Celebrity Chef at Lough Rynn Castle. JSB battles against Today FM's Ray Foley, Fair City's Alan Devine and RTE's Sinead Hussey.

The Media Box team pack their bags this week and head south for lovely Co. Leitrim.  You see JSB has been sharpening her knives in anticipation of her celebrity chef cook-off and the entire Media Box will join her for support.

Organised by the Carrick-on-Shannon Dyslexia Workshop “Celebrity Chef” takes place in Lough Rynn Castle, Mohill, Co Leitrim this Friday 24^th February.

Four celebrities will have four experienced and renowned chefs by their side as they compete for the title of Lough Rynn Castle’s Celebrity Chef.

Media Box’s Joanne Sweeney-Burke teams up with her old comrade Gary O’Hanlon – who is now Head Chef at Viewmount House Hotel, Longford – from their days in the kitchen of the Rosapenna Hotel, Downings. Joanne started off as 15-year old washing dishes while a younger Gary was pot-washer. They both served their time as commi chef and Executive Chef respectively after learning the trade during their summers as teenagers.

Speaking this week at the launch of the event, Gary – who was recently named one of Ireland’s top Chefs and who is also a regular celebrity chef on our TV  screens – says, “it’s been 18 years since Joanne and I were sweating it out in the kitchen of the Rosapenna Hotel. Under the guise of Frankie Casey he trained us to understand hard work pays off. It’s a real privilege to team up with my old mate Joanne who has proved herself to be a successful business person.

Joanne and Gary will battle against high profile stars including Today FM’s Ray Foley, RTÉ Journalist Sinead Hussey and Fair City’s Alan Devine. Each celebrity will have their own chef as mentor.

The judges for the event are RTE’s Naula Carey, Co-Editor of the Sunday Business Post Gillian Nellis, and Agenda Magazine Food writer Alex Meehan. Meanwhile, one lucky member of the audience will become a guest judge on the night.

According to Joanne, “I’m not the world’s best cook, in fact I leave that to my husband Tom. So I’m thinking this is perhaps a task too far for me. However, teaming up with Gary is perhaps my saving grace. I know he’s hugely competitive and having been recently named as one of Ireland’s top 10 chefs, I think I’m in safe hands. And anway beating Ray Foley would be worth fighting for.”

Each celebrity will be cooking a dish of their choice and also preparing a dish from the mystery basket.

Audience members will be asked to vote on their favourite celebrity dish and together with the panel‘s result a winner will be declared. We wish JSB the very best of luck – we understand she is a bit nervous but we look forward to tasting her culinary delights!

No time for tea this morning – we have lots to do given our half day on Friday.

Until next week, keep running in heels!

The Media Box Team.

Up Close & Personal with JSB - Thursday 17th February, Gallagher's Hotel, 7.00pm

This week sees JSB headlines an event for Letterkenny Chamber. “In conversation with Joanne Sweeney-Burke” takes place this Thursday at 7.00pm in Gallagher’s Hotel.

Joanne’s shift into Reality TV last year has provided some new material for commentators when she was forced to leave her family, business and her life for 12 weeks during the summer of 2011. This was followed by a 12-week stint on national Television as she was beamed into half a million living rooms every Monday night.

Now she shares the trials and tribulations of her Apprentice journey in an intimate setting, at an event organised by Letterkenny Chamber. The cost is just €10.00 so come along and pose your burning question to JSB. Email deirdre@letterkennychamber.com to book your place.

This week also sees some new and exciting projects launched internally at Media Box. While there is lots in the pipeline we just can’t tell you all the details right now. Let’s just say JSB has been busy with weekly tasks and new client meetings.

We were delighted to see Corinne (Media Box’s personal shopper and visual merchandiser and all round PR & Marketing whizz) take some time out for Dirty Dancing.  A big fan of the 80’s movie, Corinne took herself off to the Grand Canal Theatre Dublin for a riveting night of nostalgia and nonchalance.

Welcoming our newbie’s this week – Shannon from Loreto Convent, Letterkenny and Ella who’s studying Fashion Journalism in Galway.  Welcome to Media Box interns – it’s time to learn the ropes of business and media.  It’s time to have fun.

So tea’s up – time for our weekly team meeting.

Until next week, keep running in heels!

The Media Box Team.

Today FM's Mairead Farrell, Media Box's Joanne Sweeney-Burke and Mara Media's Hugh Bonner launch Ireland's first Cycling Show at the Mansion House, Dublin. The event takes place 19-20 May this year.

All in a week’s work at Media Box.  In the past seven days we had afternoon tea with Lord Mayor of Dublin Andrew Montaghue, helped Today’s FM’s Mairead Farrell ready herslef for our photo-shoot and joined Economist and Broadcaster David McWilliams for a conversation on the future of Ireand’s Republic.

Also on the panel were Colm O’Gorman, Amnesty Interanationl and Diarmuid Ferriter, Professor of Modern History at UCD.

Also this week Celebrity Chef at Leitrim’s Lough Rynn Castle was launched to raise funds for the Carrick-on-Shannon Dyslexia Association. It sees Donegal-duo Joanne Sweeney-Burke and Gary O’Hanlon team up for the title of “Celebrity Chef” at Lough Rynn Castle.

They will compete against Today FM’s Ray Foley, RTE Journalist Sinead Hussey and Fair City star Alan Devine each of whom will have a chef as mentor.  Tickets available for €10 from Lough Rynn Castle.

If you didn’t catch our January eZine edtion of “ChatterBox” then you can read it here http://bit.ly/zR27P0 An exclusive interview with Diarmuid Gavin, the Media Box University Schedule is announced and some exciting client news.

