Allan Cavanagh Arts

Now that's service.

2007-08-15T19:51:00.000Z

I was working late on a commission last night and as I'm wont to do I was listening to Raidió na Gaeltachta's An Taobh Tuathail with Cian Ó Cíobháin.
Suddenly there started a piece of music that I've heard before and serially failed to get the name of. With all the stupidity that modern technology affords us, rather than waiting to write down the name at the end I emailed the show desperately waffling a description of the piece I'd just heard (of course Cian said what it was at the end of the show but whatever I scribbled last night wasn't English today. Or Irish come to that.)

Well Cian is after emailing me back with the name of the piece and last night's entire playlist. That single-handedly makes up for all the times I tried to get onto Joe Duffy for a rant and failed. It negates at least 5-10 years of the suffering inflicted by Fair City. It even goes some way to alleviating the nerve damage caused by Tellybingo. In short, that was rather nice of him.

Go raibh maith agat Cian!

(The piece by the way was Gorecki's Third Symphony (Symphony Of Sorrow Songs) - 2nd movement. Quick, get a pen.)

Wedding Entertainment in Radisson Hotel Cavan

2007-08-15T10:24:00.000Z

Congratulations to Pamela and Koen, who were married in Cavan at the weekend. They had their reception in the beautiful Radisson Hotel, Cavan (pictured below) and had me there to entertain their guests during their drinks reception.

If you're looking for wedding entertainment contact me with your date!

Don't read this post...

2007-08-14T18:21:00.000Z

...if you're offended by asterisks! New Double Vision up!

Conference cartoons- a humorous way to document your conference!

2007-08-03T15:31:00.000Z

I've been getting a lot of enquiries about my conference cartoons as the season begins to warm up so I'm going to take the opportunity to explain the process.

I attend the conference with my sketchbook and over the course of the event I take notes on the major themes and issues that are coming up. Simultaneously I produce large black and white cartoons based on those notes and these are put up around the conference area as they are produced. During breaks delegates can browse the cartoons and as well as being a humorous take on the day's discussions the cartoons also serve to crystallise certain issues. I often have delegates saying to me "that's exactly what I was trying to say!" when they see a certain cartoon. And of course they're often thrilled when I choose their pet issue!

The cartoons can then be used in the documentation arising out of the conference such as reports and action plans.

Below are some more samples from conferences, and if you'd like to make an enquiry just click CONTACT opposite.

For more conference cartoons click here.

More praise indeed!

2007-08-03T15:24:00.000Z

Got an email during the week regarding a caricature I did as a wedding present recently:

Hi Allan,

The Caricature was fantastic!! The Bride and Groom loved it. I received the Caricature last Thursday as requested....money well spent!!

Thanks again.

If you'd like to order a caricature as a gift for a wedding or other occasion click contact opposite.

This Week's Double Vision is...

2007-08-03T15:17:00.000Z

...quite an evocative piece on north Mayo.

Congratulations Paddy Harkin, Sportsperson of the Month!

2007-08-03T12:20:00.000Z

Congratulations to Paddy Harkin, Donegal Boxer and this month's winner of the Inishowen Independent's Sportsperson of the Month Award. Paddy will be presented with the above caricature by moi!

Allan Cavanagh caricatures make excellent presents and gifts for birthdays, weddings and retirements. For more details you can contact me here.

Dolphins in Carrigaholt!

2007-07-30T11:23:00.000Z

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!

2007-07-30T11:12:00.000Z

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!

2007-07-30T10:12:00.000Z

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

2007-07-30T09:55:00.000Z

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...

2007-07-27T12:08:00.000Z

... 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!

2007-07-26T15:25:00.000Z

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

Wedding in Cloonacauneen Castle!

2007-07-26T15:04:00.000Z

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!

2007-07-26T14:37:00.000Z

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!

2007-07-22T17:04:00.000Z

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

2007-07-20T16:54:00.000Z

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!

2007-07-19T11:57:00.000Z

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...

2007-07-19T11:50:00.000Z

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!

2007-07-19T11:43:00.000Z

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!

2007-07-19T11:16:00.000Z

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!

2007-07-19T11:02:00.000Z

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

Christmas in June!

2007-07-17T12:57:00.000Z

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!

2007-07-11T22:53:00.000Z

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!

2007-07-09T14:25:00.000Z

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!

2007-07-09T14:21:00.000Z

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

Zero on YouTube!

2007-07-06T12:12:00.000Z

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!

2007-07-03T15:37:00.000Z

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...?

2007-07-03T14:43:00.000Z

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!

2007-07-03T14:23:00.000Z

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!

New Double Vision Up...

