Dolphins in Carrigaholt!

Was down in Carrigaholt in Co. Clare to see the dolphins in the Shannon Estuary with Dolphinwatch. It's a great experience, you spent two hours all over the Mouth of the Shannon watching the dolphins in their feeding grounds. There's plenty of other wildlife in the air and on the cliff-face to see as well. The crew are very friendly and knowledgeable and I really recommend getting down there before the summer's out!

Recent wedding caricature!

Here's a recent caricature commissioned as a wedding present. I liked the detail on this one.

Congratulations Peter and Celia!

Allan Cavanagh Arts can provide a unique wedding present for you!

More Camp Claddagh Photos!

Here's a few more pictures of me doing caricatures for Camp Claddagh, the Galway branch of the Chernobyl Children's Project. It's nice to see me in a photo for once! Check out their website for more information and if you can please make a donation to:

AIB Acct no 23453-032

Sort code 93-72-23

IBAN: IE43 AIBK 9372 2323 4530 32

Barry Kelly

I want to extend my condolences to the family and friends of Barry Kelly who died in a road traffic accident this weekend. Barry was the Mayoral Driver and I've met him several times in the course of my work. He was a lovely guy, very friendly and chatty and I'd good laughs with him whenever I met him. Rest in peace Barry.

The First Casualty of the Galway Arts Festival is...

... the Double Vision Blog! I was so busy last week I totally forgot to update it, so here's the article on Salthill's yellow Prom!

Galway Races 2007!

This week's Double Vision is all about the Galway Races 2007. Check it out!

Wedding in Cloonacauneen Castle!

After the Camp Claddagh gig I was straight out the N17 to the beautiful Cloonacauneen Castle, about 15-20 minutes from Galway, for Maria and Paul's wedding. It was a lovely sunny evening, and some of the guests I'd actually met in Galway years ago, as well as my friend Orla being one of the bridesmaids. Orla was responsible for painting practically everything in the Macnas Parade, which was the following day (well done Orla!)

For the record, the decking area in Cloonacauneen Castle looks like this:



More caricatures:

Camp Claddagh- Chernobyl Children's Caricatures!

I was entering the (quite shy!) children in Galway as part of the Camp Claddagh Chernobyl's Children Project in the Rowing Club, Woodquay on Saturday. The were great craic, and I'd enough pidgen Russian after a few goes to make them laugh- the Russian for goodbye bears an uncanny resemblance to a clucking chicken for instance. At least to my monoglot ears!
They were great kids, constantly smiling, but at the same time the conditions they live in are appalling. I heard stories on Saturday that shook me. What the host families in Galway and around Ireland offer these children is a boost to their immune systems that adds years to their lives.

Camp Claddagh are looking for host families right now, if you're interested you can contact Camp Claddagh.

TO MAKE A DONATION: AIB Acct no 23453-032

Sort code 93-72-23

IBAN: IE43 AIBK 9372 2323 4530 32

Sun shines on the Macnas Parade 2007!

Just finished the Macnas Parade 2007. I was "Mr. President" in the Unfinished Symphony section at the end. Great fun and it didn't rain! Below are a few pre-parade images:





And of course my bad self, pre-makeup. Well done Gavin, Triona, Fiona, Peter, Bill, Mike and all the gang (there's a lot of new faces around that I haven't put a name to!).

News: The Athenry Environmental Network

The Athenry Environmental Network is a small group of like minded peope interested in environmental awareness and education. They plan to run two education weekends per year for their community and for all small communities starting on September 22-23rd.

As part of each weekend they plan a local project for the town . September's project is a litter pick up. In the spring they are planning bulb planting for the town.

If you are in the area or are interested in more details you can contact Patrick Creed on 086 167 8503 or email athenryenvnet [at] gmail [dot] com and you can keep up to date on the Athenry Environmental Network website.

Macnas Needs Stewards!

Macnas Needs Stewards!

Come along this Sunday and help Macnas!

Would you like to be involved in the Macnas Parade? Then come along this Sunday and be a steward!

Being a steward is one of the most important jobs in the Parade. Stewards work with Macnas, the Gardai and Civil Defence to ensure the Parade runs safely and smoothly for audiences and participants. You must be aged 18 or over and be free from 1pm til 6pm on the day of the Parade, this Sunday 22nd July.

As a steward, you get a great view of the Parade, access to privileged areas and are invited to the Macnas after party, held this year in Cuba, Bar903.

So if you’re interested, or know anyone who might be, contact Jean on 091 568896 or email thefield[at]macnas.com

This weekend I'll be mostly...

