Dr. Hugh Cormican is one of our most highly-regarded business leaders. Now heading up health diagnostic company Cirdan, he was a co-founder of West Belfast-based digital camera company Andor which floated in 2004.
In this podcast, recorded ahead of his address to the West Belfast Small Business Roundtable on 25 March 2025 in An Chultúrlann, he tells how his decision to become a business founder was shaped by an Irish Development Authority official who told him — at the tender age of 16 — that he would be an entrepreneur.
Though one doubts that even that far-sighted civil servant could have predicted that one day Hugh would aim to make his company one of Ireland's few unicorns (a business with a value of £1bn or $1bn).
Born in West Belfast, physics grad Hugh spent his formative years in Newry, Co. Down returning to the city on the Lagan to go to Queen's. He's in business to save lives through improved and innovative healthcare solutions.
Where Andor was about helping researchers do better, Cirdan is about helping the sick get better.
Hugh was speaking with Máirtín Ó Muilleoir, director of the Belfast Media Group.
Popular Podcasts
Law & Order: Criminal Justice System - Season 1 & Season 2
Season Two Out Now! Law & Order: Criminal Justice System tells the real stories behind the landmark cases that have shaped how the most dangerous and influential criminals in America are prosecuted. In its second season, the series tackles the threat of terrorism in the United States. From the rise of extremist political groups in the 60s to domestic lone wolves in the modern day, we explore how organizations like the FBI and Joint Terrorism Take Force have evolved to fight back against a multitude of terrorist threats.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal
Gregg Rosenthal and a rotating crew of elite NFL Media co-hosts, including Patrick Claybon, Colleen Wolfe, Steve Wyche, Nick Shook and Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic get you caught up daily on all the NFL news and analysis you need to be smarter and funnier than your friends.