There is a well-worn business maxim that goes: ‘First generation makes it, second generation maintains it, third generation blows it.’ The low-key O’Flaherty family have proved this wrong. Stephen O’Flaherty, the founder of the empire, had one simple idea. In 1967 Tina Cosgrove became pregnant by Stephen O’Flaherty. The president of the High Court, Aindrias Ó Caoimh, declared that Ian Cosgrove was the natural son of Stephen O’Flaherty and Christine Marie O’Flaherty (otherwise Muriel Tina Cosgrove). Stephen O’Flaherty lodged £50,000 in court, a huge sum at the time, which was to be invested for his education and upbringing, and Ian took his father’s name.

Source: Irish Independent December 26, 2021 08:33 UTC