Niall O’Farrell was born in Dublin and educated in Catholic University School in Leeson Street. Having left school he went straight into business in the retail menswear sector and studied marketing in Parnell Square. During the recession of 1985 he left his employment and did a Start Your Own Business Course with Anco, following which he set up his first formal wear shop in Ranelagh which then became the Blacktie retail chain of formal wear shops.  Niall has been building his property portfolio since the age of 22. He has many landmark buildings in London and Ireland. His portfolio includes high-end residential properties, high-end office buildings in London’s mid town as well as a residential and retail block on London’s Pall Mall and a prominent gastro pub in London’s Whitehall. Niall has been a Dragon since the first series of Dragons’ Den in 2008, as a Venture and Development Capital investor. So far, Niall has invested in the goldsmith Elaine Sarah Comerford, Button & Co Goldsmiths, Dee’s Burgers, Kate Carmody of Beal Organic whole milk cheddar cheese in Co Kerry and Mooz Milkshake. Niall has a particular interest in supporting Irish crafts and in harnessing Irish creativity and in guiding these companies to the commercial world of competitiveness in a global market. Niall is in demand as a speaker at conferences and is outspoken in his support for the reintroduction of government-backed training schemes and enterprise allowance schemes.