# Irish billionaire’s giving falls

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2018/06/28/irish-billionaires-giving-falls/
- Published: 2018-06-28T12:07:07+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**The charitable vehicle of Irish billionaire Denis O’Brien made donations of €4.9
million last year, down from €5.5 million the year before.**

The Iris O’Brien Foundation, based in the Dublin headquarters of Mr O’Brien’s Communicorp
company, distributes grants in Ireland and overseas. Mr O’Brien owns many businesses
in Ireland and the international telecom Digicel and is listed among the World’s
Top 200 Billionaires.

**SEE ALSO: [O’Brien foundation gave €5.5 million last year](https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/04/03/obrien-foundation-gave-e5-5-million-last-year/)**

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The accounts for 2017 show that funding for domestic charities fell considerably
in the last year, with a drop from over €3 million to €1.8 million. Overseas funding
grew from €2.3 million to €2.7 million.

Overseas, Mr O’Brien has a long association with projects in the Caribbean, particularly
Haiti. In 201 he described his views on philanthropy by saying: “to the world in
which I am living and the needs of those not merely less fortunate than me, but 
whose ability to live fulfilling and dignified lives have been compromised by the
circumstances in which their lives have begun.”

The Foundation supports human rights, helps people affected by disasters, supports
people with disability, educational causes and promotes art.

In the past Mr O’Brien has also supported the promotion of philanthropy with donations
to Philanthropy Ireland. The billionaire has also reputedly paid the salary of Ireland’s
international soccer manager.

Mr O’Brien’s business picks up the cost of administrating the Foundation.

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