ARTS
CHRIS O’DOWD
Originally from Roscommon, Chris O’Dowd studied politics at UCD before training at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Well known for his starring role in the hit movies Bridesmaids, Gulliver’s Travels and The Boat That Rocked, he has enjoyed an equally stellar TV career, with roles in The IT Crowd, Girls, The Clinic and Moon Boy, (a TV series based on his childhood which he wrote and produced). His work has been recognised by BAFTA Scotland, IFTA and AACTA, and as a cast member of Bridesmaids he has been nominated by the Screen Actors Guild, the Broadcast Film Critics Association and the Phoenix Awards.
Angela Scanlon
ANGELA SCANLON
Angela Scanlon is a TV presenter, fashion writer and stylist. Named “one to watch” for 2013 by Vogue, she is one of the freshest faces in fashion and entertainment presenting. She appears regularly on Xposé, Off the Rails and Two Tube, and is a contributing editor for Grazia Daily, Tatler, and The Sunday Times.
Ben Readman
BEN READMAN
Ben Readman is the Artistic and Marketing Director of BLOCK T, a multi-award winning creative organisation based in Dublin, and is a Visual Artist and Artistic Director. He has completed artist residencies in Ireland, France, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and China, and has exhibited in many countries worldwide.
Róise Goan
RÓISE GOAN
Róise Goan is the Director of the Dublin Fringe Festival, where she will present her fifth and final festival this September. Her career to date has included producing theatre for Randolf SD, working for The Project Arts Center, The Ark, and writing for television (including the award-winning series Aifric for TG4).
mUSIC
THE SCRIPT
One of Ireland’s most successful bands, The Script have enjoyed unprecedented success on both sides of the Atlantic. To date they have sold over four million albums and a staggering ten million singles. The band was formed in 2001. Their 2008 eponymous debut album reached number 1 in the Irish and UK music charts, featuring the hit songs “The Man Who Can’t Be Moved” and “Breakeven”. Their second album “Science & Faith” (featuring hit songs “For the First Time” and “Nothing”) was released in 2010 and went on to chart at number 3 in the US Billboard 200. Their latest album “#3” has built on their success spawning the hit single “Hall of fame” which has gone on to be their best-selling single to date.
Brian Spollen
BRIAN SPOLLEN
Brian is a 20-year veteran of the music industry who has been involved in almost every aspect of the industry from managing bands (The Frames, Mic Christopher), promoting some of Ireland’s most iconic music events (Witness, Creamfields and Arthur’s Day) and running and owning some of the country’s best venues (Spirit and The Spy Bar).
John Kelly
JOHN KELLY
SONY Award-winning broadcaster John Kelly has presented many of Ireland’s best-loved music programmes and arts shows, including the legendary Eclectic Ballroom on Today FM, Mystery Train on RTÉ1, his BBC shows and The View and The Works on RTE TV. He currently presents The John Kelly Ensemble on RTÉ Lyric FM and Radio Clash on 2XM.
Stuart Clark
STUART CLARK
Deputy Editor of Hot Press, Stuart was originally a pirate radio DJ for Radio Caroline. He went legit in the early ’90s with Radio Limerick 95FM, and is regular contributor on Today FM, RTÉ, TV3 and Setanta Sports. He moderates the Hot Press MIX course and has lectured for Pulse Recording College and the Hot Press Diploma in Music Journalism.
SPORT
JIM MCGUINNESS
The first GAA manager to have been offered a role at a professional sports team abroad (as performance consultant to Glasgow Celtic), legendary Donegal Football Manager Jim McGuinness has been breaking records since he was a teenager helping Donegal claim their first ever All-Ireland Senior Football Championship in 1992. Whether winning multiple Sigerson Cups as a star of Third-Level College Football, winning two Railway Cup Medals with Donegal, representing Ireland (and winning) against Australia in the 1998 Compromise Rules Series, or guiding his native county to two consecutive Ulster Championship titles and an All-Ireland Championship Final (Donegal’s second ever All-Ireland Senior Championship win in more than 120 years), his name has always been synonymous with success.
Sarah O’Connor
SARAH O’CONNOR
Sarah is the CEO of the Federation of Irish Sport. The representative body for Ireland’s National Sporting Organisations and Local Sports Partnerships, the Federation’s membership is currently made up of 100 different sporting organisations. As part of her role Sarah co-ordinates the Why Irish Sport Matters campaign, which highlights sport’s important contribution to Irish life.
Matt Cooper
MATT COOPER
An award winning broadcaster, journalist and author, Matt presents Today FM’s Drivetime radio programme, The Last Word on Sport as well as TV3’s live GAA coverage. (He previously hosted TV3’s Rugby World Cup and UEFA Champions League coverage). A former Gaelic football and rugby player, he is now a regular cyclist and 10km runner.
Rob Hartnett
ROB HARTNETT
Rob Hartnett is the CEO of Sport for Business, a subscription based publishing and networking service for those involved with or interested in the commercial side of Irish sport. A former managing director of BETDAQ UK, since 2006 he has acted as a marketing consultant in the sporting, gaming, technology, education, industrial relations and community sectors.
FOOD
DYLAN MCGRATH
Well known as a MasterChef Ireland judge, and from the RTE Documentary Pressure Cooker, Dylan McGrath is one of Ireland’s most exciting chefs. He began his career in Jurys Inn, Belfast, before honing his skills in Roscoffs (Northern Ireland’s only Michelin starred restaurant), The Commons Restaurant, Peacock Alley, John Burton Race and Tom Aikens, before returning to Dublin to earn his own Michelin star as Head Chef of Mint Restaurant. In 2010 he opened Rustic Stone with the idea of fusing a less formal, casual dining experience with the flavours he is so passionate about. Fade Street Social followed shortly after, bringing together two exciting concepts under one roof.
Colin Harmon
COLIN HARMON
Four time Irish Barista Champion, Colin recently finished 4th in the World Barista Championships. As founder of specialty coffee shop 3FE, he writes about coffee for various national and international publications, as well and supplying coffee and training baristas for many of Dublin’s leading cafes. 3FE is currently building a bespoke coffee roastery.
Michelle Darmody
MICHELLE DARMODY
Michelle Darmody is proprietor of The Cake Cafe, food writer with the Irish Examiner and author of best-selling The Cake Cafe Bake Book. Known for her innovative use of PR and Social Media, Michelle’s fine art background is evident in the design aesthetic of the café and cookbook, created in collaborations with Pony Design.
BARRY BRODERICK
Together with his brother Bernard, Barry has grown the business established by his mother to become an established brand stocked in many of the world’s finest food emporiums including Dean & Deluca, Selfridges and Galleries Lafayette. The business now encompasses three brands – Inas Handmade, Brodericks and the Irish Flapjack & Muffin co.
Starting as a schoolboy space commentator in the 1960s, Leo Enright has broadcast live commentaries on every major space event since the first Moon landing and as a foreign correspondent with RTE and the BBC was accredited to the White House under every administration from Gerald Ford to George W. Bush.
The View from The DJ booth 