How a ‘global forum’ promising billionaires became a small Dublin event with muffins

Anti-female genital mutilation advocates expected high-profile speakers at a packed Dublin conference – they found a small room in a hotel with 25 people and were left with large bills.

Last February, the Cycle of Life Global Forum was billed as an international conference to help eradicate FGM. In exchange for large sums of money, attendees from as far away as Kenya and the US were expecting to hear from high-profile speakers such as Richard Branson, Denis O’Brien and Auma Obama.

But what greeted them was far more underwhelming.

The event was organised by Sean Collins-McCarthy, a self-described “Social Entrepreneur, Strategy Advisor, Filmmaker and Media Pioneer”.

Irish Times journalist Olivia Kelly investigated and tells In the News what went on behind the scenes at Cycle of Life.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey.

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