Entertainers

Host & Presenter

Jacqui Hurley is one of Ireland’s leading sports broadcasters and author of the best selling children’s book series Girls Play Too.

In 2009, she became the first ever female anchor of Sunday Sport on RTE Radio One. She now presents RTE’s rugby coverage on television and has recently been announced as the new presenter of the Sunday Game.

She has anchored all of the major sporting events, including the Olympics, World Cups, the Euro’s & multiple All Ireland finals.

Testimonial from Chartered Accountants Ireland, May 2023:
‘’We are grateful for the great conference we had last week.
Jacqui’s exceptional skills shone through despite the challenge of a packed agenda that needed to be covered within a tight 3-hour timeframe.

To book Anna or to talk to us about your event requirements, please submit the enquiry form or call us on 01 235 2570.

Bernard Jackman

Former Irish and Leinster rugby player, Head Coach and Leadership Speaker

Bernard Jackman is a former Irish international and Leinster player whose story of success and failure – of bouncing back – makes him an engaging and entertaining speaker who can talk with authority, ease and humour about what success looks like and how to take responsibility for, and create, your own success.

Bernard was born in Tullow, Co. Carlow and raised on his parents’ farm. He attended Newbridge College in Kildare before going on to study business and Japanese at University College Dublin.

He played rugby in school and was persuaded by Warren Gatland to turn professional. He went on to play for Connacht, the Sale Sharks and Leinster and, internationally, for Ireland, before retiring in 2010 due to a concussion injury. Today he remains an Ambassador for Acquired Brain Injury Ireland, whose ‘Mind Your Head’ campaign he strongly supports.

In 2011, he published his autobiography, Blue Blood, before making the move into coaching at club level when he joined FC Grenoble on a consultancy basis. He went full-time in the 2012-2013 season and was appointed head coach at Grenoble in June 2016. He then moved to the Welsh team the Dragons for 18 months. Since leaving coaching behind in December 2018, he has been working as a rugby pundit and columnist whilst rapidly building his profile as a motivational speaker and high-performance consultant.

Bernard maintains that when it comes to building a high-performance culture, ‘Success leaves clues’. In other words, learn from others. Identify the key behaviours that have built a successful culture and then find ways to foster those behaviours throughout an organisation so that it becomes not just a collection of people, but a cohesive team with real clarity of purpose. When you have buy-in from people at all levels, success is inevitable because everyone is willing to go the extra mile.

His previous clients include Molson Coors, Aviva, Sogeti, Bank Populaire, Microfocus and Goodbody Stockbrokers.

Topics

• Dealing with Success and Failure
• Bouncing Back
• How to Build Successful Teams
• Resilience
• Data-Driven High Performance
• Transformational Leadership
• Team Spirit

To book Bernard Jackman for your conference or event or to talk to us about your event requirements, please submit the enquiry form or call us on 01 235 2570.

Artificial Intelligence Speakers

Artificial intelligence is one of the most exciting and transformative technologies of our time, and it’s no surprise that more and more companies are interested in booking an AI speaker for their corporate events. AI speakers can bring a unique perspective and expertise to your event, and can help your audience understand the potential of this rapidly-evolving field. 

We understand the importance of staying ahead of the curve in today’s rapidly evolving business landscape.

Here are some things to keep in mind when booking an AI speaker for your event.

First, make sure you have a clear idea of what you want the AI speaker to cover. AI is a broad field, and there are many different topics and areas of expertise within it. Do you want the speaker to discuss the latest advancements in natural language processing, or the ethical implications of AI? Or do you want them to provide a more general overview of the field and its potential? Having a clear sense of what you’re looking for will help you identify the right speaker for your event.

Investing in a high-quality speaker can pay off in the form of a more engaging and informative event, and can help you establish your company as a thought leader in the field of AI.

Booking an AI speaker for your corporate event can be a great way to educate and engage your audience on this exciting and rapidly-evolving field.

We can help you find the right speaker for your event and create a memorable and impactful experience for your attendees.

We specialise in:

• Securing guest speakers and MCs from our extensive network
• Sourcing new and emerging speakers not agency listed.

We only work with the best in the business so contact us to Book a AI keynote speaker today. 

To book an AI Speaker for your conference or event or to talk to us about your event requirements, please submit the enquiry form or call us on 01 235 2570.

