Luke and Brian Comer
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Property development |
| Founded | 1984 |
| Founder | Brian Comer, Luke Comer |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
Area served | United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany |
| Products | Residential and commercial property developments |
Brian and Luke Comer are Irish property magnates and billionaires who established the privately held UK-based development firm known as the Comer Group.
Early life
Originating from Glenamaddy in County Galway, Ireland, the Comer siblings were born with Luke arriving in November 1957 as the elder brother, followed by Brian in January 1960. They discontinued formal education during their early teenage years to pursue work as plasterers.
Property development career
The brothers moved to London in 1984, initially continuing their plastering trade before venturing into property development. Their investment emphasis transitioned from the UK market to Germany, and around 2010, they redirected focus back to Ireland, aiming for more cost-effective prospects.
Among their significant undertakings was the transformation of the historic Friern Hospital (previously Colney Hatch Asylum) into residential apartments under the name Princess Park Manor during the mid-1990s.
Between late 2015 and early 2016, the Comers allocated upwards of €75 million towards property acquisitions across Ireland, the UK, and Germany, with intentions to inject an extra €200 million within the subsequent year and a half. In 2017, they encountered legal disputes concerning land ownership in north county Dublin, which were eventually resolved.
In 2018, they secured Kilmartin House—a 111-acre tract in Dublin 15—for residential development purposes. That same year, they sold the Beckett Building, initially bought in 2013 for approximately €5 million, to Kookmin Bank for €101 million.
The Sunday Times Rich List of 2023 estimated their combined wealth at £913 million.
Mast Quay Phase II
In September 2023, Greenwich Council mandated the demolition of the Comer Group’s Mast Quay Phase II development located in Woolwich Dockyard, southeast London, due to 26 significant breaches of the planning consent granted in 2012.
Galway United
Since 2013, the Comer brothers have been financial backers of Galway United football club, contributing several million euros. In March 2022, the Galway United Friends Co-operative Society approved a takeover bid by Comer Group to assume majority ownership.
Horse racing
Residing in Monaco for tax reasons, Luke Comer breeds and trains Thoroughbred racehorses within Ireland. In September 2023, his trainer’s licence was suspended for three years after twelve horses tested positive for anabolic steroids. He incurred fines totaling €65,000—comprising €60,000 plus an additional €5,000 for submitting misleading information to the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB)—and was ordered to cover approximately £644,000 representing 80% of IHRB’s legal expenses. In June 2024, his appeal against this suspension was unsuccessful. Subsequently, in August 2024, his son Luke Comer junior received a one-year licence suspension and a €20,000 fine following discovery of horse carcasses on his premises.