About Us

Sideline Productions was established in late 2005 when founders Billy McGrath (creative director) and Gerry Kelly (MD) crossed paths while exploring some new formats and production ideas for the Irish market.

Both had come a long way in the respective industries – Billy with music, comedy and TV & Gerry with finance, mobile commerce and new technology – and wanted to do something together. Forming a production company seemed the best platform to realise the ‘big ideas’. You can guess from the company name that both share a love of sport, in particular GAA, and the highlights of the 2005 GAA Championship season was their first production – albeit for the DVD market. If you ask nicely - and choose the right moment - the real story of how Sideline actually got together will be told. Let’s say it was the original Croke Park agreement!

Since its launch, the company has been one of the most successful and busiest prodcos in Ireland with an extensive list of hit shows for Irish and UK broadcasters plus an international production track record that has led Sideline crews to shoot complete shows in Australia, South Africa, Spain, France, Holland, Turkey, Haiti, Poland, Italy, Greece, USA, the UK and more. Some of our productions have also been bought for broadcast in Australia and Asian markets. 100% Irish owned, Sideline now is ripe for international growth and always seeking like-minded commercial partners.

Our Services

TV Production

Full production service with a reputation for delivering to tight budgets & fast turnaround with no compromise on quality.

Digital Video

Whether is a 3 minute promo, a 30 minute scripted project or a customised piece of video content we can deliver.

Formats

Sideline owns a catalogue of in house developed concepts some of which have already been commissioned.

Training

The skills of TV and video production from Producer and Director roles to filming skills and editing insights.

DVD

One of the top DVD producers in Ireland with a vast knowledge of the process from concept to top shelf.

Comedy Lab

We work with new comedy talent with a view to producing content for TV and online

Billy McGrath

Co-Founder and Creative Director

Billy is responsible for all development, editorial content and ensuring a top class production on screen, developing new ideas and emerging talent

Billy was a major pioneering figure in the development of Irish music (manager, promoter and PR) and comedy (performer, writer and promoter) before training with RTÉ as a TV producer / director in the mid 1980s. Both passions were to the fore as new ideas and talent were brought to RTÉ screens before Billy moved to London as features director on the BAFTA award-winning Channel 4 music series WIRED (Initial TV London ‘88).

His documentary films with U2, The Pogues and Clannad were screened at festivals in Dublin, London, Washington, Brazil and on TV throughout the world. In the 1990s Billy again immersed himself in script and comedy. Working between London, Belfast and Dublin, Billy also kick started an Irish comedy circuit, won a European Script Award, The National Entertainment Award for Comedy, was the first course designer and trainer with Irish Screen Training (Writing Comedy for TV) plus gained project development and management experience with major production companies and broadcasters in Ireland and the UK.

Returning from London in 1998, Billy wrote and produced the history of Irish TV comedy - Gay Byrne’s Make ‘Em Laugh - for Tyrone Productions/RTE (top 10 viewed programme of the year), joined Ireland’s first commercial broadcaster TV3 as Executive Producer and soon after was appointed RTE’s first Commissioning Editor of Entertainment (2000-02) before re-joining the commercial world. Billy’s first independent commission Close Encounters with Keith Barry (a talent spotted while at RTE) was nominated for both an IFTA and Rose D’Or Award plus remains RTE International’s biggest ever success in the international TV Entertainment sales market.

In late 2005 SIDELINE was established with Billy responsible for all development, editorial content and ensuring a top class production on screen, developing new ideas and emerging talent.

> Contact Billy

Gerry Kelly

Co-Founder and Commercial Director

Gerry is responsible for the commercial running of Sideline, managing and delivering commissions on time and on budget with a focus on production o

Gerry comes from a business and financial background and had a 20 year career in investment banking and stockbroking before venturing out to develop some personal business interests. He has more than a passing interest and knowledge of technology and keenly follows emerging technologies and trends to understand the impact and opportunities for traditional business. Nowhere is this more evident than in the TV and video industry. This may be seen as a threat but our commercial approach is to view it as an opportunity. Sideline is constantly exploring new avenues to add value for broadcasters plus focusing on merging sponsorship and AFP opportunities both on TV and online as major brands seek new broadcast routes to engage their target audience.