Ruby Walsh

Jockey, Speaker & Panellist

Legendary Jockey Ruby Walsh is recognised as one of the most talented and successful jump racing Jockeys ever. Legendary Jockey Walsh has ridden over 2500 winners making him the third most successful jockey in British and Irish history. Born into a horse racing family Ruby showed talent from an early age winning the Irish amateur title twice, in 1996/97 (aged 18) and 1997/98, before turning professional.

n the 2004/05 season Walsh won three of the four Nationals:

To date Walsh has ridden over 2500 winners including 59 winners at the Cheltenham Festival since his first win in 1998 on Alexander Banquet. These include the 2004 Queen Mother Chase on Azertvuiop, the 2007 and 2009 Cheltenham Gold Cup on the favourite, Kauto Star and two subsequent Queen Mother successes in 2008 and 2009 on the brilliant Master Minded. In the 2004/05 season Walsh won three of the four Nationals. Legendary Jockey Walsh won the Irish Gold Cup twice and the Punchestown Gold Cup a record 7 times. Over his career Walsh has been named Irish jump jockey champion twelve times.

Since his retirement from racing in 2019, Walsh has become an esteemed media presenter, racing analyst, and Irish sporting personality. Walsh has garnered much acclaim for his racing analysis due to his in-depth racing insight and down to earth persona. Legendary jockey Walsh also regularly partners with well known betting companies such as Paddy Power and Ladbrokes.

Topics

• Jump Racing Analysis
• Winning Mindset
• Media Presentations
• Product Launches
• Q&A Interviews
• Panelist Shows
• After Dinner Speaking Events

Ruby Walsh is available for Q&A or interview style presentations and corporate launches.

To book Ruby Walsh for your conference or event or to talk to us about your event requirements, please submit the enquiry form or call us on 01 235 2570.

Diversity & Inclusion Speakers

The importance of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion is finally getting recognition.  More and more companies are committing to investment in equity, diversity and inclusion programs for their teams and members. 

Using their own experiences our speakers help to achieve inclusivity and are able to offer true insight, sharing their own personal tales of achievement and upheaval – that’s got them to where they are today!

With the aim to educate and inspire, our E, D & I speakers give educational talks on topics such as gender equality, ethnic discrimination, disability, LGBTQ+ rights and religion; to understand the diverse world we live in and social, political and economic times, there has never been a better time to book an Equality, Diversity & Inclusion speaker for your event.

Our speakers challenge status quo thinking, encourage acceptance, and embrace equality for all.

Diversity & Inclusion Speaking Topics:

Racial Equality
Gender Representation
Disability Awareness
Workplace culture
LGBTQ+ Rights

Review our top diversity and inclusion speakers who inspire your team to move to a new level of understanding and community in working together and contributing to dismantling inequities. 

Brendan Courtney

Rebecca Tallon de Havilland

Paddy Smyth

Sonya Lennon

Donal Og

Joanne O’Riordan

Nigel Owens

Ola Majekodunmi

Oliver Callan 

To book a Diversity & Inclusion Speaker for your event or to talk to us about your event requirements, either submit the enquiry form, email us: info@carolandassociates.com or call us on 01 235 2570.

Ronan O’Gara

With Ronan O’Gara’s sky high profile and proven winner status, he  is the perfect speaker for your cororate event. 

A motivational speaker and high-performance consultant and one of world rugby’s most decorated personalities- in 2023 Ronan (aka ROG) has already led and coached La Rochelle to two back-to-back Heineken Cup wins.

A retired rugby union player and highly successful head coach. ROG played at fly-half and is Ireland’s second most-capped international player. ROG played an astonishing 128 times for Ireland and retired as Ireland’s highest ever points scorer.

ROG, an incredibly dedicated and determined man, showed continued loyalty throughout his career, playing for domestic side Munster for his whole career. As an Irish rugby legend, ROG remains as the eighth ninth most-capped and fourth fifth highest point scorer in the history of test rugby.

ROG made his Munster debut in 1997, he made an instant name for himself scoring 19 points on debut. Throughout his spectacular career for Munster, ROG won a number of prestigious titles including two Heineken Cups. The Heineken Cup was where ROG particularly excelled as a top athlete and performer, he currently holds the record for most appearances and points scored in the history of the Heineken Cup. He was awarded the most influential player for 15 years of the HC.

The first cup success came in a victory against Biarritz in 2006, ROG stamped his authority on the game kicking an incredible 13 points. Munster only had to wait until 2008 to enjoy their next Heineken Cup success; they beat Toulouse 16-13 in the final with ROG scoring 11 vital points.

He made his international debut for Ireland in a Six Nations match against Scotland in 2000. ROG eventually played in numerous Six Nations and World Cups for his country. He was named the captain of the squad in 2008 and then just one year later surpassed Jonny Wilkinson to become the top Six Nations point scorer ever.

In 2011, ROG became the first Irishman to score over 1,000 points in international games. He would eventually go on to score 1,083 points for Ireland which, to this day, still hasn’t been passed by anybody.

