Stephen Garland is a seasoned entrepreneur and event manager with a rich background in the entertainment and arts sector. Educated at Ballyfermot Rock School in Ireland, known for its unorthodox approach to music and media management, Garland has built a diverse and dynamic career that spans across various European countries and Brazil.
He has organized market stalls in Ireland, language schools in Finland, and has been integral to publicly funded multidisciplinary arts festivals in Barcelona. Garland is also the founder of ComedyinSpain, a leading entity since 2002 that delivers live multilingual professional comedy performances and festivals across Spain.
Additionally, he runs Ferdian Events, an international event management and touring coordination company based in Barcelona and Ireland, offering innovative solutions for artists, producers, and festivals.
A serial entrepreneur, Garland has ventured into various fields from education to entertainment. His entrepreneurial spirit has seen him live, work, and innovate in six different European countries, including a significant stint in Brazil where he worked on major events like the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Rio Olympics.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Garland utilized the downtime to further his education, completing two postgraduate degrees in Ireland’s premier universities. He first achieved a Postgraduate Certificate in Creativity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship at UCD Innovation Academy.
This program led to the initial creation of 'The Irish Medical Cannabis Clinic,' where Garland facilitated talks with UCD's Students for Sensible Drug Policy and some of Ireland’s top medical cannabis advocates. Building on this foundation, he pursued a second postgraduate degree in Innovation and Creativity in Healthcare at Trinity's Tangent, through which the Irish Canna Clinic was developed and is currently under development.
Stephen Garland is now transitioning into politics, standing as a candidate to represent Ireland as a MEP for the Midlands-North-West constituency. His campaign, dubbed #Garland4Europe, draws on his extensive background in event management, his entrepreneurial experiences, and his deep network of international contacts ranging from A-list musicians and comedians to promoters and amateur entertainers.