Gerry is primarily responsible for the commercial running of Sideline and making sure each individual commission is managed and delivered on time and on budget. On the production side Gerry keeps a focus on production opportunities across all merging platforms - specifically with sport and Irish content.

> Contact Gerry

David Malone

Series / Executive Producer / Director

David has a keen interest in developing new shows and building upon relationships with commissioners & broadcasters home and away.

With extensive experience across major Irish and UK broadcasters, David is an experienced Producer / Director who has emerged as a successful Series / Executive Producer of large TV projects from conception through all stages of production to delivery.

His UK credits (2005 – 2011) include At Home With The Noonans (Sky / AETN); The One Show (BBC 1); The Beauty of Maps (BBC4); The Last Resort (BBC NI); Colin & Graham’s Excellent Adventures (BBC / RTÉ); Saving Planet Earth (BBC 2); MacIntyre’s Underworld (Five) and Witness: Reverend Death (Ch4). In Ireland David has also overseen the RTÉ factual series CrimeCall; The Late Late Show (RTÉ) and for SIDELINE - family entertainment series Class Act.

In 2012 his credits include series 3 & 4 of Take Me Out and both series of the iconic BBC format Celebrity Mastermind and Junior Mastermind. All produced by Sideline for TV3 Ireland.

> Contact David

Úna Shinners

Senior Producer

Úna is a brilliant 'all rounder' across all genres and has worked with Sideline from the beginning.

Credits include the major RTÉ One lifestyle series Community Challenge (2005/6); big family studio series Class Act (RTÉ Entertainment 07/08); primetime factual entertainment series Baby On Board (RTÉ Lifestyle 06/07); international obdoc fashion series The Model Scouts produced in association with IMG Models NY and Paris (8 x 1 hour IFTA nominee for RTÉ Lifestyle 2010) and 4 part history / factual series Behind Bars with Donal McIntyre (TV3/BAI 2011). In early 2012 Una produced 25 shows of Alan Hughes Family Fortunes RXed in 10 days ( (10 x 50s & 15 x 25s for TV3) and also producing the 3rd season of Ireland’s Top Teens – in assoc with Permanent TSB and Foróige – for TV3.

> Contact Úna

John Henderson

The Comedy Division

John has been writing and performing comedy for nearly 20 years and in the last decade has increasingly focused on writing and script editing comed

His radio credits include a New Year sketch show (BBC Radio 4) plus 'Henderson's History of the World' and the imaginatively titled 'Henderson's History of the World Part 2' (RTÉ Radio 1).

John has been a long-time collaborator with comedian Jason Byrne co-writing 'The Jason Byrne Show’ (RTÉ), 'Out on a Limb' (BBC); 'Jason Byrne Hates...' (BBC), The Byrne Ultimatum' (RTÉ) and produced the RTÉ special 'Jason Byrne - Up Close & Personal' (2010).

John was also head writer for all 40 shows of studio entertainment series 'Take Me Out' (TV3 2011-2013) and in early 2012 scripted all 32 episodes of 'Craig Doyle Live' (RTÉ). John will drive Sideline’s commitment to produce comedy for radio, TV, film and the web whilst developing projects with new & established talent, sponsors / brands and broadcasters across all platforms.

> Contact John

Stephanie Quilligan

Digital Producer / Development

After specialising in Documentary in DIT Dublin, Stephanie branched out into all aspects of media, working in production, camera, editing and digit

Stephanie produced, shot and edited the online series for the first series of The Voice of Ireland (RTÉ Entertainment). Other credits include coordinator on The Apprentice (TV3), production on Masterchef (RTÉ), Dragons’ Den (RTÉ), Test the Teachers (RTÉ) and camera op and editor of Shopping from Home (RTÉ). She also has assisted on web videos for the food sequences on Operation Transformation (RTÉ) and Blásíní Beatha (TG4). Stephanie will AP and develop new TV shows across all platforms plus liaising with new clients and brands with ambitions to commission or sponsor digital programming or viral videos for all platforms.

> Contact Stephanie