The Legendary Mark Gilligan

The Legendary Mark Gilligan‘Raised on Songs and Stories”, Mark Gilligan is a true Dubliner. Born in Dun Laoire in 1965, he grew up is the South side area of Greenhills. His first performance was at 4yrs of age where he sung a rendition of Percy French’s "Phil the Fluters Ball’. That same year his grandfather took a photo of Mark shaking hands with Eamon DeValera. In 1980 he was chased down the garden by Fr.Brian D’arcy where he received a kick in the hole for calling the cloth "Fr.Trendy". That same year he was given a set of rosary beads by Cardinal O’Fiach for his sins. His only brush with the law came in 1982 where he got a black eye from a baton round during the riots in Dublin supporting the Hunger Strikers in Long Kesh. Quickly realising that the revolutionary road was not for him, he took up playing the clarinet under the guidance of fellow pacifist and Sax maestro Keith Donald. By the age of 19 he was jamming with another luminary - Noel Redding (r.i.p.) of Jimi Hendrix Experience. In the early 1990’s he went to Amsterdam for a weekend and has been there ever since. Gilligan has a long established musical career behind him. He was front man for over 15yrs with his band Amadan and with Danny Guinan, The John O’Gods, Leo O’Kelly, The Mahones & Darren Byrne. His recording credits include: Amadan- Storing on the Line 1994 Danny Guinan - Red 1996 Food Zebras- live in Copenhagen 1996 Mark Gilligan- Bang the Drum 2002 Mark Gilligan/Paul Martin - Nollaig 2004 Leo O’Kelly - Proto - 2004 & The John O’Gods – On The Run 2007. Gilligan still performs very regularly with the above.During the early 1990’s Europe was hit with an explosion of Irish Pubs. Gilligan immediately set up his music agency Poucha Promotions to cater for the constant demand for high quality Irish entertainment & Irish Artists. Some of his acts included Sonny Condell, Leo O’Kelly, Freddie White, Mick Hanley, Maire Breathnach, Anuna, Eleanor McEvoy, Mary Coughlan, An Emotional Fish, Mundy, Ronnie Drew, Mike Hanrahan, Aslan, Something Happens and his personal favourites The Undertones. Gilligan’s achievements include The Big Irish Nite festivals at the prestigious Paradiso & Melkweg venues in Amsterdam, The Celtic Myst festivals with Mojo Concerts (Clear Channel Entertainment) and now in its 15th year The Deventer Irish Pub Festival.In 2002 the Legendary Mark Gilligan was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. "One day after a gig, my arse felt numb, then the whole of my left hand side completely numbified" After a bit of poking around including the dreaded Spinal Tap the results were final. M.S. has taken its toll on Gilligan including bouts of double vision, unbalanced walking, weakened left hand and lots of other niggley things. Obviously this has had a direct hit on his playing ability & his renowned stage dynamics. However with a lifestyle adjustment, he has learnt to re-approach his audience. “A few years back my mouth mussel disappeared for a while”, prevents him from blowing his beloved Clarinet. In typical Gilligan fashion he taught himself the guitar and discovered a passion for song writing. Luckily enough he regained use of his mouth & is back with a vengeance playing Clarence (his pet name for his Clarinet). In 2004 he set up his website musicians with MS and made great contact with other musicians around the world in the same boat as himself. One of his greatest winning battles with the chronic disease was his 2007 tour of China where he got lost on the great wall of China at minus 4 degrees, visibility to 2 meters & packed with snow & ice. He did take a break while climbing mostly on his hands & knees to play a tune to his fellow band mates.Another side of this man is his ongoing work for charities & under privileged people. His has given up his time & energy to charities like the Children’s hospital in Dublin, The Stardust memorial fund at its 25th anniversary at the Helix Theatre in Dublin 2007, M.S. society of the Netherlands and for the past two years the “Make a Wish” foundation also in The Netherlands.Through his website musicians with MS he came in contact with the American Musician Linda Story. Linda is also a MS sufferer and is the organiser of the annual “Rockin’for MS”. She has invited The John of Gods to headline the 2008 festival in May in Colorado in the USA. The country record producer John Macy has also invited both bands to his studio to record Gilligan’s song “The Lodger inside of me”. Quite exciting time as this will be a worlds first where musicians with MS will record together. Gilligan is busy making preparations for this opportunity & has contacted other musicians with MS including heavyweights Hal Ketchum, Victoria Williams & Clay Walker to get involved. ‘Wouldn’t it be wonderful to raise the awareness and be a small beacon of light to the millions of people around the world suffering with MS and importantly those would are close to the sufferer whose endless caring sometimes goes un-noticed. But also for the many of people who get diagnosed every day.“Hero’s of renown” this might well be the legacy of that true Dubliner – The Legendary Mark Gilligan.2008 sees a new side to this musician with him currently in pre-production of his second solo cd of his own material.He is also director of the awareness group Musicians with M.S. (www.musicianswithms.net) Love is like a Violin - The Food Zebras

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