Facebook-type site targets ‘Irish’

DENIS O’BRIEN and Dermot Desmond are among those investing in a Facebook-type website targeting the 70 million “Irish” worldwide.

The website, WorldIrish.com, is a global first and is hoping to raise €7 million over three years. It is the brainchild of John McColgan of Riverdance fame and has already raised €3m, with €1m spent on its development.

Actor Gabriel Byrne and comedian Dara Ó Briain are supporters of the project, which creators said will mean Ireland will be the first country to embrace social media as a way of developing a platform between a country and its diaspora.