Hi Ian, A very belated thank-you for getting me into RTE – you were on the interview panel when I applied for the Radio Producer job back in the ’80s and it was so reassuring to see a proper muso on the other side of the desk! It was always brilliant to find your name on a planned programme because that meant it would be superbly done with the minimum of fuss and the maximum of quality. Always a joy to work with or catch up with you, Ian. Always the coolest dude with the quiet smile! Keep ‘er lit. Jim
This really got me thinking and reliving great days of fun a laughter and hard work. I never could understand how Ian could remain so calm when there were so many crisis going on all around, never phased or confused, just get the job done.
So I started to think about the Eurovision Song Contest in 1982 with The Duskey’s, representing Ireland with Here Today Gone Tomorrow, maybe not our most successful entry, but Ian managed to make it really special with a Visit to Dublin Zoo to film the prelim video to send out to the Eurovision networks. What a giggle, I look at it and smile. In fact so many of the shows and commercials we filmed together make me smile. Working with Sandy Kelly on her brilliant TV series, amazing guests and Ian really stretched Sandy’s incredible vocals with the choices of some of the songs we choose together.
I have to mention our great trip to Nashville with Sandy Kelly, Kieran Cavanagh as part of the recording of The Showman’s Daughter, this trip was responsible for Sandy’s opportunities to record with some of Country Music’s best, including Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and Glen Campbell, in fact a whole album of great duets. The TV show was a great success.
We filmed the videos and TV commercials for Sandy’s “Crazy” and “Sweet Dreams”, I learned so much sitting close to Ian and taking it all in. I never got in the way, did I ? Just loved being a part of Ian’s creations.
So we did some more Videos, Ballads, Shawn Conors and any opportunity to create video and television.
We did great video’s for Frank McNamara and David Agnew’s album including TV commercials, same for John Hogan all with Ian in command as Producer/Director, always Ian, I wonder why ?
So why not do our own series of TV shows. Celtic Note……….. Dubliners, Horslips, Paddy Reilly, Margo, Jim McCann all presented by Sandy Kelly and John McNicholl.
None of the above would have happened without the encouragement from Ian and his willingness to work with us.
For the experience, the fun, the education, Thanks Ian. For your help when I needed information and research, ask Ian McGarry, he knows………..
Worked with Ian on the Starcodes Project for RTE with Barry Devlin. Some videos were filmed in RTE in 1983 and I was on drums for a few of them. I didn’t play on the album, just appeared on the videos.
Ian
We go back a long way. We first went to Germany for the Gold Star Award competition in 1986 but it was when you started to direct our many TV Specials that our friendship blossomed.
I can remember the night in The Point when we recorded our Christmas show, not long before curtain up the stage lift stopped working and couldn’t be fixed. While everyone was flapping you just smiled and said at least the stage is up. How right you were. The show went on and who missed the lift! We were blessed to get to do so many shows for PBS TV in America and wherever it was recorded your flight was always booked and you were ever ready to go. We always knew that if we gave you the show you would give us back a brilliantly edited tv special.
You were a master at you craft.
I think the fact that you were a musician you knew how to get the best out of all of us. Thanks Ian for all the great work but most of all for your support and friendship. You were one of the few who believed in me from the beginning. I was looking for a photo of us together but I can’t find one. There must be one somewhere. We surely didn’t travel all those miles together and escape the paparazzi 😄
Hope these few lines take you back in you memory to the great times we had through the years. Hope to meet you sometime.
I titled this
A COOL HEAD
Because like the night in the point you were always COOL and as they say in the business you were definitely A Head
Jane and family, I am so sorry to hear the sad news that Ian is unwell. I have so many good memories of working with him in Light Entertainment – particularly on the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest. He was unique in that he had been both a musician (great drummer, taught me a few basic fills!) and also a cameraman, so his ability as a studio director was second to none. He was a quiet perfectionist and extraordinarily hard-working, but a great team leader and you wanted to be the best help to him, particularly during the extreme stress of live productions which you knew were being seen around the world! I hope he knows how many friends and former colleagues are thinking of him with fond memories and great affection and wishing him well at this time
Some years ago I had the pleasure to meet you whilst ‘working’ on Crimecall. Unlike you, I wasn’t a TV professional and found the whole live TV thing somewhat intimidating. You were extremely generous with your time and advices. We mostly chatted music though, because that was better fun. I really enjoyed our chats and I recall those times very fondly. There was much talk of drumming 🙂 I’m grateful for your easy company and kindness.
I’ve seen the unfair and frustrating effects of aphasia up close and I’m sorry you’re having to go through it.
It’s terrible, but communication is so much more than words and I know that it doesn’t affect who you are.
I’m wishing you and your loved ones strength right now.
Keith White (Garda)
Please pass on my regards to Ian, who I had the pleasure of working with for the last number of years on TellyBingo in RTE. What an amazing man, with so many facets and experiences, which I am sure that you, Jane, only know so well. I am sure everyone in the National Lottery will echo my thoughts…. Regards to all the Family, in these difficult times…
I had no idea. I’m sorry to hear this news. Please say hello to Ian from Jamie at PBS and all the wonderful Daniel ODonnell shows he so beautifully orchestrated and directed. Let him know I’m at Michigan Humane now raising funds for the animals
