Galway Advertiser 1994/1994_10_06/GA_06101994_E1_031.pdf 

Extracted text

Artist Richard W a r d - Born with a B r u s h in his H a n d
W E D D I N G

t n t in t a therightp o l or the r u ae h t ep e hr e ea e w r - i nn t rtist Rc ad W r , woe exhibiw ee h bcm an a adwn i g su i h r ad hs A YKAK IN R U R A L S P A I N o p ru ii s h v had a l c y wy of c p ot nte a e uk a e n are tion of wildlife p i tn s a d p r d n. At r ga u to he mt a d m ri d ani g n o e t fe r d ai n fe edd l n u t hn ot e o i e o eh r h y e i d h y o k d traits of the i dg n u p o l his wife, L us , and t g t e t e d c e So t e t o up the of r and ha e oft for ing ao g j s w e they're ms n e n i e o s e pe pi . W akd hs v r l a e rsi n h i uk ihr Africa is c re ty s o i g at The Ws to try t er l c in Ireland. Rc ad didn'tS an " e literally just p c e up and left. So. at t i " ey be k and d pe s g p ur nl h w n et ih r re d ri e r m r l n nw o nr , lh u h e a a n h s hn s h t S oe Gallery, O g t r r , c n o rmmreally k o the c u ty at o g h hdIt ws o e of t o e t i g t a you et e od", fi n s arv d fo Iea d - in hr u head a n t e e NEWSFLASH c r o ' oa e l c n h en o ber a tm w e be didn't hv sm kne n o e b f r t e md t er m v dn i e t do, t e and there, o y ud w cs . Ae Finn, w o had be at art c le i e hn ae o e ib e v r eoe h y ae h i oe ie d d o h n d b u ht i t ae i e r g s ihr , n e ne of bu h or c ak in his h n , a d that'sthe md6 ' on brief h ld y . "It hd big der a o t w a you m h h v m sd fowith Rc ad a d his wife, L o i - a rs hl ad n i - 0s oi a s a Calling all "Engaged C o u p l e s ' * or "Anybodi f or invited t e t join t e in S i d l hm o hm pd a. be the soy e e sn e A s l- o f s ebu s i s a d fe h air a d I fell in l v t eresto y u life." en t r v r i c . efc ne s d l e ke n r s n o eh W h o Is Getting M a r r i e d " in 1995/96 a g tr o k w r a oi , he a ms to w r i g v r f swith it at o c You as h v to rmm e W n y their d u he, t o to it like the S o c a an Rc ad L u e ok h lc d i t okn ey a t o ne g i i h r , o i s ne l o a e e e br e d , a d feeling e om u s tsa to fo thet a Iea d 30 y as a o ws a v r differuk t w t r r pdy l ann S a i h Wn y ha e bc to Ireland, t i tm n n r o s ai f ci n r m h t r l n d c o ae, a i l e r i g p n s e d e d d ak hs i er g a ey GALWA1 S ( ) . I I ) VCE BAS'D c m l to of o e of his finely detailed, ent c u ty t a it hs s c b c m . W at n i g the vilage s h o a d pa i g t e W s. H r t e ' e lived e e sn e o pei n n c o l n l yn h e t ee h yv vr i c o nr h n a i e e o e e te dn n n t r lsi p i tn s t a u u ly f c s os tl d just o t i e Dublin, in the Wc l wwith h r little friends. It was, h w v r Rc ad nw hs his su i at his h m auai tc ani g h t s a o u n ete e o e e, i h r o a t do o usd i ko t e n t r l w rd h ' as be in l v withu t i s a d bc in t o e dy the city oe difficult for Rc ad a d L us , L te L d e n a R s a i. H r he h aua ol es l o en o e M nan , n ak h s as mr i h r n o i e et r o g , e r o c hl ee o F A C E V A L U E for as l n a he can r m m e. og s e e br a o ee p cai e x ust l eal d n was really like an o ego n village, w eew oe life-style ws not s rigidlyd t r s e i ls d in the e q i iey d t ie a vr r w hr hs ht f am e d r d ani g Now. as he l o s b c o e his v r s ce ey o y se e t k o e ey o y mn d as was t a o the vilagers, by f r faithfully r n ee p i tn s of Irish o k a k v r ey u v r b d emd o n w v r b d i e , ing activities a d the psa e of the s a wildlife t a h v e t bi h d him as one n asg e h t a e sa ls e are ofTering t h e i r unique " i n t e r Wedding c s f l c r e, he r ai e t a fo his e r se." e su ae r e ls s h t r m ael the b s k o n and m s s u h at r a et n w ot o g t fe liest y as be ws aw y ha e in smRc ad t o a job a an ilustrator for wstn . er a l a s edd o e i h r o k s ho s a P r o m o t i o n " once again sne for the c u ty Po a l t i hsws t e Ak A v ri