BACKGROUND

PA HOULIHAN IN HIS REMARKABLE BASEMENT MUSEUM
 
 

The original idea for this musical came from Killorglins own Pa Houlihan. Pa is renowned for his basement museum in the town where his passion for all things related to Circus life is vividly displayed for all to see. Pa felt that Johnny Patterson had been to some extent forgotten in the passage of time, and though so many of his songs are still regularly performed today, their composers name has somehow been overlooked. Pa suggested to Declan that a musical tribute would be the ideal way to revive awareness of Patterson's contribution to the Irish song 'library'. A  year or two passed between original suggestion and the emergence of a script, but now Pa's idea, is very close to becoming a reality. Following completion of their work on the 2008 Panto, Declan approached Mick about the possibility of collaborating on the project.

The project was never intended as a musical 'docu-drama', so we hope expert historians will forgive us the poetic licence we have taken here and there. The legacy left by Johnny Patterson is greater in quality and quantity than many realise, and his life story, not only fascinating and moving, also has poignant resonances with recent events. Declan & Mick both sincerely hope that their tribute to Patterson will be seen as an opportunity to celebrate the life and work of a man whose reputation deserves to be higher in the national consciousness. They also sincerely hope Pa hasn't got too many more bright ideas up his sleeve.