'I was obsessed with the energy of the industry'

Regan Kelly

Showbusiness is no easy game, but it is a game well played by Westmeath Woman, Sarah Jane Foster. Sarah Jane’s interest in the entertainment industry stems from childhood, as she is a granddaughter of Mick Foster of Foster and Allen.

Being close with her grandfather meant that she was able to visit many TV studios and radio stations across the country, and she discovered a love for the industry from an early age.

Discussing those early days, Sarah Jane said: "I knew that I wanted to be in the entertainment industry, and I was just obsessed with it.

"I was obsessed with the energy of it, and I knew that I wanted my career to be in TV and radio.

"In a lot of ways, my playground was RTÉ growing up, as I was always with them when they were recording things like documentaries with Foster and Allen."

Sarah Jane attended St Kenny National School in Ballinea, Loreto College in Mullingar, and then to Coláiste Mhuire to repeat her Leaving Certificate.

While there, Sarah did work experience at RTÉ and was on live television for the first time.

That solidified her ambition to work in media, and from there, she went on to study at GMIT, gaining more work experience with RTÉ, TG4, and Virgin Media.

In 2017, Sarah Jane founded her video production company SJF Productions: "It was one of the best things I’ve ever done, and at the time, I could see that there was a need for social media marketing in Westmeath.

"Setting up your own business can be so intimidating, and it can be incredibly lonely, but the people of Mullingar have been so supportive. It’s important to have your community around you and giving you support, and Mullingar absolutely did that for me."

Working in the same sector as her grandfather is important to Sarah Jane, and making memories with him is something she cherishes.

"I’m so lucky to be in a similar industry to my grandfather, being able to work with him, whether I’m presenting or interviewing him, it’s always special.

"Given my background and growing up with music from Foster and Allen, it demonstrated the power of connecting with people through creativity. Simply put, this industry isn’t about fitting in; it’s about standing out."

As an up-and-coming media personality, Sarah is passionate about breaking down barriers by pushing through and showing that it is possible to be a woman in a male-dominated field.

She said: "It’s about breaking barriers and acknowledging that music, media and tech are often male-dominated industries. I suppose being in this industry means proving every day that creativity and leadership aren’t just defined by gender.

"I see the importance of representing women in this industry, and I think that women approach projects with a mix of resilience and empathy more so than the males; that balance is a huge part of my work."

Sarah has had a busy 2025, having already completed an intensive course on Launching Tech Ventures with Harvard Business School in Massachusetts. Besides being busy with SJF Productions, she is hard at work with The Raw Network, which she is the founder and CEO of.

"Growing up in the music industry, I saw how hard it is for musicians who work hard, actually, to get paid for their work.

"The music industry can be quite greedy, and it has enough money to go around for everybody, and Mullingar has been a hub for music, with unbelievable talent here.

"I decided that I wanted to make my own platform for Irish musicians to export music globally."

Sarah’s new venture has already partnered with a venue in Philadelphia, where The Raw Network will be the official booking agent for Irish artists to perform in the US and make connections there. Sarah is making great strides in the entertainment industry, already cementing herself as a key figure in the midlands.

She is flying the flag for Irish women in the industry, while helping to promote Irish musicians abroad. As well as keeping the Foster family’s musical heritage alive and well.