Irish cricketer
Patrick Joseph Dineen (born 13 May 1938) is a former Irish cricketer and businessman. From Cork, he was educated at St Joseph's NS Mardyke and Presentation Brothers College. After his Leaving Certificate, he went to work first for Norwich Union and then for Standard Life. Married with three children he is a keen golfer and when asked directly about his wealth by an Irish Times' journalist he replied famously: "All I need is a new golf swing".
Sports Career.
A left-handed batsman, he made his debut for the Ireland cricket team in August 1962 against the Combined Services in a first-class match. He went on to play for Ireland on 23 occasions, his last match coming against the MCC at Lord's in July 1973.
Of his matches for Ireland, seven had first-class status. In all matches for Ireland, he scored 621 runs at an average of 19.41. His top score was 84 against Scotland in August 1968. He also played one match for the MCC, against Scotland in July 1972. As of 2014, he is the most capped Cork County player and was a member of the Irish side which infamously bowled out the West Indies for 25 at Sion Mills on July 2nd 1969 
Dineen also played rugby for Dolphin in Cork and League of Ireland soccer for Cork United while still at school. 
Business Career.
In 1965 Dineen established his own life and pensions company in Cork, selling 40 per cent of the company to Charterhouse. This stake was subsequently acquired by Sedgwick a year later and the company became Sedgwick Dineen. He sold his stake in the company, which was valued at over £10 million, in 1994.
Dineen's business career included involvement with a succession of Irish state firms with him chairing Bord Gáis from 1984 to 1989 where oversaw the acquisition of the town gas companies throughout the State and the construction of the Kinsale Head gas field and pipeline. 
He also chaired Irish Steel, joining the company as executive chairman in 1993. Irish Steel had accumulated losses of £118 million since 1979. It lost another £10 million in the following year and Mr Dineen was appointed by the then Minister for Enterprise and Employment, Ruairi Quinn, to rescue the plant. The company was ultimately sold to an Indian firm, Ispat, in 1994 but only just. "We had come within eight hours of closure. I had accepted the fact that it was going to happen," Dineen said in an interview to the Irish Times. "It would have been very difficult if we had closed the place down . . . We got the company into profit. We went looking for a buyer and found Ispat."
His final stint with a state company saw him head up Bord na Móna where he faced a full gale of controversy over the pay and expenses of CEO, Eddie O'Connor - and O'Connor's subsequent exit. 
Dineen was also a member of the Housing Finance Agency from 8 February 1982 to 31 December 1986.
References.
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