WATCH: EXCLUSIVE Conor Stakelum interview on hurling, business & building Retake

Most of you will know Conor Stakelum from his exploits in the blue and gold, but step into the Retake office in Thurles, and you quickly realise there is another side to him entirely.

For all he has achieved as an inter-county hurler, Conor carries himself with an earnest humility. There’s a focused intensity to his presence—approachable, grounded, and genuine.

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He pauses briefly as he speaks, not out of hesitation, but to consider, ensuring every word lands with purpose. In those short, deliberate pauses, you glimpse the man behind the achievements: thoughtful, quietly confident, and deeply committed to the work and people around him.

Retake is a creative video production agency with a clear mission: to tell stories that feel real, engaging, and true to the people and brands they represent. The company was founded just two and a half years ago by Conor Stakelum and co-founder Ben Walsh.

At the time, Conor was working in the family business, Stakelum Office Supplies, where he had established and had been running the marketing department. He hired Ben, then a freelance videographer, to produce a video for the company—and from that first project, the two quickly discovered a shared vision.

Their collaboration sparked something bigger, leading to the creation of Retake. H&MV Engineering became their first official client, and from that project, their work gained momentum, moving on to projects with the Gaelic Players Association and a growing roster of local businesses eager to collaborate.

When asked about the dynamic between himself and Ben, Conor is quick to highlight the balance they bring. “We’re very different, and I think that’s exactly what makes Retake work,” he explains. “Ben leads the video production side—he’s a wizard with cameras and the technical aspects of filming—while I focus on the commercial side, growing the business and building relationships.”

He smiles, a quiet pride in his voice. “We each bring our own personalities to the table, and without Ben—and the skill and precision he brings—we simply wouldn’t be where we are today.”

Asked to name a project that stands out, a sudden jolt of brightness flashes across Conor’s face as he recalls one that truly defined Retake’s journey. “The Munster GAA contract really put Retake on the map,” he says. “It gave our team the chance to showcase their full skill set—from planning to execution, they nailed it.

That project brought a lot of eyes to the Retake brand.” When asked how he plans to scale the business and move it forward, Conor continues, “The industry is constantly evolving, and the way people consume content—and interact with the brands they love—is always changing. Keeping pace with those needs and understanding what people want will guide Retake in the years ahead.”

Turning the conversation to sport and his involvement with a high-performance team with Tipperary, I ask what lessons he has carried from the pitch into the business world. “A healthy team culture is everything,” Conor says. “We’ve been through tough times in Tipp, but those experiences make you stronger.

You learn so much about communicating with teammates, and that translates directly to working with colleagues. There’s a huge correlation between sport and business—teamwork, resilience, and trust are just as vital in the office as they are on the pitch.”

Conor Stakelum carries forward a rich family legacy of business and sport. Growing up in a household where entrepreneurial spirit runs in the blood, he learned early the values of hard work, integrity, and vision.

When asked about future ventures, he laughs—a quick, unguarded sound that fills the room. “The mind never stops. For now, it’s Retake and hurling—there’s not much room for much more. But who knows?”

There’s a flicker in his eyes, mischievous and alive, that hints there’s more to come. Watching him, it’s clear this is only the opening chapter of a story he’s beginning to tell.

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