The founding father of Craving Cork, 31-year-old Mark Kelleher from Bishopstown, says he has all the time been artistic and has had a eager curiosity in images and videography from a younger age.
With an eye fixed for element, Mark says he knew fairly early on in life that he can be doing one thing within the artistic sphere.
“I bear in mind getting my first laptop again once I was about 10 years outdated and it got here with a really fundamental webcam,” he says. “I wasn’t extremely popular as a toddler and I did not have many pals in my neighbourhood, so I used to spend my summers at dwelling making an attempt to recreate scenes from my favorite films with my webcam – I feel that is what first sparked my curiosity in content material creation.”
Mark received his first skilled digital camera on the age of 21 and says he’s “very a lot self-taught”.
“I would not by any means think about myself knowledgeable videographer however I do have a real ardour for it and I feel that makes all of the distinction,” he says.
When he sat his Leaving Cert, in 2010, he initially wished to review inside structure however did not get sufficient factors for his most popular course.
“I had no thought what to do outdoors of this; my second possibility on my CAO was Hospitality Administration so that is what I ended up doing for the following 4 years at MTU,” he mentioned. “I labored in lodges whereas finishing the course – which taught me rather a lot in regards to the hospitality trade, customer support, and a spotlight to element. After this, I went on to do a Masters in Advertising and marketing which I actually beloved.
“I moved to Toronto in 2017 and spent a few years working in each the hospitality and advertising industries earlier than transferring again to Cork on the finish of 2019.
“I loved my work however I nonetheless felt like I wasn’t utilizing my abilities and what I actually loved to construct my profession. I took a job at a neighborhood manufacturing unit whereas I did some soul-searching for tactics to merge my expertise in advertising and hospitality with my ardour for images and videography.
“My father and grandfather had been each entrepreneurs and I feel that gene was handed on to me, however I simply did not know utilise it,” he says.
Throughout his time in Toronto got here throughout a media web page that showcased the town and all it needed to provide in a novel and inventive approach and began to marvel why Cork did not have one thing related.
Together with his considering cap on, he started to play with some concepts, desirous to create one thing distinctive that primarily targeted on the tourism and hospitality trade in Cork.
“I had been to so many unimaginable bars, eating places and hidden gems in Cork over time and I wished to point out these off and create a hub for individuals who had been on the lookout for issues to do within the metropolis.
“There have been already quite a few present girls’s blogs and information websites in Cork however I wished to create one thing distinctive, fashionable, and primarily concentrate on tourism and hospitality, and that is when the thought for Craving Cork was born.
“Consider it because the love baby between Lovin Dublin, The Lad Bible and Tornonto’s BlogTO,” he says.
Craving Cork (@cravingcork) started its journey on Instagram in 2020, a couple of week earlier than the pandemic hit.
In contrast to different media pages in Cork, Mark took a social-media-first method and targeted totally on constructing his viewers and engagements earlier than launching his information web site.
“I knew that I wanted to spend a while constructing a relationship with my followers, determining what they appreciated and disliked, and the sorts of content material they wished to eat.
“A few 12 months later, I launched my information web site CravingCork.ie and that is when issues began to essentially take off. I had discovered my area of interest, invested in my ability units, and upgraded my digital camera and tools, and I rapidly noticed the enterprise develop from energy to energy.
“I launched my social media company, Craving Media in 2022 which meant I used to be lastly in a position to make this my full-time job.
“Across the similar time, I knew I wished so as to add a little bit of character to the enterprise as I realised it was missing that human ingredient, so I made a decision to rent two of my finest pals Dan and Emma to work as presenters for my movies.
“They have actually each been doing an unimaginable job representing Food craving Cork and the general public completely loves them.”
Talking in regards to the way of life he now has as a full-time content material creator and enterprise proprietor, Mark claims that no two days are the identical. He’s glued to the desk writing some days as well as out and about capturing content material for shoppers on different days.
Mark says he additionally prioritises time away from the desk and work commitments by conserving match and energetic and has actually joined the native LGBT operating membership The Frontrunners.
Talking about what recommendation he would give to those that need to make a profession out of content material creation, he mentioned: “Discover your area of interest, concentrate on creating your strengths, cease losing time making an attempt to enhance your weaknesses as well as put money into your tools.
“It may be exhausting to beat imposter syndrome however you simply must let go of your inside perfectionist as well as belief that your job will persistently enhance in time.”
