Seán Gallagher (born 7 July 1962) is an Irish businessman and former reality television personality. He was a co-founder in 2000 of Smarthomes, which after initial success, failed in 2008–2010, and Gallagher departed in 2010–11. He was a panellist on RTÉ's Dragons' Den from 2009 to 2011. Gallagher was an active member of Fianna Fáil for 30 years, from 1981 to 2011, and sat on its National Executive twice (from 1985 to 1987, and from 2009 to 2011). He spent much of his career before Smarthomes working in Fianna Fáil, and in the Irish public service. Gallagher ran as an independent candidate in the 2011 presidential election, finishing second to Michael D. Higgins. He ran again in the 2018 presidential election, finishing third. Early life and education Gallagher was born in Monaghan in July 1962. His father, John, was from Killygordon in East Donegal. Seán was raised in a family of six in Ballyhaise, County Cavan. Gallagher was effectively blind up until age 3 as a result of congenital cataracts. However, while corrective surgery improved his sight, Gallagher describes himself as being "visually impaired". From September 1974 to June 1980, Gallagher was educated at Saint Mary's National School in Glin and Saint Patrick's College in Cavan. Following his Leaving Certificate in June 1980, he attended the Teagasc Agricultural College in Ballyhaise, County Cavan, where he received a National Certificate in Agriculture in June 1981. He said that he then worked on the college farm until a car accident in June 1983, which required a period of rehabilitation. In September 1985, Gallagher went to Maynooth University where he earned a Diploma in Youth Work and Community Development in June 1987. During his tenure as Assistant CEO of the Louth Country Enterprise Board (1995–2000), Gallagher studied for a Diploma in Management in the Dundalk Institute of Technology from 1997 to 1999, after which he completed an MBA in 2000 at the University of Ulster. Public service career Much of Gallagher's early career from circa 1988 to June 2000, from when he was age 26 to when he was age 38, involved working with various Irish State bodies and departments. It is not clear whether these roles are full-time or part-time, and the non-public service activities he was engaged in (e.g. he is recorded as stating that he was a fitness instructor and massage therapist in the 1990s). From 1988 to 1990, Gallagher