GER SWEENEY

Emerald Connection was founded and is run by Irish freelance broadcaster and author, Ger Sweeney. Ger has been working in the radio industry since he was a teenager in 1981. Back then Ireland had many “pirate” radio stations as legislation to regulate and licence the industry did not come along until 1988. The first of the new legal radio stations commenced broadcasting in 1989. Between 1981 and 1988 Ger worked for various stations in Limerick and Galway. He spent some time in the United States in the mid 1980s too, and learned a lot from his broadcasting colleagues there as he worked on voiceovers and commercial production.

Ger has been involved with local radio in Ireland since it’s commencement in 1989. In fact Ger was the first voice on one of the first stations to come on stream in September 1989, Clare FM. Over the years Sweeney has been part of the station on both a full time and contract basis. He also spent a short stint with Limerick 95 in the early 1990s.

In November 2019 to mark the 30th anniversary of the launch of Clare FM, Ger released his first book titled “Launching Clare FM”. It tells the stories of the people who launched the radio station back then. The book has been very well received and has already been labelled a valuable historic piece that will in time, be an invaluable reference and insight to that historic period in the Irish radio story.

Ger’s passion for radio seems to be at the core of all that he does. However, over the years he has taken time out from broadcasting and has been very active in the world of business. Some of the projects he has been involved in include the launch and management of an international chauffeur service based in Ireland in the 1990s, his role as Golf Services Manager at Doonbeg Golf Club from 2001 to 2006 and Managing Director of a Munster-based print management company from 2015 to the present day.

During his time away from broadcasting Ger was one of the first broadcasters to turn to podcasting and online broadcasting. In 2009 he started podcasting an Irish radio programme that was syndicated on over a dozen European radio stations.

Ger has been working as a freelance broadcaster for many years now. This includes working with Clare FM covering sick leave and vacation time across the schedule. He launched his Irish programme, “Live on Eire” on Spain-based Talk Radio Europe (TRE) on 30th April 2018. The programme is Spain’s only dedicated Irish programme and is broadcast on Monday evenings from both Ireland and Spain, depending on where he is on a weekly basis.

Emerald Connection is designed to create content for Irish people across the world and for other nationalities who have an interest in Ireland and Irish affairs. His time in Spain has brought Ger into contact with the Irish Association of Spain. Through this he works in partnership with the association in organising the St. Patrick’s Day events in Torremolinos and Benalmadena. He has also had a consultancy role in the celebrations in Marbella and La Cala de Mijas.

Ger has been involved with local radio in Ireland since it’s commencement in 1989. In fact Ger was the first voice on one of the first stations to come on stream in September 1989, Clare FM. Over the years Sweeney has been part of the station on both a full time and contract basis. He also spent a short stint with Limerick 95 in the early 1990s.

In November 2019 to mark the 30th anniversary of the launch of Clare FM, Ger released his first book titled “Launching Clare FM”. It tells the stories of the people who launched the radio station back then. The book has been very well received and has already been labelled a valuable historic piece that will in time, be an invaluable reference and insight to that historic period in the Irish radio story.

Ger’s passion for radio seems to be at the core of all that he does. However, over the years he has taken time out from broadcasting and has been very active in the world of business. Some of the projects he has been involved in include the launch and management of an international chauffeur service based in Ireland in the 1990s, his role as Golf Services Manager at Doonbeg Golf Club from 2001 to 2006 and Managing Director of a Munster-based print management company from 2015 to the present day.

During his time away from broadcasting Ger was one of the first broadcasters to turn to podcasting and online broadcasting. In 2009 he started podcasting an Irish radio programme that was syndicated on over a dozen European radio stations.

Ger has been working as a freelance broadcaster for many years now. This includes working with Clare FM covering sick leave and vacation time across the schedule. He launched his Irish programme, “Live on Eire” on Spain-based Talk Radio Europe (TRE) on 30th April 2018. The programme is Spain’s only dedicated Irish programme and is broadcast on Monday evenings from both Ireland and Spain, depending on where he is on a weekly basis.

Emerald Connection is designed to create content for Irish people across the world and for other nationalities who have an interest in Ireland and Irish affairs. His time in Spain has brought Ger into contact with the Irish Association of Spain. Through this he works in partnership with the association in organising the St. Patrick’s Day events in Torremolinos and Benalmadena. He has also had a consultancy role in the celebrations in Marbella and La Cala de Mijas.