Ray O'Rourke (businessman)


Raymond Gabriel O'Rourke, is an Irish businessman, the chairman and CEO of the construction multinational Laing O'Rourke.
O'Rourke was born in January 1947. A native of County Leitrim, Ireland, he runs the privately owned Laing O'Rourke with his brother Des, and owns 55% of the company. O'Rourke "started as a 'pony boy' carrying muck out from under London as the Victoria Line was being constructed." His estimated net worth was €800 million as of 2015.
He has honorary doctorates from the Dublin Institute of Technology, and Queen's University, Belfast.
O'Rourke purchased the construction company Swift Structures, owned by his brothers-in-law, Jim and Matt Halligan from County Mayo. He then called in the receivers. His son, Cathal, works for Laing O'Rourke.