Our people - Prof. Diarmuid Hegarty

Professor Diarmuid Hegarty is the founder and president of Griffith College, which he established as the Business and Accounting Training College in 1974. The institution was renamed Griffith College following its move to the site of the former Griffith Barracks in 1991 and is now the largest independent third level institution in Ireland, with campuses in Dublin, Cork and Limerick.

As President of Griffith College, with its wide network of European partners and as a former Bologna promoter, Professor Hegarty is actively involved in promoting the Bologna Process for a European-wide Higher Education Network. As several times chairman and founder of the Higher Education Colleges Association, he has spearheaded the quest for quality assurance in tertiary private education.

Professor Hegarty has served on the board of many organisations and committees including The Institute of Chartered Accounts of Ireland (as a Council member) , Baggot Street Community Hospital, Higher Education and Training Awards Council (appointed by Minister for Education and Science Dr Michael Woods), and the Irish Higher Education Quality Network (as Chairman).

A fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland, he is a current Council member for Dublin Chamber of Commerce.

Professor Hegarty is also Chairman of the Friends of the Vocal Arts and has served as Honorary Consul for Pakistan. He speaks conversational Italian and Chinese and fluent French.