Conal Gallen

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Conal Gallen
Born (1955-09-22) 22 September 1955 (age 68)
Ballybofey, County Donegal, Ireland
MediumComedian
NationalityIrish
Years active1980's - present
GenresSlapstick
Subject(s)Comedy

Conal Gallen (born 22 September 1955) is an Irish comedian, actor and singer.[1] He is best known for his comedy songs including "Horse It Into Ya Cynthia" and "I'll Make Love To You In The Henhouse (If You'll Only Egg Me On)".[2]

Personal life[edit]

Three of his younger siblings died before him.[3] His wife Jacinta was originally from Derry,[4] and passed away in 2014 following a long period of suffering from Multiple sclerosis.[5] Gallen admits to have entered a period of Depression during her illness and bereavement.[6] The couple had three children, Rory, Trasa, Ciaran.

Comedian[edit]

Following a robbery at the video shop he was working on, Gallen discovered the stock he had bought was itself stolen goods, and so not covered for insurance. Consequently, Gallen turned to entertainment, singing in a band called "the odd couple" and then towards comedy.[7] Starting with small pub gigs, he moved to theatres with the support of Charlie McGettigan.

Following the unexpected absence of a sound tech at one performance, his 12-year-old son Rory took control of the decks, and has worked with him ever since. In 2013 he co-created a play with Rory called "A Bit On The Side".[8]

Gallen has made numerous live appearances around Ireland, on both sides of the border, in venues such as The Millennium Forum, Derry, The Alley Theatre, Strabane. He has also released 20 DVDs and 40 CDs (2 of which are also on digital download), including the double-platinum selling Conal Gallen: Live & Full of It.[9]

Conal made his first appearance on RTÉ's The Late Late Show in January 2012.[10][11]

Speaking of Gallen, Fellow Ulsterman, Daniel O'Donnell said "I love Conal Gallen... I’ve seen him live lots of times and he has a good Irish humour. Sometimes I find today’s humour complicated and smart, but Conal’s is clear. You laugh as soon as you see him coming onstage."[12]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Conal set to leave them laughing in TG4 series". Donegal Democrat. 12 October 2011. Archived from the original on 28 July 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
  2. ^ "Conal Gallen: In today's world so-called comedians have omitted the word funny". Irish News. 11 March 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  3. ^ "Friday Focus, Conal Gallen – A life of comedy and tragedy". Ocean FM. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  4. ^ "Conal Gallen: In today's world so-called comedians have omitted the word funny". Irish News. 11 March 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  5. ^ "Sadness at death of Jacinta Gallen". Irish News. 28 October 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  6. ^ "Friday Focus, Conal Gallen – A life of comedy and tragedy". Ocean FM. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  7. ^ "Conal Gallen: In today's world so-called comedians have omitted the word funny". Irish News. 11 March 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  8. ^ "Relatively Speaking: A chat with Conal and Rory Gallen". Belfast Telegraph. 3 February 2015. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  9. ^ "About Conal". conalgallen.net. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
  10. ^ "When Conal met Ryan ..." Donegal Daily. 20 March 2012. Retrieved 20 March 2012.
  11. ^ "Conal Gallen: In today's world so-called comedians have omitted the word funny". Irish News. 11 March 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  12. ^ "Daniel O'Donnell: On My Culture Radar". Irish Times. 21 March 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.