Former Derry bricklayer Dan is built for success

A Derry man who has emerged as a leading light in his field has scooped a top honour at the prestigious Digital Construction Live awards.

Dan Gallen, who started up his own company, Dandoire, less than three years ago, lifted the prize for most innovative consultancy of the year at a lavish ceremony held in Belfast earlier this month.

The 44-year-old, who has been living in Copenhagen since 2012, specialises in helping start-up construction companies reach their full potential by using his expertise in digital software to modernise and streamline their operations.

His main client is innDex, a leading international company that provides hardware and software solutions for construction site access control. Dan acts as their chief growth officer.

He said: “The awards were great craic. When my category was up, somebody else was named highly commended and I thought that was probably the best I could have hoped for so that was that, but then Pamela Ballantyne said 'the winner is Dandoire'. It felt very nice.

“I put the innDex marketing team in for an award as well, for our work with Glencar (leading British construction company), and we were lucky to be shortlisted for that, so it was a great night all round.”

And the former St Brigid's College pupil legged it for Derry straight afterwards, eager to grab a precious weekend home with family and friends.

“Aye, straight down and into Sandino's to see the mates,” he said. “I moved to London when I was 22 and then to Copenhagen just over ten years ago to be close to my daughter, but I absolutely love getting back to Derry and would do it more often if there was a direct flight from Copenhagen to Belfast.

“It takes me a while to get back into the slagging and the banter, but after an hour or so it's like I've never been away. The attitude here is 'don't be coming in acting the big I am', and that's the way it should be. Derry people will always keep you grounded!”

Dan, from Galliagh Park, combined his experience of working as a bricklayer with a multimedia qualification to forge a career in digital construction. It is a sector that has revolutionised the industry - something which he astutely identified in the early stages.

After honing his trade as an employee of the prominent company LetsBuild, he bravely took the plunge and started up Dandoire two and a half years ago. In just a short time, his business has flourished - along with his reputation as one of the most knowledgable and innovative consultants within the industry.

And, movingly, he credits his beloved daughter Adeline, now 14, as the inspiration for his success.

He explained: “I attended an event in Copenhagen called the President's Summit which brought together thought leaders from all around the world.

“There were pictures of the main speakers up on the walls and I took photos on my phone and afterwards showed them to to Adeline and she said, 'maybe one day you'll be up on that wall, Papa', and I said, 'naw, I don't so', and she said 'yes, you can'. And it was her total belief in me that has driven me forward.

“I moved to Denmark to be close to her after me and her mammy split up. She has a great intelligence and creativity and is full of love. She feels the love of her family in Ireland and she has inherited a lot of Derryisms from me.”

Dan with daughter Adeline.

Denmark, says Dan, has been a good place to live in terms of the standard of living and the quality of educational and clinical support provided to Adeline, who was diagnosed with autism when she was five.

“Copenhagen is lovely,” he said. “The fabric of society is knitted together very well and has contributed to my daughter's lovely gentle spirit.”

But, though he has now spent exactly half of his life away from here, he insists there is no place like home.

“There is nothing quite like the craic that you get in Derry. Life could sometimes be tough growing up and I learned a lot about friendship. John Duddy lived two doors down from me and I still stay in touch with him and with many of my Galliagh friends.

“I love my life in Denmark but I do miss home. I miss the buns! We've lovely Danish pastries over here but you can't beat a cream finger or a turnover.

“I am very proud to be from Derry. I could lose my dignity and everything else, but I will never lose my identity or forget where I came from.”