Michael is a Senior Copywriter, 
Oscar-shortlisted and IFTA-nominated screenwriter,  and aspiring stationary cyclist.




I’ve spent the last decade at Dublin agencies like Folk Wunderman Thompson, Publicis, and Boys + Girls, working on campaigns for brands like Three, NOW, Guinness, and Vodafone. Highlights include robovac-riding lizards, talking anthropomorphic meat thermometers, jackhammer riding road workers, and the occasional heartfelt tearjerker.

My first short film, Room Taken, was shortlisted for an Oscar and nominated for an IFTA in 2025, has picked up over 60 international awards, and was listed on Variety’s predicted nominee list for the 2025 Oscars. During its Oscar campaign, Colin Farrell joined as Executive Producer to support the film’s reach on the international stage.

I also run Reeling in the Weird, a cult Instagram archive of Irish oddities with 150,000 followers.





Agencies

Boys + Girls
Folk Wunderman Thompson
Publicis Dublin
The Public House
In The Company of Huskies




Selected Clients

Vodafone, Cadbury, Jameson, Guinness, Three, NOW, Kellogg's, SuperValu, Lucozade, Heinz, An Post, Škoda, Irish Cancer Society, Nestlé, AXA, Tullamore Dew, RTÉ, Visa, Roe & Co, Just Eat, TG4, Mazda, Bord Bia, Ryanair, Liberty Insurance, Paddy Power, Permanent TSB, Smithwick's, Depaul, SMA, Tourism Ireland, Fáilte Ireland, Dublin City Council, Ulster Bank, Hornitos Tequila.


Contact

   



Awards & PR

AWARDS FOR
ROOM TAKEN
Oscars 2025 Long-list
'Room Taken' - Officially Qualified for 97th Academy Awards Contention

Best Short Film
'Room Taken' - Cleveland International Film Festival 2024
(Oscar Qualifying)

Best Irish Short Film
'Room Taken' - Dublin International Film Festival 2024

Best Screenplay
'Room Taken' - Fastnet Film Festival 2024

Best Short Film (Jury Award)
'Room Taken' - Noci cortin festival 2024

Best Short Film (Student Jury Award)
'Room Taken' - Noci cortin festival 2024

Best Short Film (Audience Award)
'Room Taken' - Noci cortin festival 2024

Best Short Film (Audience Award)
'Room Taken' - Postira Seaside Film Festival 2024

Best International Short
'Room Taken' - Pop Corn Festival del Corto 2024

Special Mention
Bloomsday Film Festival 2024


 ADVERTISING 
AWARDS

1x Bronze (Intl.)  Shark
Three - Jeff's World

2x Silver ICADs
Three - Jeff's World

1x Bronze (Intl.)  Shark
Three - Jeff's World

2x Silver & 1x Bronze ICAD
Irish Cancer Society - Still
Here

Bronze ICAD
Integrated & Earned: Paddy Power - Mischief

Bronze ICAD
Experience & Activation: St. Vincent de Paul - Hidden Homeless

Commended (2020) ICAD
Digital Experience:  Vodafone - Ireland's Ball

BestAds: Best Outdoor of the Week
Saint Vincent de Paul - Hidden Homeless

BestAds: Best Web Film of the Week
Vodafone Ireland - Ireland's Ball

ESA Awards 2020 Shortlist
Best Use of PR: Vodafone Ireland - Ireland's Ball

PR

Muse by Clio
#WFH Diaries: Michael Whelan and Dean Ryan of JWT Folk

Promonews.net
Featured Music Video: Meltybrains? - 'Sensitivity'

Exhibitions
OFFSET: 'Bill Murray - Chasing the White Whale' (2014)

OFFSET x Hunt&Gather: 'Just My Type' (2015)


Work Experience

Senior Copywriter | Boys + Girls
Jul 2021 – Present

Copywriter | Folk Wunderman Thompson
Sep 2018 – Jun 2021

Copywriter | The Public House
Jul 2017 – Sep 2018

Freelance Copywriter
Mar 2016 – Jul 2017

Copywriter | In the Company of Huskies
Apr 2015 – Feb 2016 Dublin

Copywriter | Bloom Advertising
Jul 2014 – Apr 2015 Dublin

Creative Intern | Publicis Dublin
Sep 2013 – Feb 2014

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