hard-hitting documentaries with stars including Angelina Jolie, Michael Douglas, Meg Ryan and Sônia Braga, and has worked alongside Spike Lee, LeVar Burton and Bill Duke.
David McCourt’s investment vehicle Granahan McCourt Capital owns several hi-tech businesses focussed on cutting edge advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning.
His debut book ‘Total Rethink: Why Entrepreneurs Should Act Like Revolutionaries’ quickly became a bestseller with the Wall Street Journal, USA Today and Amazon, striking a chord with young entrepreneurs looking to disrupt the status quo.
Donegal County Council is delighted to present the 2024 Tip O’Neill Irish Diaspora Awards which will take place at the esteemed Inishowen Gateway Hotel in Buncrana on Friday, 27th September, from 7pm.
CLICK HERE to get your tickets now!
