No fries with that for Desmond

Brett, Ross and Derry Desmond, the three sons of Dermot Desmond, gave an interesting joint interview to the Belfast Telegraph during the week, ahead of the opening on Monday of the their first Five Guys burger outlet in the city.

Brett, who is married to Andrea Corr, revealed his father once had designs on becoming the fast-food king of Ireland.

According to Brett, Desmond snr, who made his billions mostly from technology and finance, wrote to McDonald’s in the 1970s “looking for the franchise, but they never responded”.

This would have been in the days before he founded NCB stockbrokers, which provided him with the bedrock upon which he built his fortune. So maybe it’s just as well McDonald’s ignored him.

The three Desmonds plan to bring Five Guys to 10 locations in Ireland, North and South, according to Brett. They plan up to five outlets in Dublin.

"Londonderry" is also a possible location, said Ross, who married fashion designer Stephanie Smart earlier this year in a society wedding at Adare Manor. These Desmonds marry well, don't they?

His father, the co-owner of Glasgow Celtic, mightn't like the Londonderry quote. Then again, the interview was in the unionist Bel Tel, which is owned by Independent News & Media, in which Desmond is also a major shareholder.