‘Global Irish’ forum hit by a crisis of identity

Though possibly churlish, a point was reached yesterday at the gathering of the business diaspora known as the ‘Global Irish Economic Forum’ that you wished for an appearance of fractious Paddy Cosgrave — the man who is taking his Web Summit out of Ireland and on to Portugal.

The ‘Global Irish’ was the brainchild of economist David McWilliams, developed out of the cauldron of the financial crisis, as the country hurtled towards financial crisis in 2009.

The country reached out at its time of need to influential Irish business leaders living overseas and who had long felt unloved and estranged from meaningful participation here.