Sean Ginnelly: Working Close To Home
Sean Ginnelly is the manager and marketing director at The Curragh Traditional Irish Pub in Edison Park, Ill. Ginnelly has made a major impact on the pub’s success and continues to serve as its major promotional agent.
Born and raised in Castlebar, Co. Mayo, Ireland and educated in Galway with a Bachelor Honors Degree in Hotel Management, Ginnelly graduated top of his class in 1995. He worked and studied in Germany for a year, completed postgraduate management training in England with Choice Hotels International and spent periods of time working in Birmingham, London, as a free-lance marketer. Ginnelly returned to Ireland and worked with the Gleneagle Hotel Group of Dublin before moving to the United States in 1999 to work with the newly opened Curragh Traditional Irish Pub in Schaumburg, Ill.
When it came time to open the pub at its new location, Ginnelly took the reins. After careful planning, thoughtful design and immense promotion of the pub’s distinctively different experience, the pub reopened its doors in 2009. “With a little help from the marketing genius, guests poured into the pub and were prepared for that true Irish hospitality we’ve always promised,” said Paul Leongas, owner of the pub.
Ginnelly has always believed in doing things with his culture in mind. “If people are going to an Irish pub, they’re going to want Irish everything: food, drinks, music, people, and ultimately, a feel for who we are,” said Ginnelly.
To continue to keep his culture at heart, Ginnelly completed the Radio Connections Broadcasting Course in 2002, and became the host of the Good Morning Ireland Show in 2005. “It’s my chance to talk about what I want, to cover news and events, and still be close to family, even if it’s only my voice they’re hearing,” said Ginnelly in regards to leaving his family in Ireland.
As Ginnelly continues to build his skills, he has made it a priority to get in touch with current marketing trends. “Facebook, Twitter, the web: it’s everything you need as a marketer today.” Ginnelly manages the pub’s website and Facebook page and is working on a Twitter presence. Ginnelly sees a future continued in marketing, but aspires to get more involved with non-profit work, and live what he calls, “the life of an Irish marketer.”
Sean Ginnelly is the manager and marketing director at The Curragh Traditional Irish Pub in Edison Park, Ill. Ginnelly has made a major impact on the pub’s success and continues to serve as its major promotional agent.
Born and raised in Castlebar, Co. Mayo, Ireland and educated in Galway with a Bachelor Honors Degree in Hotel Management, Ginnelly graduated top of his class in 1995. He worked and studied in Germany for a year, completed postgraduate management training in England with Choice Hotels International and spent periods of time working in Birmingham, London, as a free-lance marketer. Ginnelly returned to Ireland and worked with the Gleneagle Hotel Group of Dublin before moving to the United States in 1999 to work with the newly opened Curragh Traditional Irish Pub in Schaumburg, Ill.
When it came time to open the pub at its new location, Ginnelly took the reins. After careful planning, thoughtful design and immense promotion of the pub’s distinctively different experience, the pub reopened its doors in 2009. “With a little help from the marketing genius, guests poured into the pub and were prepared for that true Irish hospitality we’ve always promised,” said Paul Leongas, owner of the pub.
Ginnelly has always believed in doing things with his culture in mind. “If people are going to an Irish pub, they’re going to want Irish everything: food, drinks, music, people, and ultimately, a feel for who we are,” said Ginnelly.
To continue to keep his culture at heart, Ginnelly completed the Radio Connections Broadcasting Course in 2002, and became the host of the Good Morning Ireland Show in 2005. “It’s my chance to talk about what I want, to cover news and events, and still be close to family, even if it’s only my voice they’re hearing,” said Ginnelly in regards to leaving his family in Ireland.
As Ginnelly continues to build his skills, he has made it a priority to get in touch with current marketing trends. “Facebook, Twitter, the web: it’s everything you need as a marketer today.” Ginnelly manages the pub’s website and Facebook page and is working on a Twitter presence. Ginnelly sees a future continued in marketing, but aspires to get more involved with non-profit work, and live what he calls, “the life of an Irish marketer.”