Since retiring in 2013, he has taken on coaching roles at prestigious club sides such as Paris based Racing 92 and serial Southern Hemisphere Champions the Canterbury Crusaders. He is currently the head coach at French club La Rochelle leading them to an historic Heineken Champions Cup victory in 2022, becoming just the third person to lift the trophy both as a player and a head coach. He is the only person to have won it as a player and a coach with different clubs.

ROG is available to hire as a rugby speaker and is guaranteed to light up your event with his humour and personality. He often discusses his remarkable career but also touches on teamwork, determination and being under the spotlight.

At corporate events and functions, ROG is known to discuss the following topics:

International Rugby
Building a Legacy
Teamwork
Drive & Determination
Being Under the Spotlight
Maximising Success
Loyalty & Dedication
Domestic Rugby
Rugby Union
Rugby World Cup
Six Nations

As a guest speaker at corporate events speaks with insight and honesty of his journey through the professional game. ROG reflects on those many successes and occasional lows with the straight-talking attitude that has become his trademark.

Ronan is available for Q&A or interview style presentations and corporate launches.

To book Ronan O’Gara for your conference or event or to talk to us about your event requirements, please submit the enquiry form or call us on 01 235 2570.

Anton Savage

Anton is a highly experienced presenter – one of our most popular hosts, and a regular MC at AGM’s, award ceremonies and conferences. His easy presenting style and wonderful ability to inform and communicate important conference messages to an audience transfers flawlessly into the corporate sector.

With many successful events under his belt for clients including Vodafone, Bank of Ireland and Barry Group, he can bring real charisma and charm to your event, engaging your audience with ease throughout.

In recent years, he has presented TV and Radio Shows including Ireland AM, The Seven O’Clock Show, The Apprentice, You’re Fired! The Sunday Business Show, and The Anton Savage Show (for which he won the PPI Award for Best Magazine Show), in the show’s inaugural year.

Engage your audience with ease

As a journalist and published author too, Anton knows how to tell a story and can engage your audience on both light-hearted topics and serious issues.  No doubt your attendees will be familiar with his writings in the likes of The Irish Independent, The Examiner, The Mail and Mail on Sunday and he has been a columnist for both The Sunday Independent and Herald. And many will be aware of his first book Spin and Win – how Irish politicians get elected, which was published in 2007 to positive reviews – but ‘almost no sales’ as he tells us himself!

You’re in safe hands

Other specialist events he has MC’d include the prestigious European People’s Party European Convention, which was addressed by the heads of dozens of EU Member States. Anton has also hosted unique ‘Audiences With’ events, which involved chatting with a range of guests, from Sir John Sawyers (former head of MI6) to Jeremy Paxman, to IKEA Global Chairman Lars-Johan Jarnheimer. 

In his day job as Managing Director of The Communications Clinic, one of Ireland’s leading communications training and advisory companies which he co-founded in 2008, he advises many clients on communications issues and strategies. And it is this insight gained from years of experience that will help him to bring an extra dimension to your next event.

Testimonials

“This was our fourth time engaging Anton to facilitate our annual principals’ conference, and we have asked him back for our event in January 2019 for a reason. He is the consummate professional – completely on top of his brief and very credible in his questioning of our keynote speakers – including Richard Bruton, Minister for Education and Skills. He is also very engaging and charming, attributes that definitely added to the atmosphere of the event, as our member feedback confirms. We would have absolutely no hesitation in recommending Anton for similar engagements elsewhere, except where they clash with our conference, of course!”

Páiric Clerkin, CEO of IPPN – the Irish Primary Principals’ Network

“Anton Savage is a ‘pro’ – a gentleman to his fingertips and the ‘best there is’ in my opinion!”

Barry’s Group 60th Anniversary, 2015

To book Anton Savage either submit the enquiry form, mail:  info@carolandassociates.com or call  01 235 2570.

Mario Rosenstock

The much-loved multi award winning satirist, mimic and comedian Mario Rosenstock always guarantees a night of superb entertainment in the world of corporate events.

Mario Rosenstock is a multi award-winning comedian and one of Ireland’s leading satirists and mimics. The creator and voice behind ‘GiftGrub’ on the Ian Dempsey breakfast show on today FM since 1999.

Mario has sold over 500,000 comedy albums in Ireland while his one-man stage show ‘Mario Rosenstock live’ has broken box office records selling over 200,000 tickets.

Highlights include five sold-out nights at the Bord Gais theatre, 11 straight nights in Dublin’s Olympia Theatre and a sold out performance at the Marquee in Cork.

Mario has won a PPI National radio award 10 times and was inducted into the Radio hall of fame in 2012. On TV ‘The Mario Rosenstock Show’ was RTE 2’s no.1 rated show for 2 seasons before transferring to RTE 1. He is also the creator and voice behind the satirical football puppet show ‘Special 1 TV’ which ran on BBC 3 for 2 seasons. Mario completed his Latest tour ‘Mario-in your Face’ 2018, selling out the Gaeity for 6 nights.

