Ciarán Flynn
Athlone songwriter Ciarán Flynn is making an all too rare hometown appearance in The Passionfruit Theatre on Friday, September 26. His humorous narrative, crafted lyrics and accomplished guitar playing are usually complemented on stage by a lone violin.
Ciarán grew up in Athlone but today is based out of Dublin or else can be seen around the world with a guitar and a boarding pass. The people and places that Ciarán encounters on his travels feature in a lot of his songs while regularly referencing home as a place and concept.
His songs range from powerful ballads, simple observations, social comment and hopeful reverie; accounts of real people pushed to the margins of society and the stories of those he now regards as heroes.
He began playing traditional Irish ballads around Athlone while still in school but something changed when he saw Andy Irvine of Planxty perform in the old Palace Bar Folk Club. He admired Irvine"s ability to communicate with only his musical instrument and from that evening has aspired to do the same.'
Musical influences come from Bob Dylan, Glen Hansard, Neil Young, Tom Waits, Woody Guthrie and even Radiohead. He was also inspired by the songs of Luke Kelly and the poems of Patrick Kavanagh.
Though based in Dublin"s inner city, Ciarán can be found performing in Ireland, North America, Scandinavia, Scotland, England and beyond; all the time writing songs and dreaming up his next journey.
Ciarán Flynn will at the PassionFruit Theatre, Northgate St, on Friday September 26. More information can be found at www.fono.ie and www.passionfruittheatre.com.
First memory?
Warm summer days, fresh cut grass, shorts, sandals, neighbours, white houses, giant four-foot trees and a toy car on a spinning Johnny Cash record. ... the car fell off.
When did you first realise
you could have a career as a musician?
Performing my own songs for the first time, in Sweden. A captive audience encouraged me to bring the songs to venues in Ireland and beyond... it still took me a few years to put on my own gig in Athlone!
Favourite TV show?
The BBC"s "Planet Earth".
Last CD you bought?
New CD from Icelandic band, "Sigur Ros": Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust. I don"t know a word of what they are singing but I love it anyway.
Favourite movie?
at the moment....
"Stranger Than Fiction".
Where do you draw
your inspiration
from?
The bumps on the road.
Favourite food/drink?
My mam"s cooking and Lyons tea whenever I"m home.
Favourite
holiday destination?
Anywhere between Havana and Baracoa, Cuba.
If you were Taoiseach for a day, name one thing you would change:
Ensure that towns like Athlone are not without a hospital. Basically, restore public services and civic respect.
Best advice you"ve ever been given?
Wear a helmet while cycling, it protects the songs.
Biggest thrill in life?
Come to the gig in the PassionFruit Theatre and find out. But trekking to the Angel Falls in Venezuela is up there too.
What do you hope
to achieve
in the next year?
An album that I"m happy with and songs that will bring me to new places.
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