The Dragons are coming to Ireland

Macha

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/1008/breaking68.htm

Irish entreprenuers to feel heat in Dragons Den
STEVEN CARROLL
Budding Irish entrepreneurs are to be given a chance to sell their business ideas to a group of wealthy investors in a new television series which is to air early next year.

Dragons' Den will see hopeful entrepreneurs presenting their business ideas to five established business leaders, who will offer capital in return for a stake in the project if the candidate can convince them of its worth.

Five Dragons with a range of business backgrounds, from construction to retail, have been selected for the RTÉ series, which is to be hosted by Sunday Business Post deputy editor Richard Curran.

The Dragons' line up features Niall O'Farrell of dresswear provider Black Tie, media consultant and property investor Gavin Duffy, web innovator Sarah Newman, construction technology systems provider Sean Gallagher and Bobby Kerr of the Insomnia Coffee Group.

The programme is being produced by Screentime Shinawil, who are also behind the TV3 version of The Apprentice , which features entrepreneur Bill Cullen.

"There's a very strong tradition of enterprise and entrepreneurship in Ireland and I think that is recognised on the world stage and I think very many people always harbour the idea of at some stage setting up their own business,"Mr Gallagher said.

"If we get the right response from Irish entrepreneurs we will be helping people at a time when finances are hard to come by,"Mr Duffy added.

The show follows a tried and tested format that has proved a success in over a dozen nations since it was created by Nippon TV in Japan.

Each week a selection of potential entrepreneurs make a brief presentation of their business idea to the Dragons, who in turn probe for development plans and information about the business they are being asked to invest in, before either dismissing or part financing the proposal.

The Dragons will be investing their own money in the ideas they take a shine to and Mr Duffy said there will be no love lost between the Dragons when a good proposal presents itself.

"I want to stress that in there when a good idea does come up I'm not going to let the guys get in ahead of me if I can take it on and that's part of the show because we will be competing among ourselves also," he said.

"At this crucial time for the economy we will be looking for businesses that are both creative and innovative and also those that have the potential and the scale that we as dragons could support them financially through our experience to help launch them beyond the irish domestic market to a world stage," Mr Gallagher added.

Would be entrepreneurs interested in pitching their ideas to the Dragons can apply online at www.rte.ie/dragonsden or call 01 4066433

g'em

The programme is being produced by Screentime Shinawil, who are also behind the TV3 version of The Apprentice , which features entrepreneur Bill Cullen.

Well that's my interest in the show out the window...

Macha

g'em wrote: »

Well that's my interest in the show out the window...

What..? You mean you're not enjoying the high-quality viewing otherwise known as The Apprentice? :pac:

Mr E

Richard Curran doesn't look like Gollum, so thats one improvement already.

niceirishfella

So, they've ripped off - who do you think you are?
The apprentice and now Dragons den?

What next - Only fools and Horses?

People complain when RTÉ don't show anything that caters to them, then when they try to do something they just criticise? No-one willing to give it a chance no? It's hardly original but it should be interesting.

500ml

They haven't ripped them off, they have bought the rights to produce local versions of them.

Christ on a bike.

niceirishfella

Ain't it the same thing? Only spending your and my licence fee in the process.......think about it?

Mr.Nice Guy

It's doomed to fail as we get the British version which is unlikely to be bettered by our own brand of wannabe TV stars.

500ml

niceirishfella wrote: »

Ain't it the same thing? Only spending your and my licence fee in the process.......think about it?

I would consider 'ripping off' simply copying the format and calling it something else, like, 'Who am I' or something!

I think buying the format and putting in a local perspective is quite good actually, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

I'm enjoying The Apprentice, enjoyed the UK and US versions, but having the Irish slant on it, however lame, has been amusing! I look forward to the Dragons Den

shayser

Always felt a bit uneasy about the whole concept. Don't the Dragon's get a lot of company for a little money, when the Entrepeneurs are desperate for some cash?

niceirishfella

500ml wrote: »

I would consider 'ripping off' simply copying the format and calling it something else, like, 'Who am I' or something!

