A KERRY businessman is to be awarded the Freedom of the City of London for his contribution to life in the English capital.

Dermot O’Grady, who owns and runs Ardent Tide in London, grew up in Ballybunion where his father Dermot was a bank manager, but the family moved to Killorglin when he was 16 years old. His father Dermot O’Grady Snr. is well known in banking and golfing circles as he wrote ‘The Baron’s Bunker’ golf column in The Kerryman for many years.

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Mr O’Grady left Ireland in the late 80s after graduating from Trinity College. He later set up Ardent Tide which provides services for the self-employed in the construction industry. He got involved with the Kerry Association in London and helped many Irish emigrants in there over the years.

Mr O’Grady continues to live in the Killorglin area with his wife Ruth and three children and commutes weekly to work in London. The honour, which he will receive on Thursday, is given to people who make an outstanding contribution to the life of the city.