But back to the Mansion House and we were delighted to launch Ireland’s first Cycling Show taking place in the RDS on the 19-20 May.  Organised by Donegal man and avid cyclist Hugh Bonner it promises to be one of the major new shows of the year. Full details on www.irishcyclingshow.com

And Today FM’s Mairead Farrell proved to be a gem as our photos clearly illustrate.

So tea’s up – time for our weekly team meeting.

Until next week, keep running in heels.

The Media Box Team.

Celebrity Chef at Lough Rynn Castle Leitrim, Friday 24th February 2012

Joanne Sweeney-Burke and Gary O’Hanlon take on Star-Studded Line-Up

Former Rosapenna Hotel duo Joanne Sweeney-Burke and Gary O’Hanlon team up for a high profile charity event in Lough Rynn Castle, Co. Leitrim later this month.

Organised by the Carrick-on-Shannon Dyslexia Workshop “Celebrity Chef” takes place in Lough Rynn Castle, Mohill, Co Leitrim on Friday 24^th February.

Four celebrities will have four experienced and renowned chefs by their side as they compete for the title of Lough Rynn Castle’s Celebrity Chef title.

Media Box’s Joanne Sweeney-Burke teams up with her old comrade Gary O’Hanlon – who is now Head Chef at Viewmount House Hotel, Longford – from their days in the kitchen of the Rosapenna Hotel, Downings. Joanne started off as 15-year old washing dishes while a younger Gary was pot-washer. They both served their time as commi chef and Executive Chef respectively after learning the trade during their summers as teenagers.

Speaking this week at the launch of the event Ramelton native, top Chef and TV star, Gary O’Hanlon says, “it’s been 18 years since Joanne and I were sweating it out in the kitchen of the Rosapenna Hotel. Under the guise of Frankie Casey he trained us to understand hard work pays off. It’s a real privilege to team up with my old mate Joanne who has proved herself to be a successful business person.”

Joanne and Gary will battle against high profile stars including Today FM’s Ray Foley,

RTÉ Journalist Sinead Hussey and Fair City’s Alan Devine. Each celebrity will have their own chef as mentor.

The judges for the event are RTE’s Naula Carey, Co-Editor of the Sunday Business Post Gillian Nellis, and Agenda Magazine Food writer Alex Meehan. Meanwhile, one lucky member of the audience will become a guest judge on the night.

According to Joanne, “I’m not the world’s best cook, in fact I leave that to my husband Tom. So I’m thinking this is perhaps a task too far for me. However, teaming up with Gary is perhaps my saving grace. I know he’s hugely competitive and having been recently named as one of Ireland’s top 10 chefs, I think I’m in safe hands. And anway beating Ray Foley would be worth fighting for.”

Each celebrity will be cooking a dish of their choice and also preparing a dish from the mystery basket.

Audience members will be asked to vote on their favourite celebrity dish and together with the panel‘s result a winner will be declared.

Entertainment will be provided by the famous Looney Hoppers. Tickets priced just €10 are available Lough Rynn Castle.

Media Box eZine ChatterBox

The January edition of our eZine “ChatterBox” is now out. Featuring this month are:

- Gardener-extradordinaire Diarmuid Gavin

- In conversation with JSB – The Apprentice

- Media Box University Schedule 2012

- Media Box client news

So put on the kettle and happy reading!

Media Box January 2012 eZine

Graduate Your Business or Yourself with Media Box University

This morning we unveil the 2012 Training Schedule from Media Box University.  Our broad range of training courses in public relations, media skillls, public speaking, social media and marketing have been a huge success since we launched them back in June.

Now we are bringing our training courses West, to Sligo and Galway and potentially into other counties.  One of the most remarkable learnings since launching our training academy has been the number of individuals who want to retrain and learn highly transferable skills.

This week we completed a project training 60 people form the Community and Voluntary sector in Donegal which was done in conjunction with Donegal County Community Forum.

So have a look at our list of courses and start booking. Remember we also design company-specific training to meet specific learning needs.

Today we released the bumper January edition of our eZine ChatterBox. We now have over 500 businesses subscribing to our newsletter and growing.

Did you notice our new facebook App last week?  We have now integrated our website into our facebook page and we can do it for you too. Click on this link to view it http://on.fb.me/y16my9

The Media Box team are preparing for a busy February with two launches, new project wins and a series of photo shoots.

So tea’s up – time for our weekly team meeting.

Until next week, keep running in heels!

The Media Box Team.

Love Your Business is a Valentine’s gift from Media Box to their loyal clients...

Media Box is celebrating business success with its campaign “14 Days of Love” from the 1^st-14^th February.

Love Your Business is a Valentine’s gift from Media Box to their loyal clients.

Each client will have the Media Box team promote their business across our social media platforms to our fans and followers.  They can upload photos, start competitions and inform customers of any special offers, news or events on the Media Box Facebook and Twitter platforms.

Media Box will also tell their fans and followers why they love their clients while the Media Box team will also be giving out a top social media tip each day.

“We have a loyal customer base and our success is dependant on their success. So we decided to spread the love this February. So this campaign is dedicated to them,” says Joanne Sweeney-Burke, MD of Media Box,.

Media Box clients have been busy coming up with special offers and treats for you this Valentine’s Day so be sure to check out what they have in store! Log onto www.facebook.com/mediabox or follow @jsmediabox on twitter to find out more. For more information please contact Joanne Sweeney Burke on 074-9726476 or email joanne@mediabox.ie