Testimonials:

‘Mario was fantastic last Thursday! He clearly put an awful lot of effort into his preparation and this was reflected by how much the audience enjoyed the performance. Both Joe and I (and our wider team) found the whole experience brilliant! His sketches were hilarious! Everybody in attendance always knew how good he was on the radio but all felt that seeing him in real life was even better! Hard to believe I know 😊. After a heavy day of presentations, Mario was just what the audience needed. Some people were actually crying with laughter!’ (BASF)

Mario Rosenstock was fantastic last Thursday! He clearly put an awful lot of effort into his preparation and this was reflected by how much the audience enjoyed the performance. The team found the whole experience brilliant! His sketches were hilarious! Everybody in attendance always knew how good he was on the radio but all felt that seeing him in real life was even better! After a heavy day of presentations, Mario was just what the audience needed. (Musgraves Awards, February 2020)  

Mario the Celebrity Auctioneer!

Mario has also  raised hundreds of thousands of euro doing Auctions “in character” -where he will auction prizes as anyone from Roy keane to Michael d higgins !  Clients have included Cross Cancer research  at the Mansion house , Barrettstown , and Structure Tone  charity golf day at the K club .

So, go on – let Mario embrace the characters in your company through laughter!

“Mario was fantastic! He clearly put an awful lot of effort into his preparation and this was reflected by how much the audience enjoyed the performance. We all found the whole experience brilliant! His sketches were hilarious! Everybody in attendance always knew how good he was on the radio but all felt that seeing him in real life was even better! After a heavy day of presentations, Mario was just what the audience needed. Some people were actually crying with laughter!! “(BASF)

To book Mario Rosenstock or to talk to us about your event requirements, please submit our enquiry form or call  01 235 2570.

Marty Whelan

Arguably one of Ireland’s favourite broadcasters, Marty Whelan is a much loved Award-winning radio and TV personality who frequently Hosts and MCs conferences and events all over Ireland.

Marty’s professional and relaxed manner keeps audiences entertained while also taking on the serious business of presenting Awards and keeping your event on track.

As well as charity work, and being seen and heard on RTÉ radio and television, Marty has presented a variety of shows.

Best known as a broadcaster on Lyric FM,  co-host of Winning Streak and a seasoned Eurovision commentator he has also presented Open House, Celebrity Bainisteoir and many more!

Every morning Marty takes the chill out of early morning starts with music, news, weather and travel updates on the popular show, ‘Marty in the Morning’ on RTE Radio. Marty is also a previous winner of the VIP Style Award for Most Stylish Man and recently launched his memoir, ‘That’s Life’ in Dublin.

A  hugely engaging MC, Marty has hosted conferences, awards, competitions and is a safe pair of hands who bring years of experience to and event and massively contributes to  to it’s success on the day!

Past clients:

“Marty was only magic yesterday, he was brilliant.  What I love about him, he gave everyone no matter how young or old, his time very freely.  He always makes our event stand out, so thank you so much!  (Irish League of Credit Unions, Art Competition)

“Marty was absolutely brilliant. So much positive feedback from all quarters. I actually don’t think it could have gone any better.”  (ShelfLife Magazine)

To book Marty Whelan to host or MC your corporate event or to talk to us about your event requirements, either submit the enquiry form, email us: info@carolandassociates.com or call us on 01 235 2570.

Joanne O’Riordan

Activist, Columnist & Inspirational Speaker

Prominent Irish disability activist Joanne O’Riordan studied criminology in UCC and is only one of seven people in the world living with a rare physical disability known as Total Amelia. This means she was born without all four limbs and even though there is no medical explanation as to why this happened, Joanne or indeed her family has never allowed it to hold her back.

Joanne first gained attention for skipping school to confront then Taoiseach Enda Kenny about his proposed plan to reduce disability funding during his election. In April 2012, she spoke before the UN and challenged the body to create technology to help disabled people such as herself. She was named Young Person of the Year at the People of the Year awards in 2012. Joanne is an activist for people with disabilities, a motivational speaker and a sports columnist with The Irish Times. She appears in the 2013 documentary No Limbs No Limits.

She has used technology to enhance her abilities in both her education and through the wider social environment. She has conquered enormous challenges at home, in school and around her local community. Joanne adapted her life in such a way that it has given her both national and international acclaim. Joanne is now an example to all able bodied and disabled bodies to live very happy, independent, fulfilled lives.

Joanne has challenged the most advanced minds in the world to build her a robot that would become her hands and legs. The challenges she faces everyday get bigger and far greater to overcome. Joanne is an inspiration to others.

To book Joanne or to talk to us about your event requirements, please submit the enquiry form or call us on 01 235 2570.