George Hook is an Irish broadcaster, journalist and rugby union pundit. He had a career as a rugby union coach and businessman, before becoming a rugby pundit with Irish television station RTÉ. He hosts The Right Hook on the Irish nationwide radio station Newstalk and appeared as a coach on... Read more
George Hook is an Irish broadcaster, journalist and rugby union pundit. He had a career as a rugby union coach and businessman, before becoming a rugby pundit with Irish television station RTÉ. He hosts The Right Hook on the Irish nationwide radio station Newstalk and appeared as a coach on RTÉ’s reality TV show, Celebrity Bainisteoir.
George grew up in Cork and attended Presentation Brothers College, a fee-paying school and rugby union stronghold. Subsequently he attended Rathmines College of Commerce.
George Hook has had a number of jobs, beginning as a temporary clerk for CIÉ, and later becoming a travelling salesman for the Burroughs Corporation (now Unisys). He also ran a catering business for over twenty years. He coached London Irish, Connacht, and St. Benildus College, as well as the American National Team in the 1987 Rugby World Cup.
Hook’s radio show on Newstalk 106 ‘The Right Hook’ is a popular evening drive-time programme. Hook appears as a rugby pundit on RTÉ on a regular basis and appeared as a judge on RTE celebrity dancing show ‘Jigs & Reels’. He has also been parodied in The State of Us.
In 2005, he published an autobiography, “Time Added On”.
In 2009, he visited the impoverished Caribbean island nation of Haiti where he was moved to tears by the plight of the poor people who lived there so much that he organised a recruitment drive to get volunteers to go there on a house building week The next day a vicious earthquake struck Haiti. After the earthquake Hook was heard to say: “It is a godforsaken place. God has literally forsaken it.” Following the January 2010 earthquake. Hook urged his radio listeners to donate money.
George Hook is also the patron of Comber Foundation, an Irish charity working in Romania since 1991. His daughter Michelle McGill is also a trustee. The charity provides homes in the community for adults with disabilities who grew up in institutions and orphanages.
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You can book George Hook through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with George's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.
George Hook's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for George tailored to your event.
George Hook speaks on a range of business, leadership and industry subjects. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with George to align the content with your delegates and goals.
London Speaker Bureau can book George Hook for events worldwide, subject to George's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.
Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether George Hook is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).
Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what George can accommodate.
London Speaker Bureau will brief George Hook on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what George can offer.
George Hook delivers keynotes in English. This profile may not list every language available; ask London Speaker Bureau to confirm. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.
George Hook's areas of expertise include a range of business, leadership and industry subjects. To get a clear sense of George's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.
George Hook can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in a range of business, leadership and industry subjects is relevant. Details of George's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.
Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what George Hook is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.
We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with George Hook, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check George's current availability for your dates.