TUAM native and CEO of Ibec Danny McCoy was presented with the Trinity European Laureate Award in recognition of his contribution to business in Europe, to economic thought, and to public life.Photo: Chris Bellew/Fennell Photography.

Tuam man honoured for service to business

Published: Wed 29 Apr 2026, 1:31 PM

TUAM native and CEO of IBEC (Irish Business and Employers Confederation) Danny McCoy has been awarded the Trinity European Laureate Award in recognition of his contribution to business and public life. Danny McCoy has become the second recipient of the gold medal, after former Taoiseach Enda Kenny, who received the inaugural award in 2025.

The longest-serving leader of a national business organisation on the Executive Council of Business Europe, Mr McCoy has worked closely with successive Presidents of the European Council and the European Commission, as well as the European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund.

He was appointed a Cavaliere (Knight) of the Order of the Star of Italy (OSI) for his services to European business and was also elected a Member of the Royal Irish Academy (MRIA) along with an Adjunct Professor in the School of Business at Trinity College Dublin, “Through his advocacy with Ibec and his work as an economist and adviser, he (Danny McCoy) has helped reaffirm Ireland’s place at the centre of a shared European home,” said Professor Patrick Geoghegan, Director of the Trinity Long Room Hub.

“Thanks to his leadership, Irish business has developed a strong, credible and influential voice in national and European policymaking.

“Danny McCoy’s career exemplifies how economic expertise can serve society, and how business leadership can serve the common good,” he added.

Danny McCoy was presented with the gold medal by Gary McGann, Chairman of Teneo’s Advisory Board on Thursday, April 23 at the Trinity Long Room Hub. “I accept this award on behalf of my colleagues at Ibec, who have helped shape the organisation into what it is today - enabling us to exert significant influence in Europe on the issues that matter most to Irish business,” said Mr McCoy.

“Through my involvement with BusinessEurope, I have seen firsthand the positive role that European business plays in enabling a fairer, united, and prosperous Europe for all its citizens.

“It also plays a great role in tackling critical challenges such as competitiveness, digital readiness, and, more recently, the areas of security, defence, and resilience- something I have been able to support through my recent appointment as Chair of the Business Europe Security & Defence Taskforce,” he continued.