Padraic Gilligan / Founder, SoolNua

I feel so fortunate Padraic (say “Paw-Rick”) took the time to read and edit an early version of the book because if you didn’t know this about Padraic, before he started first a marketing company, and then Ovation with Patrick (Delaney) he taught literature and English. Along with music and family, writing is part of his core and one of the reasons we met, as we were both blogging, and active on Twitter in the early days of #eventprofs. At last, our paths crossed IRL (in real life) when we were both at FICP in San Antonio. After a couple of days trading Twitter messages, most flashed across the big screen in the plenary and lunch spaces because live Twitter feeds were pretty cool back then, we met and have been talking on many mediums since then. Over the years, we have both changed roles, and when we see each other sporadically at industry events on two continents the conversation always starts as if it never stopped.

We had the pleasure to spend time with Padraic and his lovely wife Rita when at last he graced Vancouver, not just to see the city but also their lovely twin daughters who spent ‘gap’ time here. Being music lovers it was delightful to end up at a fabulous outdoor symphony performance at Jack Poole Plaza. Another musical interlude was also one of my favourite conversations with Padraic, at another FICP event, this time in Hawaii at a welcome reception, sitting on a great lawn while a great band lent a Hawaiian tone to familiar music, and through the evening old friends and new wove through the  conversation, adding new ideas and perspectives. His work with this organization, and now with SITE and the SITE Foundation continues to set industry benchmarks.

I deeply appreciate his perspective, and know the book is better for his thoughtful edits and comments. One day, I hope to get to Ireland!