Galway Advertiser 1970/1970_08_13/GA_13081970_E1_007.pdf 

Extracted text

ON STAGE
WT T E IH H

D BI E S UL R N
T h e r e they were u p on the stage at T e a c h Furbo, e v e r y m a n p l a y i n g his h e a r t o u t . T h e c r o w d loved t h e m a n d c h e e r e d a n d r o a r e d for m o r e . A f t e r w a r d s , wiping a w a y t h e perspiration, The DUBLINERS o v e r a cool d r i n k T A L K E D T O D I C K I E B Y R N E

IN A N EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW FOR THE ' GALWAY ADVERTISER.'
Ronnie Drew

Ciaran Burke

Dickie : The -first question that comes to mind is, if you weren't a Dubliner what would you like to be? Ronnie : A Kerryman. Luke mentioned Festy Conlon, what do you think of him? I think Festy is a brilliant musician. If the scene folded over what would you like to do? Win the sweep. When you make your first million what would you like to do? Retire immediately and sing away where I like and when I like. This television series you were doing recently, is it intended for international release? I am not a businessman and long ago ceased to have an interest in the running of things. Are you pleased with it? Yes, we think it is a bit restricted material wise, but technically it is very good.

Dickie : If you weren't a Dubliner, what would you like to be? Ciaran Burke : A fanner, this is what I always wanted to be. I would like to get a piece of Irish land and run it as it should be run, for instance supplying fresh food and vege tables to hotels, having lived in hotels for so long I know their needs. When you have your first million made, what would you like to do? Quite honestly, I will never make a million. I wouldn't be bothered, I am not interested in making money. I would like to be able to give a few quid to some deserving guy who needs it to write poetry or paint pictures. Do you like Galway? I love Galway, it is one of my favourite places, do you know that some of my best mates in Dublin are now living here, Ray Keary the Geologist is an example, also Joe Dolan and Brian Mooney, they are always telling me I should come down here to live.

Luke

Kelly

Dickie : Do you like working in Connemara and Galway? Luke : Yes, Connemara is one of my favourite places, this is a much used cliche but it's true. The people are wonderful and simple, simple in the sense of being very accommodating. Who is your favourite Connemara man? My favourite Connemara man is Festy Conlon. What do you think of Festy? I have known Festy for at least ten years. Festy Conlon is a marvellous human being and above and beyond that he is the greatest whistle player in Ireland. To me that is a powerful combination. Fair dues! When Festy plays music he plays music of the soul of Ireland and he puts everything that he has into i t He is the supreme artist of music on the whistle and I wish he was here tonight. We have another mutual mate, Brian Mooney, how do you feel about Brian? Brian is an Australian and he is a singer and that is what he does. He sings the songs of Australia with the feeling and soul that one can only expect from somebody raised in that environment and he does it very well. He is a marvellous colleague and I would lay down my life for him, and I can't say more than that The Dubliners are on top of the heap and will probably stay there, but if for some reason or other the scene folded what would you like to do? Very interesting question. I don't do what I do very well. There are very little areas where my talent can be applied at well as it is now so I suppose I would continue doing the same thing maybe not with so much success, but with more ability for artistic expression. Would you like to act fulltime? I would like to be a fulltime engineer. Have you any ambitions to be an actor? I am married to an actress who is very good and who teaches acting. Deirdre O'Connell is her name. She opened some weeks ago at the Focus Theatre with "Hedda Gabbler." Acting is a different profession and not for me. When you make your first million what are you going to do? I have it spent long ago.

Barney

McKenna

John Sheehan

Dickie : If you weren't a Dubliner what would like to be? John Sheehan There was a time when I wasn't a Dubliner and I was a Draughtsman so I suppose that is what I would be. What would you do if the ballad scene finished? I never thought of it, I just drift from day to day and solve problems as I meet them. I suppose I'd go back to drawing or else set up a business of my own. Do you feel that you are overworked? It is great when you like something but there are nights when you would rather do anything than go on stage but you have to do it. If you find yourselves sometimes with a night off and you happen to be in Spiddal for instance would you like to get involved in an informal session? I don't mind joining in, in sessions if the humour is on me and if the music is good. Do you find that you get more response from British audiences than you do over here? Not really, we're usually very happy with sessions all over.

Dickie : Would you answer a few questions? barney McKenna : Plenty of lies and blarney from Barney. If you wern't a Dubliner what would you like to be? Well, it is hard to say because there are so many things I would like to do. Firstly, I would like to be a native speaker of my own language. I didn't like it going to school but a. few years ago I was down here on holidays and heard everybody speaking it around me. I would like to come down and live in Carna or Rosmuck or in Spiddal with Festy Conlon. I live out in Howth in the 'country' of Dublin and it is very like Connemara. It's the Connemara of the East Coast. As Festy said once, I love every rock and every blade of grass in the country. I have travelled all over the world and I still love this country. I met Irish people in Australia and New Zealand and 90% of them want to come home. It is a great country. What kind of music, do you like apart from Irish music? I like traditional jazz, flamenco and Hungarian and Ruma nian gypsy music. What will you do when you have your first million made? I'll spend the half of it on gargle, with the rest I would buy a fishing boat and spend all my days fishing and play the banjo at night and at the weekends. What don't you like about being on top of the show scene? All the compulsory travelling. Well, there you have it, if the Ballad Scene ever exhausts itself, we still won't lose the Dubliners, they'll be farming and fishing, singing and drinking for many years to come.