It is not possible to summarise John’s experience in one document,however some of the highlights of his career in television lighting design and lighting direction include the following.

  • National Events such as the State funeral of Dr Garret Fitzgerald, Donnybrook Dublin for RTE and various elections (both lighting and Outside Broadcast Management) for various companies
  • Large Scale Arena Events such as The Meteor Ireland Music Awards 2010, RDS Dublin and O2 Smartsounds, The O2 Arena, Dublin.
  • Primetime Entertainment Shows such as Ireland’s Got Talent for (TV3), Masterchef Singapore, Kawaliss (Medi 1, Morocco), The All Ireland Talent Show Live Studio Finals for all three series (RTE).
One off outdoor and location events such as:
  • T in the Park 2010 for BBC 3 / BBC Scotland Studio.
  • Several National Lottery Live Draws (RTE for National Lottery).
  • X-Factor, Live Inserts into final. St Columbs Hall, Derry.
  • The 50th International Eucharistic Congress from Croke Park Stadium and RDS Dublin, broadcast live to many countries around the world. Lighting Design and Lighting Direction. (lso broadcast engineering supervision at RDS.

John is particularly renowned for his work on high profile outside broadcasts and has lit specials of some broadcasters flagship shows:

  • Ireland’s Got Talent (Auditions and Live Finals) with Kite Entertainment for TV. The Helix, Dublin
  • Flinch Club. Series with Stelify Media for Netflix.
  • RTE Easter Ceremonies and Christmas Carols for several years and various locations.
  • Oireachtas for TG4 – several years and various locations.
  • Tubridy Tonight. Christmas Specials for RTE (Cork and Letterkenny).
  • Eurovision (EBU) Religious Services – broadcast live across Europe (various locations).

Broadcasters regularly engage John as a consultant, to provide lighting design for installations and long running series and to train their staff. Some examples of this include:

  • BBC Newsline (BBC Northern Ireland). Lighting design. Lighting and vision control awareness training for staff directors.
  • Ros na Run (TG4). Lighting design review and mentoring.
  • TG4. All studio shows. Lighting designs, staff training and mentoring.

Perhaps a mark of John’s standing within the industry is demonstrated by the fact that other leading LDs from the UK and elsewhere engage him to take over productions or deputise for them. Examples include:

  • Olympic Games 2012. (After design by Nick Collier).
  • The Weakest Link, Pinewood Studios. (Deputising LD for Will Charles)
  • Guinness 250 Concert at the Tripod, Dublin (After design by Al Gurdon).
  • Emu (Endemol for CITV) (After original design by Will Charles).
  • The Brendan Courtney Show (After original design by Mark Kenyon).

Production management work for City of Culture 2013 included the following events:

  • City of Culture 2013 Launch Event on Peace Bridge and City Hotel
  • Turner Prize Launch and Awards Shows (Production Management and Lighting Design)
  • Relief of Derry Symphony – City of Culture 2013 Finale Show (Production Management and Lighting Design)
  • Other Voices from The Glassworks
  • London Symphony Orchestra: Best of John Williams Concert
  • Status Quo Concert
  • Primal Scream Concert