Bill Cullen
June 24, 2008 by Barney Brack
Born and bred in the rough inner city slums of Summerhill in Dublin, Bill was one of fourteen children.
Selling on the streets from the age of six, be it fruit, flowers, newspapers, Christmas decorations, football colours, or programs, was a means of putting food on the table for Bill and his family. He finished school at thirteen to go on the street full-time.
Through hard work and unrelenting determination, Bill was appointed director general of the company in 1965 and went on to set up the Fairlane Motor Company, which became the biggest Ford dealership in Ireland.
In 1986 he took over the troubled Renault car distribution franchise from Waterford Crystal. His turnaround of that company into what is now the Glencullen Group is a business success story – the group now has an annual turnover of €350 million.
Bill Cullen is a director of the Irish Youth Foundation and in 1998 was a recipient of the Lord Mayor’s Award for his work with the disadvantaged young people of Dublin. In September 2004 Bill was awarded the inaugural Princess Grace Humanitarian Award.
Our sources tell us his favourite restaurant in Ireland is is The Pipers inn Killaloe
[...] Bill CullenBill Cullen of The Apprentice Ireland Born and bred in the rough inner city slums of Summerhill in Dublin, Bill was one of fourteen children. Selling on the streets from the age of six, be it fruit, flowers, newspapers, … [...]
ABSOLUTELY AWESOME. THIS ONLY SHOWS THAT THRU POSITIVENESS AND STRAIGHT FORWARD THINKING CAN ONE BE SUCCESSFUL
CONGRATS
[...] the new master for the Irish show and he is the true Irish Businessman through and through. See here for a brief biography on the Boss [...]
From penny apples. Lovely. Give me a job.
You are doing a great job
I think you have given then great challeges
Well Done
Imelda
Well done! You really gave that girl a beating. The one who e-mailed ray murphy. she was a real cow, and what kind of example is she trying to set for her children?
i`m proud of you!
i know how it is being a messenger boy,but not rich yet!
I am a business woman of over 11 years and I find it very annoying that some of the new show candidates are of such poor quality. Obviously Bill does not take part in the early selections. That woman Sam Conroy is a disgrace and has not the faintest idea of any business skills…..please tell me are we to believe that she is a talented possible apprentice? Its an insult to the many business people in Ireland.
Louise: then apply for next years show?
Bill Culllen is such an inspiration! Leaving school at thirteen……. he has more intelligance than any Oxford or Harvard student!!! As well as his intelligence, he has so much common sense which I think is better than any brains! He’s such a hard working man who deserves every success he has ever achieved. If I ever come even a fifth of the way on Cullen’s road to success I will be an extremly proud individual! (Only in my dreams, I think! (Ha!)) I think that positivity is one elements on this inspiring journey for Cullen. I wish him all the best for the future!
Everything the guy says is a wisdom as he speaks from his own experience. And that’s the reason why he is on top of everything. This is the real value this show brings and the reason why I’m watching it every week. There is so much inspiration in his judgement. It’s up to everyone to take the best of it.
Bill Cullen & company are so good in dealing with the apprentice candidates.
I totaly agree with Louise. In the real life … you do not try to give excuses to your customer /or whoever you explain to/ why the job is not done right, but to do it right …. I have been running only a small family business for 5 years and still cannot accept the way of thinking of most of the subcontractors …
BILL IS A TOSSER. BREFNEY IS THE BEST. IF HE EVER COMES 2 BRAY I WILL BUY HIM AT LEAST 20 PINTS AND THEN SHARE A WHORE WITH HIM.
Hate that childish one Sam, makes a show of herself at every presentation they shouldnt let her talk at all at them
Aoiffe is scary looks like a rabbit caught in the headlights all the time and a total bitch
Bill Cullen is an exceptional man with a very passionate attitude. He is such a big beliver in people and everyone can succeed . I love the show the candidates are being well taught from a man that built his own empire .Bill you hit the ground runing all the best.
This man has been a role model to so many people I know. He is an inspiration and an all round decent man. His books are honest and can inspire and encourage even those who have lost hope. Still waiting for number three though!!
bill is an example of just how easy it is to make a few million in this country
The Irish Apprentice is nothing more than product placement just like Nick’s Bistro. TV3 have gotten so cheap it’s embarrising. http://functioningalcoholic.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/nicks-bistro-vs-good-taste/
There is a huge amount to admire about Bill Cullen, but why does he think it acceptable to speak to ‘Apprentice’ competitors at times as though he were a slaveowner dismissing his slaves — as in “Get out of here”?
Hi Bill,
Congrats on choosing the best candidate for your apprentice. You have made a great choice. If I lived in your area I would come and meet Steve and maybe buy a car from him. I know he would look after me not just in teh day but for after service I could rely on Steve.
Best wishes to you all hope business will improve in the year ahead. I know even if is slow to pick up you and Steve will work togeter to maxamise your sales and also to enjoy working together. I think he will be a pleasure to work wwith.
Kind regards Teresa Nolan
Hi, is there any way i could get in contact with Bill i’ve recently published a book, and was looking around for some local support this is my email address if someone could contact me and advise me how to go about this mickp32@live.com Thank’s.
Contestants should be no older than 20.
While Bill has a success story to tell it’s clear he is uneducated and quite frankly an embarrassment. It’s not too late to go to college Bill! Is it sheer laziness or the old adage that ignorance is bliss that keeps this man from gaining even a basic education? He is street smart but definitely not academically smart – surely Irish tv can do better than this! He will always be inferior to the educated masses and all he has to do to change this is enroll in college, any college! Get some credibility Bill!
Dear Mr Bill Cullen
my name is padraig murphy I am a videographer and can excellent photos for the new ford fiesta calendar, If interested contact me
Yours Sincerely
Padraig murphy
Hey Conor, I suppose everyone is entitled to an opinion, and i love the way you’ve segregated yourself from the “street smart” and placed yourself into your own group “the educated masses”…sadly enough the educated and uneducated masses are all standing on the same dole que…..but when you think of it, what is education all about?… where does everyone strive to get to, wether they are “street smart” or “academically smart” ???…Only where Bill Cullen is now…..it seems to me maybe you and some of your academic masses should “get some credibility” and get out on the streets to gain a more hands on education…cheers…paddy (left school when i was 15 and doing alright thank you)
Hi!I Love you sir bill!i heared you said I Search for Somebody that wants improve & try!I’m In iran!I’m 16 years old!I Wanted to know,can you help me?My Dream is play in arsenal football club!I do Every thing for This Dream!