On Saturday I'll be entertaining the children from Chernobyl at their picnic in Woodquay in Galway and then on to Cloonacauneen Castle for a wedding. On Sunday I'll be playing one of the many characters in the Macnas Parade (yes they asked me nicely again this year!)

And then there's the second week of the Arts Festival...

Deep breath...

New Caricature!

Congratulations to Columb McBride who retired from the Hawkswell Theatre in Sligo last week.

Remember an Allan Cavanagh Caricature makes an excellent retirement present!

If you'd like to make an enquiry contact me here.

Mark Thomas- a bigger man than his technical difficulties!

Charlie and I went along to see Mark Thomas in the Radisson Hotel last night as part of the Galway Arts Festival. Charlie is reviewing the show for the Connacht Tribune and I did the above to go along with it.
There were some teething problems, and a lesser man would have skinned the sound and light operators alive for a) not turning the stage lighting on when he entered and even then having to be told to do it and b) the feedback and distortion on his mike in the first half. Thomas just made a joke of it, comparing them to the people in charge of our water supply! (although I'd trust a hill of ants to do a better job of our water situation than the officials of City Hall at this stage).

In my unbiased, objective, balanced and scientific opinion Mark Thomas is a genius. So there.

Exploding Stats!

I'd 293 visitors to my main website on Monday. Where did most of them go? The smoking cartoon!

Christmas in June!

I got the new Double Vision article on the same day I'd got my first Christmas enquiry. Insert Twilight Zone music here.

Shrek? I nearly shreked my head off to get out!

Took the kids to see it last night in Galway's best cinema, the Eye. I'm not a fan of the franchise anyway but Shrek the Third was boring beyond belief. It wasn't about anything, it was laboured, it lacked humour. The youngest was bored silly and at times I found myself cringing so hard I nearly pooped myself. By comparison that would have been hilarious.

If you're hassled into taking the youngsters to see it, put it on your "things I did for the kids which they now owe me for as adults" list that all parents keep. Admit it, you have one.

Caricatures from Clonmel Wedding!

Was in the beautiful Hotel Minella in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary on Saturday night for the wedding of Aisling and Paul.

Congratulations guys!

Below are more of my caricatures. As you can see, it's a great form of entertainment for your wedding!

Latest Double Vision from the Connacht Tribune!

A leetle layte, but better late etc...! Double Vision.

Zero on YouTube!

You might remember the storyboard I did for a short film my friends were making a while ago (that's it above). Well they've finished editing and it's now up on YouTube. It's also going to be shown in the Galway Film Fleadh next week!

Compare and contrast:



I especially like when Martin gives out about the traffic at 0.19!
It's interesting though in terms of the process of film-making to see what made it into the finished piece from the original storyboard.
Well done to everyone involved.

That Smoking Cartoon Again... t-shirts available!

Get the t-shirt!

I've had so many enquiries about the use of the smoking cartoon, from students in New Zealand to public health nurses in England, as well as sundry other enquiries, I've decided to post a few terms of use.

• The cartoon may not be reproduced on t-shirts etc without my sole permission. Any such use is in fact a breach of copyright and against the law. I have however created a range of t-shirts available through my website. Click on through for a look!
• You may use it on discussion forums provided you backlink to the original smoking cartoon at http://www.allancavanagh.com/connacht%20tribune/smoking.jpg .
• If you are an undergraduate student you may use it once free of charge for an assignment and credit it to www.allancavanagh.com
• If you are a health professional and would like to use it for health promotion material such as posters and leaflets, for a fee I can provide the cartoon in high resolution on CD. Price is available on request.

Many thanks for your interest in my work. If you do spot a cartoon either here or on my website and would like it on a t-shirt let me know and I'll create it for you.

Jingle Bells...?

Had my first Christmas enquiry the other day. That made me panic a bit. Calmed down when I realised there are still



If you're thinking about entertainment for your Chr*stm*s P*rty (I'll be shot!) give me a shout for a quotation!

Now get out and enjoy the summer!

Caricatures from UCD Family Day and Galway Clinic Family Day!

Phew. That was a busy weekend! On Saturday I was drawing caricatures of the kids at the UCD family day in Dublin and on Sunday I was back in Galway for the Galway Clinic family day for more caricature fun!
If the saying that God will not take from man's alloted time the time spent fishing is true, maybe he'd lump in my time spent driving as I don't get to go fishing too often!

If you would like to book me for live caricatures for your event please contact me here!