Michael McGrath — From child entrepreneur to Ireland's next European Commissioner

From reselling lost golf balls in his youth to 25 years as an elected representative, it's been a long road for the 'savvy, shrewd, and tough negotiator' that is Michael McGrath

Michael McGrath speaking at a Europe Week event last month at Christ King Girls Secondary School, Half Moon Lane, Cork. The Cabinet is set to nominate the Finance Minister and Cork South-Central TD to be Ireland's European Commissioner. Picture: Jim Coughlan

With Finance Minister Michael McGrath set to be announced as Ireland’s new European Commissioner, it marks the latest stop in a journey that began in Greenmount Buildings at the top of Barrack St on the southside of Cork City.

The McGrath family — Michael is the fourth of seven children — moved from Greenmount to a council house in Passage West when he was three, where his mother Marie still lives.