My first award

I'll never forget my first award. DIT organised a programme to highlight the dangers that students face making their way to college. The College Awareness of Road Safety award for Best Poster as judged by Cawley Nea went to my poster highlighting the dangers if cycling and listening to your iPod. I was supposed to win an iPod for my trouble but never got it :(

Some of my work!

I'll never forget the first ad I ever had printed. Went into the Irish Direct Mail Association directory to promote the below-the-line agency I was working for at the time. I'm proud of this and like its simplicity because the message speaks for itself.



I'll never forget the first national press ad I ever did. Went in The Irish Independant (and Business Ireland too). Was a real tricky brief because it's not the most interesting topic but I think I did well with it.



and another ad that went into Business and Finance. The copy was already there and they just needed a killer line. Did they get one?



A college campaign pitch to promote public transport for the Department of Transport. Bit of fun. Minimal copy for the posters. Clean and clear.







A digital pitch. Banner ads for 3 to promote their new offer of 20% off business calls. They didn't go with them but I still like the copy.

Brilliant Photographer - Neil Gavin

I'll never forget seeing this hanging on a wall in London. Crackin photo! It doesn't looked staged. Chris Evans isn't pimped up in make-up and there wasn't any photoshopping done at all. Just raw. Captured a moment brilliantly.

Check out www.neilgavin.com for more brilliant photos.

Where i go to get inspired

I'll never forget my amazing trips to these amazing places! Each of them has thought me a different thing.

The city that never sleeps
Big is beautiful. If you have an idea just f**king go for it. Don't be afraid what people think as long as you're not hurting anybody. The people, the art, the money and the size of everything is brilliant.



London innit
I love to go here because of the size of the place and all the different people. Been over about 5 times but haven't had a chance to work there yet. Met some amazing copywriters, photographers and stylist last time I was over there so soon hopefully.



The Manchester United Dressing Room
If ever there was more proof that hard work and self belief pay off than look no further than the people who have sat in this room.



Not all the places I go to get inspired are in the three dimensional world. I also love visiting the following websites:

adsoftheworld.com
I'm never really sure about the validity of the ads on show but I don't really care 'cause some of the ads arebrilliant.

pauldervan.com
I don't know too much about the guy but he keeps his posts short and sweet and there's some lovely insights available.

creativeireland.com
Some of the posts can be quite cruel but some of them are very entertaining

scaryideas.com
Very clean layout, just straight up ads. Its like the Google of ad sites

The Shining as you've never seen it before

I'll never forget when my sister sent me this link. Loving the song too (Peter Gabriel - Solsbury Hill).

Phenomenal!!

I'll never forget seeing this ad for the first time. Although I love simple ads with a strong message this is anything but simple and started manys a fight when first viewed 'cause people didn't believe it was real. I know it's stereotypical but this is probably my favourite ad of all time.




I'll never forget when I was working as a lounge boy and this came on the TV during the half time of a United match. Everybody in the pub stopped talking for 30 seconds in amazement. The second it finished the fights about it's authenticity started and I knew I wanted in on the advertising game.

My least favourite TV ad. Good god!

I'll never forget my reaction to this ad when I saw somebody on Facebook saying they wanted to have a 'poo in Paul's' and somebody else replied 'I love that ad'. I had no idea what they were talking about so googled it. I am still in shock at this...

My favourite bits of creativity

I'll never forget the great nights I've had at these gigs. Amazing what you can do with raw talent and lack of shame! Check out the best tribute band in the world, Spring Break. Special mention to the silent member of the band, Dan's wind machine.

www.springbreak80s.com



I'll never forget keeping this in my wallet for two years to show people cause I thought it was so funny! Gary Larson is a creative genius because all he has is a pen, a piece of paper and the best sense of humour on the planet.

My favourite TV ads

I'll never forget the following ads...

I love this ad for the simplicity of the execution but the power of the message. No big budget. No big actor. Just a great little actor in an empty room. Lovely



I love the weirdness of this ad and the fact that you really don't get what's going on until the end yet you can't turn away before you find out. I love the style of it too but where did they get your man?



Love this ad too. This is one of the oldest ads that I remember and my ma loved it. There's a lot of old TV ads coming back on our screens because nostalgia is in at the moment (and money is out) and I think they should release this again. I love good music in ads too and this has a brilliant piece of music from Dusty Springfield. Special nod to Alan Hughes from TV3 too.

Start up of the UpStarts - my first blog

So this is my first post of my blog. I've created this blog as part of the UpStarts programme which I'm delighted to have just become a part of. It's a cliche I know but I've been meaning to start a blog for some time. So here goes.