A CASE OF SHEER INSPIRATION

The inspiration for song lyrics can happen in many different ways. Away on an island, having a quite drink at the bar – or sitting in the office, as is the case with singer/songwriter Gerald O’Flynn.
By day, Gerald is a qualified solicitor and his office is literally a stone’s throw from the Cork coutrhouse on Camden Quay. Quite often between cases, if he gets an inspiration for a song, he quickly writes it down to return to it later.
But where does the inspiration come from? “I think it has to do with the mood you’re in at a particulart time,” says Gerald.
He one travelled to the Aran Islands for some peace and tranquility in order to pen a few songs. “I tried and I tried to come up with some lyrics, but I couldn’t,” he laughs.
“Other times they come to me over a pint in a pub, or while I’m sitting in my office. I’ve finished one or two songs at my desk here.”
The first song Gerald ever wrote was Hush Little Baby, and many more followed. They can be heard on his albums, Gerald O’Flynn’s Ireland, Volumes 1-5, and his current album, Where Do We Go From Here? Produced by Declan Sinnott. This includes many fine tracks like Can’t Get You Out Of My Mind; Hush Little Baby, which featured in the Irish Top 10 for eight weeks; When Autumn Leaves Fall; and the popular The Girl With The Blossom In Her Hair.
“I write romantic songs,” says Gerald, “because I’m romantic at heart.” His early musical influences came from such bands as Freddie and the Dreamers, Herman’s Hermits and The Beatles.
He also covers many other fine songs in his own unique style, such as Bill Martin/Phil Coulter composition Scorn Not His Simplicity, Eric Bogle’s The Band Played Waltzing Matilda and of course, The Banks Of My Own Lovely Lee.
His songs have been played on the national airwaves, featuring on Radio 1 with John Creedon, and 2FM with Gareth O’Callaghan. But this talented singer/songwriter, is surprised that his songs don’t feature on the local airwaves.
“It’s not as though I’m a country artiste,” he says, “I’m more towards middle of the road.”
Having recorded a number of albums, it was time to bring his music to live Irish audience. Gerald O’Flynn played his first concert in Ireland last month, and judging by the response from his friends and fans, it’s going to be the start of many live shows this year.
“It’s funny”, says Gerald, “during all these years in the music business I’ve never played a live concert in this country. I was overwhelmed by the response I got at the Everyman Palace in December,” wehere he performed My Christmas Time with children from the Donna Daly Blyth school.
He is looking forward to travelling around the country playing various venues including Limerick, Kerry, Galway, Dublin, and Cork, and will also do a short tour of Britain. This weekend he is at the week-long music festival in Cannes.
Gerald is quite busy in his legal profession and whenever he’s away, it is left in the capable hands of sister Deirdre, who is also a qualified solicitor. And on the subject of family, his father, Michael, is an honorary president of SKAL, one of the biggest tourism associations in the world: rather fitting given that his son travels so much.
Gerald plays the US regularly, mostly doing corporate functions with Christie Hennesy’s former guitarist Christy O’Connel, who now lives in Boston.
“There’s a great buzz in the States,” Gerald says. “I always look forward to travelling over there.” He will be returning to the US for a tour in March, and on the way over, he can warm up: his music is played on the in-flight enterntainment channel on Aer Lingus flights to the US.
A full listing of Gerald O’Flynn’s albums is available on his website which includes a mail order service: www.geraldoflynn.com