Faces of Galway 98/100
Meet Jimmy from Bohermore.
Jimmy has had an interesting life to date; a radio broadcaster and producer, a sales executive, a managing director, TV presenter and producer, lecturer and a pilot! More interestingly the road to these jobs has been sporadic, intertwined and more than likely deemed in the wrong order! To understand this journey it is important to understand Jimmy. From our brief meeting he appears to be the type of person who gets inspired constantly, is open to change and not afraid of risks. He is what most would call an entrepreneur.
Back in the 1980's Jimmy worked for pirate radio while still in school. It was just a bit of fun but his love of music lead him to work in Zhivago. While he was there he got to know the Galway Bay FM producers who used to buy the records from the shop. Jimmy quickly got to know them and got the chance to broadcast a few shows, and after just three he was offered the primetime breakfast spot. This has lead to a lifetime of broadcasting with Galway Bay FM, and he still works with them now when he has free time. By the mid 1990's however Jimmy and a friend saw how the mobile phone market was going to take off. They set up Eire Communications, a mobile phone retailer in Galway and within 5 years it was so successful it was bought by Esat Digifone. By the age of 29 he was able to retire but there was only so much golf he was ready to play!
Instead he joined the Galway Flying Club and got his Private Pilot's Licence. Studying reignited him and Jimmy decided to return to college while he was working in TV presenting and producing. In 2009 he studied for a BA in Business Management from the Galway Business School. Jimmy then went on to obtain a Master’s Degree in the field of Strategic Management, Innovation & People Management & Development. This is the type of education people usually get before they run and manage their own successful business rather than after! But as a person who is always looking for the next opportunity Jimmy feels it has been extremely useful in his current role as Managing Director of Norman Media where he has found his passion creating audio and video content. With a love for filming he also used his past experience as a pilot to obtain a Commercial RPAS Pilot licence, which allowed him to incorporate using a drone to film footage, adding yet another string to his bow.