i g The w r ws es o nr . r b b hs a a h n r s d etsn . y ok a hy su k it for a y a. "And w e Iin Ireland. e tc er hn s m t i g to do with the f c t a he ws not difficult for smoe with his talents, o eh n at ht a er ihr ae e o en sy ' t c it', that's e a ty w a I Inrecenty as Rc ad has md s v a su k x cl h t All bookings confirmed before April 1st, 1495 bm t a w r i gca s b c go n in and the mny ws g o as well. H w v r o o okn - l s a k r u d hr e a r u h oe a o d o e e, m a . T w r s the end I was fn i g trips to Africa w ee h hs bo g t e n o ad i dn Y r s ie not far Sheffield. "It ws a real after a few y as the c am ws satn to i ce sn l difficult to mk a y s r of sm c r f l p w r of o s r ai n ok hr , a " i l l be e n t e r e d into a "FREE DRAW " and t h e b ev to er hr a t ri g it n r a i gy ae n ot a e aeu o es mnn r , and was b m i e hn Ie r i g e o e arti he p r a l f da ot y fe living. a on winning couple chosen " i l l h a v e their wedding y uig aha ws ito ino tm s wn w a a bit thin. "Dublin, at r a while, just I ws d i g a lot of painting, trying, stic skill to twildlifer ofat o thegr m o n " ( e a bm 1944, i t a bcm t e pa e w ee I w r e , and I ws it d e n s u d too pee to s to 'findcally different no hs h e co i u ea e h l c h r ok d aif o s ' o n t r t ni u , da entertainment performed E g n w ee Kn C a still ruled) "buta ae t a w a I ws d i g w s ' really y ef as an artist. We as bgn to feel ae t n l d hr i g o l a I n n. wr h t ht a o n an t msl lo ea h t d it. I've a a s b e a c u ty b y at h t I w ne to d with the r s of m bit guilty a o t c ni un to t k a v n If y u h v nt yet se the w r o ae l y e n o nr o w a a t d o w o ae ' en ok et y b u o tn i g a e d a FREE OK CH VR(,1 h at and I've n v r liked cities, or c ud e r, ee o l life." Rc ad W r , mk it y u b s es i h r ad ae o r ui s n t g o our friends' hospitality." ae f sa d t e for v r long." t n h m ey eth r a r u hea u kl sm fi n s of Rc ad a d S Rc ad a d his wife a d d u he visit the Wss oe G ley in O g t r c iy o e re d ihr n o ihr n n a g tr For all information on this fantastic otter, He was p ri ual f ru ae in h vn in atc l ry ot n t ai g w ll ur n x i ii n o tn e . L u e cm for a visit fo w ee oi a e s r m hr returned t E ga d " e hd a w oie the c re t e hbto c ni u s o n ln . W a hh e his m t e, w o ws an art t a h r an oh r h a e c e, y t e w r living in S an " T er m n g r of a i as - d g a d c t a ds p r l ds i ln d artist, with an eye h y ee p i . h i e a ei e nm l o s n as n u eb i cpi e please contact a c m l h d w t r ooi t w o e c u fi n s had a s a h ue and sm po ed k o s w a es - and we had to hn n tc s the d t is of the n t r l w rd c o ps e aec l rs h n o r re d i eal aua ol m l os o e r pG n w h t l e ro a g oi e a e his e ry e t u i s , a d w e s ety in a p r of rural S an Fa c ws stillr u d for a o t six ml s w ie t e w r vvd e s t a is i ce i l tactile, y gd a n s a n n h a s h t n r db t p rn a n bu i h J o h n Hynes (091) 23508 did retire, thelsmhencomgementhontin ruling theacountry but, at thie.sm ome, thisaocleared through quaentine. lThhty asee i idnlight in therichnessofythese dram a e ua r c a e ti all r a a w awill e ud to be gv n to his efforts by his m t ma t living t ee ws v r c ep a d the ey t si g time, bcue we w r in a kn p i tn s in all their pa of c l u a e ie oh en l y oo r h r a ey ha n v r e tn ea s ee iic ani g d er's r pa e e t wo as hp e e to be military r l had at l a t one a v na e a d of limbo, sa i g with m wife's sse a d ra g m n. e l c m n, h l o a pnd ue es da tg, n t yn y i t r n ar n e e t one of h r b s friends. e et t i was it was a v r s f c u ty in w i h ng to fg r out our n x m v . hs ey ae o nr h tryi c J.O'C. i ue e t o e" TAIBHDHEARC Rc ad ae d d R t eh m C le e o Art bi g up a s a child i h r t n e oh r a o g f to rn ml Rc ad s y , h w v r t a he has be for i h r a s o e e, h t en