I think buying the format and putting in a local perspective is quite good actually, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

I'm enjoying The Apprentice, enjoyed the UK and US versions, but having the Irish slant on it, however lame, has been amusing! I look forward to the Dragons Den

Hey 500ml, you're Very Pro-RTE! Hmmmmmmmmm...only 6 posts too? Hmmmmmmmmmmmm
do you work for the crowd in Montrose or for Larry Bass?:eek:

i'm allowed to ask, aint i?:p

barnicles

Woo hoo

500ml

niceirishfella wrote: »

Hey 500ml, you're Very Pro-RTE! Hmmmmmmmmm...only 6 posts too? Hmmmmmmmmmmmm
do you work for the crowd in Montrose or for Larry Bass?:eek:

i'm allowed to ask, aint i?:p

Haha, nah, maybe a bit parochial of me but I like to see the home made stuff every so often, despite, or even because of it being based on an import.

There's that added slice of cultural relevance, like Supermacs in The Aprentice, thats gold to me. :pac:

AlmightyCushion

500ml wrote: »

Haha, nah, maybe a bit parochial of me but I like to see the home made stuff every so often, despite, or even because of it being based on an import.

There's that added slice of cultural relevance, like Supermacs in The Aprentice, thats gold to me. :pac:

One man's shít is another man's treasure I suppose.

Sizzler

Looking forward to this

http://www.rte.ie/tv/dragonsden/

At least Bill Cullen didnt worm his way into it

http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055394562

Down a bit.

lostexpectation

what this screen time shinawil, they doing apprentice too arn't they?

Mr E

Threads merged.

zuutroy

Irish version of.....WWTBAM: Lame, Apprentice: Lame, Weakest Link: Lame, Dragon's Den.....

kraggy

shayser wrote: »

Always felt a bit uneasy about the whole concept. Don't the Dragon's get a lot of company for a little money, when the Entrepeneurs are desperate for some cash?

Not only that but only a fraction of the "successful" deals that you see on the telly actually materialise. The Dragons often withold their financial backing even though hands have been shook on screen. Reasons vary from second-thoughts to the contestant not having had the patent when they said they did.

I for one am sick of the number of imports in this country. Can we not do something ourselves? Not all types of programme are expensive. I'd rather RTE/TV3 spent on one of their own ideas what they spend on buying the rights fto 3 or 4 programmes and give us something fresh, as long as it's good.

Wheels

kraggy wrote: »

I for one am sick of the number of imports in this country. Can we not do something ourselves? Not all types of programme are expensive. I'd rather RTE/TV3 spent on one of their own ideas what they spend on buying the rights fto 3 or 4 programmes and give us something fresh, as long as it's good.

The ideas and money aren't there. It's all very well having the ideas in the first place but turning that into reality with no money is very different. RTÉ would be more willing to put a lot of money into a tried and tested format then one that could fall on its arse.

As for you being sick of imports in this country, a lot of UK TV is made up of imports, including the most successful UK shows such as Dragons Den and the Apprentice. Even the X-Factor is a distant cousin of Popstars which originated in a different country.

faceman

While the majority of irish copies of foreign shows are usually awful, this is one show that could be good. Afterall we have irish entrepreneurs try their luck on the UK version.

Unfortunately we dont have the calibre and richness of dragons that are like Theo and Peter Jones in the UK. If the Irish version had Sean Quinn, Ben Dunne and Denis O'Brien as dragons, then it would have certainly given the show alot of credibility.

making money out of owning a few coffee shops doesnt inspire as best choice dragons IMO.

Wheels

faceman wrote: »

While the majority of irish copies of foreign shows are usually awful, this is one show that could be good. Afterall we have irish entrepreneurs try their luck on the UK version.

Unfortunately we dont have the calibre and richness of dragons that are like Theo and Peter Jones in the UK. If the Irish version had Sean Quinn, Ben Dunne and Denis O'Brien as dragons, then it would have certainly given the show alot of credibility.

