The mystery over the identity of the "private investor" behind the new Berry Bros & Rudd wine shop in Dublin's Harry Street was finally resolved at the official opening this week. The investor who paid £1.2 million for the former Weights and Measures office beside the Westbury Hotel over a year ago is none other than consulting engineer Ciaran Fahy. Not only was he mentioned warmly in two speeches congratulating him on the superb renovation of the building, his name also appears on a plaque on the ground floor of the 100-year-old building, unveiled on Tuesday by Lord Mayor Mary Frehill. Ganly Walters had successfully concealed the identity of its client up to this week. Ageing former students of UCD will remember Mr Fahy as a leading henchman of Eddie O'Connor, former managing director of Bord na Mona, whom he succeeded as president of the Students Union in 1970. The investment will show a handsome return for Mr Fahy. One of the oldest wine companies in the UK will be paying over £100,000 a year for the first five years, after spending about £500,000 on its stunning fit-out. Colliers Jackson-Stops handled the negotiation on behalf of Berry Bros.
Mr Fahy is clearly a dab hand at the property game. He bought a house on Eglinton Road when prices were on the low side and he owns his own offices at Lincoln Lane, behind St Paul's Church in Arran Quay, in the fast developing Smithfield area. That purchase was also made when Smithfield was piebald country.
