Belfast born, Gearoid’s first sommelier role was at London’s Capital Hotel in 1997. He quickly rose to position of head sommelier at the tender age of 23 and was instrumental in the restaurant gaining its second Michelin star in 2001. Next came a move to France and after a six-month stage at Château Rahoul in Bordeaux – officially learning about viticulture and vinification, but also how to swear very effectively in French – Gearoid moved to Paris, working as a sommelier at Pierre Gagnaire's three star restaurant, where not all the skills acquired in Bordeaux were appreciated! 

He returned to London in 2003 to open Tom Aikens restaurant in Chelsea, creating a wine list from scratch which met with great critical acclaim, winning awards from the AA and the Wine Spectator. Whilst working for Tom, Gearoid was named Sommelier of the Year by Tatler in 2004, Torres Quiz Master 2005, received the Dom Perignon Award of Excellence 2006 and was Restaurant Magazine Sommelier of the Year 2007.

By his own admission, a rebellious rather than a scholarly schoolboy, Gearoid was nonetheless entered by a friend into the UK Sommelier of the Year competition. Now required to open some books, he took up the challenge with characteristic enthusiasm and won the competition in 2008. Never one to stand still for long, he then threw himself into the gruelling Master Sommelier programme and in 2009 became one of fewer than 200 people worldwide to pass this notoriously tough exam.  He now teaches and examines courses both here and in Asia for the Court of Master Sommeliers.

Gearoid is now a Director of Flint Wines, a wine merchant with a special focus on Burgundy and America’s West Coast, supplying the UK’s best restaurants with fine wines. He regularly judges for Decanter Magazine and consults for well know chefs and restauranteurs on their wine lists.