I've never heard of any of them before but my initial instinct was that was a good thing. Surely not knowing them is better, they're not personalities? Not many people would have known the UK Dragons before they made the show. Maybe they are successful...

GhostInTheRuins

I'll watch it before I make any judgements on it.

MisterAnarchy

The Dragons' line up features Niall O'Farrell of dresswear provider Black Tie, media consultant and property investor Gavin Duffy, web innovator Sarah Newman, construction technology systems provider Sean Gallagher and Bobby Kerr of the Insomnia Coffee Group.

They are really scrapping the bottom of the barrel now.
This show will be a car crash,should be good for a laugh.

Degsy

So where's the multimillionaires?
Some clown who set up a coffee shop and an IT consultant?
No credibility whatsoever.
ITV has Pop Idol featuring record producers and A&R people with decades worth of experience.
RTE covers it with a straggly-throated old hag and a fat newspaper columnist.
Oh yeah,and dont forget the nordie with the funny eyes.

Sizzler

Degsy wrote: »

So where's the multimillionaires?
Some clown who set up a coffee shop and an IT consultant?
No credibility whatsoever.

LOL

+ 1

1966

niceirishfella wrote: »

So, they've ripped off - who do you think you are?
The apprentice and now Dragons den?

What next - Only fools and Horses?

- How about I'm a Z-list Irish Celebrity get Me out of this Country !!!

Sizzler

1966 wrote: »

- How about I'm a Z-list Irish Celebrity get Me out of this Country !!!

Starring - Laura Woods, Aidan Power, Aidan Cooney, Glenda Gilson, Lorraine Keane...oh that would too easy!

HydeRoad

I know Michael O'Leary is not an angel investor, but if he was, and if he was here, you'd have a hell of a program!

Who would be your five Paddy the Dragons?

1. Michael O'Leary
2. Ben Dunne
3. Michael Flatley
4. Dermot Desmond
5. Margaret Heffernan

(Ben and Margaret to provide a few sparks...)

engrish?

Michael O Leary
Tony Ryan
John McGuire
Sean Quinn
Moya Doherty

Sizzler

engrish? wrote: »

Tony Ryan

Might be a bit much to ask poor Tony to appear on the show.

R.I.P.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Ryan

Degsy

Instead of
Gerry Ryan
Gavin Lambe Murphy
Sile Seoige
Glenda Gilson
Amanda Brunker

Red Sleeping Beauty

Sizzler wrote: »

Looking forward to this

http://www.rte.ie/tv/dragonsden/

At least Bill Cullen didnt worm his way into it

Looks like if anyone can invent some sort of magical hair growth formula then you'll have the blessing of a few of them Dragons.

BroomBurner

Anyone else thinking that maybe it's a bad time to be starting a new programme about some shower with a big stack of cash in front of them to spend on whatever they please?

Yes, I want that big stack of cash... :P

Also, does Ireland really have enough entreprenuers to fill out a whole series? Although, maybe this recession will provide an unusual collection of people thinking up any sort of crap to get a bit of money.

Red Sleeping Beauty

BroomBurner wrote: »

Anyone else thinking that maybe it's a bad time to be starting a new programme about some shower with a big stack of cash in front of them to spend on whatever they please?

Yes, I want that big stack of cash... :P

Also, does Ireland really have enough entreprenuers to fill out a whole series? Although, maybe this recession will provide an unusual collection of people thinking up any sort of crap to get a bit of money.

Yer man Peter Jones was on the telly there last week saying how the Dragons will be stepping up their game and increasing their investment.

BroomBurner

alan dunne 27 wrote: »

Yer man Peter Jones was on the telly there last week saying how the Dragons will be stepping up their game and increasing their investment.

The big question so will be whether we will see Eddie Hobbs as a contestant on the Irish or the English version.

Red Sleeping Beauty

Duncan Banatyne is worth about £330 Million!! What are the chances of there being someone with as much character and personality as him in Ireland who is also loaded ?

Hobbs is awful, if he's on it I'm out