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NA GAILLIMHE
' M ' Asal Beag D u b h a la C a r t e ' k
Eoghan 6 Tuairisc 6u - 9u Deireadh Fomhair/October, 1994, 8.00i.n.
of it, has always been with me. And this song tries to cap ture that 'echo'." The first song on side two is an odd little number called The Spider, and Johnny near ly came to blows with Mike Murphy and his researcher when they said they were going to introduce an item on the Arts Show about him by playing this particular song. It's easy to see why Johnny objected. It's a very clever song, with a bouncy lyric, but it's also a song that seems to be saying that he composes his songs 'to order', with a degree of conscious and cyni cal calculation - designed "to weave a web" - that is miles removed from his actual meth ods of songwriting. "I can't deny that there's always an element of 'sbowing-off or trying to impress in the whole business of getting up on stage and performing. I think the first time I really felt the attraction of 'show business' was when I was a child and saw this circus performer dive from high platform into pool of water." With One Last Drive Johnny returns to the theme of lost love. "I also tried to cap ture something of the sound that belonged to Granny's Intentions in the arrangement. But the idea behind the song is a last 'date' during which they take a drive: 'Was it by coincidence that we ended up in a part of town so bleak and rough where the poor live in poverty? Was | there a lesson there to be learned by me? Was it just by [chance that you drove me

Duhan - 'Don Quixote' and the
there, at a time when my career was going nowhere? Did you take me there so that I could see the type of place you though you'd end up if you stayed with me?"

There is a Time is a
superb ballad that faces the ultimate fact of disillusion ment: "There is a time in life, it seems, for believing in dreams. For me it's gone". A beautiful cello line provides the base line, with a gently plucked acoustic guitar with a Spanish-sounding echo weav ing in and around it. It's a song that sums up the mood of 'Don Quixote' and at the same time the truth that "the wis dom that we gain is paid for with the pain." But such desolation is not the end of the story. For Johnny includes two final songs - I'm Lucky I Had You and To The Light that move beyond the despair into a realm where love heals and nourishes, and the stars that once seemed to represent fame and fortune now point to a transcendence that provides a fitting conclusion to this brilliantly arranged song sequence.

Leiriu/Direction: Trevor O Clochartaigh Airithint: (091) 63600/62024 1 - 6 : Luain - Satharn
T a i b h d h e a r c na G a i l l i m h e Amharclann Naisiunta na Gaeilge A n tSraid Lair, Gaillimh.

some time in London trying to make a go of a solo career, I suddenly found myself just about to sign a contract for an international recording deal, along with a group I had more or less joined in England. Two of them were alcoholics, one was already a member of a band called 'Supertramp', but this was before they made it big, and he was in two minds about whether to stay with them or join this new band." Johnny was in a dilemma. "I realised, especially after being in a band for five years, that it's really like being mar ried to five women at the same time! At the last minute I pulled out; I didn't like the form of music the oth ers were playing, but more than that, I wasn't happy about getting involved with a band again at that stage. So, one day I was in Chelsea about to sign a very lucrative record deal, and the next I was walking along 'the old bog road'! And I'd have to say it was one of the greatest things that ever happened to me. But it was also the most traumatic decision I've ever had to make, because so many people were telling me what an eejit I was!" Johnny had recorded a solo album with an Italian producer and he decided to wait in Ireland, in the country, while he went to Los Angeles to negotiate the deal. The deal, however, fell through and Johnny and his wife found themselves living in a very rural area, a few miles from Ballinasloc for the next three

years - three years in which, as he puts it, "I really discov ered how to write songs." But it was not easy, as he tells in I'm Lucky I Had You:

IOISJJI

JJW

Thurs. 6th 9 p.m Midnight Cowboys Fri. 7th 9 p.m. . Barance Whitfield & The Savages Sat. 8th 9 p.m Ian Richards Sun. 9th 12.30 p.m Eiphrams Brunch Sun. 9th 5 p.m The Medal Hunters Sun. 9th 9 p.m. , Mamou (authentic Cajun)

Mon. 10th 9 p.m Johnny Duhan
Tues. 11th 9 p.m

in concert Set Dancing -Love]

Wed. 12th 9 p.m

Eating Out Join us for Lunch and Let Eiphream look after y o u M o n d a y to Friday 12.30 - 2 . 3 0 p.m.

Galiuox Overtiser

Telephone

The first song, I'm Lucky I Had You, is about the woman who became his wife, and it forms a very sharp contrast in emotional terms to a song like Our Last Drive. As Johnny explains, " h made the com Se mitment; die other girl didn't." The song also reflects a deci sive turning-point in Johnny's life and career. had broken up and I had s e t pn
"After Granny's Intentions

J h n Duhan s y he's ony as pe s d with 'Don Quixote' lae od The song is at once love song and it's g o to see that this s n e of satisfaction has bee es to his wife, who came to form e h e in the recent edition c od the solid ground he had of 'Hot Press', where the missed and had wanted for so magazine's m sc critic g v ui a long - 'Your love pulled us it the very highest n m e u br through." of points. Not that J h n is ony 'Don Quixote' is a excep n unduly impressed. He's tional set of songs from a n po e his own furrow, gon l wd exceptional singer/songwriter his own way, followed his and musician. Complex lyri own star, with a d g e o gd cally and formally, Johnny determination over the also has a band of fine musi years. Praise is nice, but cians - Tony Maher on key what really c n en him is o cr s boards, James Blennerhassett on bass, Mickey Belton on 'getting it right' in his own drums, Frankie Colohan on estimation. And this time guitar - playing with him who he's d n that Now, all you oe brilliantly complement the radio stations out there themes the album deals with. Galway Bay KM, RTF 2 and In addition, on tracks like the rest - h v you the ae Don't Give Up Till It's Over, c ua e to play t e e s n s o rg hs og the McCormick Singers, s n s that are not two and og arranged by Paddy . half minute bits of pro McCormick, and Gerry Fahy ga m d d n e music, but rm e a c on uilleann pipes and whistle, carefully crafted s n s that og provide superb instrumental proclaim the voice of a gen backing. Also on There is a uine artist? Time Liz Barry's haunting
cello lifts this fine song even higher. Finally, when Johnny was only days away from fin ishing the album he was still not satisfied with To The Light. He felt it was missing something. And then came the flash - conclude it with a trumpet passage. And because he wanted to get the

"When we moved to the country, after the deal fell through, it wasn't easy for a city boy like me - I'm lucky I had you."

sound he had in his head just right he looked around and cast his eye on the wellknown Galway trumpet play er. Shay Nolan, who plays with lots of local jazz bands. The result certainly justifies the last-minute decision.

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Johnny Duhan is playing at Roisin Dubh on Monday evening. Just before that gig he'll be playing Dublin's Mother Redcap on Saturday night, Wexford on Friday, and on Sunday morning he'll | before on RTE Radio 2.