2007-06-29T08:42:00.000Z

Charlie's latest article is up on Double Vision, and you can also see it in the Connacht Tribune.

Brian McElhinney- Sportsperson of the Month in the Inishowen Independent!

2007-06-28T12:38:00.000Z

Congratulations to Brian McElhinney, currently making a big name for himself in international golf and this month's winner of the Inishowen Independent's Sportsperson of the Month.

You can see previous winners here.

Fundraiser for Clowns Without Borders!

2007-06-26T21:37:00.001Z

“No Child without a smile”

A fundraiser for Clowns Without Borders – Ireland,
Friday July 6th in Roisin Dubh at 9pm.
Tickets: 10 euro

Cuckoo Savant : The Violets : Little John Nee
The Hussey Brothers & The Great Innuendo

If you're around on the night please come along, it promises to be a great night. Hopefully Jonathan will tell a few stories about his previous travels. He wrote a series of reports from his time in Nepal that were pricelessly funny.

See you there!

Lucia Evans' New Single!

2007-06-26T21:25:00.000Z

The Other Man. Honestly women are always writing songs about me.

Sorry Shane!

Lucia's single is available for download on iTunes via her website.

Incidently I'll be doing some work with the guys shortly on the Chernobyl Children's Project. More on that here later. Now off you go and buy Lucia's single!

Mayor's Car for Auction on eBay!

2007-06-26T13:56:00.000Z

Former Mayor of Galway Cllr. Niall O'Brolchain has put the mayoral Prius on eBay to raise money for the 15 charities that were beneficiaries of that scary veggie hippy/interesting delicious alternative (delete as appropriate) Mayor's Ball in May.

I'll be the first to admit I'm not a huge fan of cars in the Jeremy Clarkson sense, but by golly I'd love a Prius. They are so quiet they could nearly pick your pockets without you noticing.

Mind you it'll take a good few more caricatures before I can afford one!

When you just can't resist...

2007-06-26T13:46:00.000Z

This is my friend Ciaran on his hols in Thailand last year:

I just couldn't help myself.

With apologies to Peter Jackson.

Caricatures from the weekend- Galway and Ennis

2007-06-25T21:16:00.000Z

These are some of the many caricatures I did between the Harbour Hotel Galway and the Woodstock Golf and Country Club on Friday and Saturday night. Galway was a party for the staff of Intergroup, and in Ennis I was entertaining guests at the wedding of Sinead and Shane. Great craic, lovely to meet everyone!

Mark Thomas for the Galway Arts Festival

2007-06-25T17:18:00.000Z

One of my favourite outraged sorts, Mark Thomas, is coming to Galway for the 30th Galway Arts Festival. I'm currently reading his book As Used on the Famous Nelson Mandela, an actual quote used as a selling point in an arms dealer's brochure.

I guarantee the funniest indignation you'll see this year if you come along. You can see some of his television work on YouTube, but be warned it's not safe for work (lots of cussin'!!).

The Festival box office is open now and you can book tickets online.

Caricatures- an ideal birthday present!

2007-06-25T17:12:00.000Z

A recent caricature for a birthday present. At the moment I'm working on two retirement presents as well. If you'd like to enquire about a caricature for a birthday, wedding or retirement present contact me here.

I'll also have some images from the corporate party in the Harbour Hotel, Galway and the wedding in the Woodstock Country Club, Ennis up shortly for your perusal!

Salthill Warshow, I mean Airshow... New Double Vision Up...

2007-06-22T11:47:00.000Z

Charlie's latest article is up on Double Vision, and you can also see it in the Connacht Tribune.

UPDATE: At the moment the "Thunderbirds" are buzzing my house with repeated flyovers, obviously practicing for the weekend. The noise is unbearable.
I'm after having a look at the BBC website and saw this report:

"Last night, around 01:30, Nato forces bombed the village... as a result of the bombing 25 people were killed. They included women, three babies between 6 to 10 months one, one mullah of a mosque and other elders."

Well, enjoy the show. Keep your kids close.

Busy Weekend!

2007-06-20T13:45:00.000Z

I'll be in the Harbour Hotel this Friday night entertaining Intergroup and then I've a wedding on Saturday in Ennis in the Woodstock Hotel. I've also got a number of caricatures for birthday and retirement presents on the desk at the moment. It's no complaint and I'm keeping my framer happy!
If you'd like live caricatures at your wedding or corporate event or would like to order a framed caricature just get in touch here!

Barbequed caricatures! Best of luck on your travels Mia!

2007-06-19T12:17:00.000Z

This is my friend Mia Mullarkey, who's off to Peru for a number of months to work with street children. Her family threw a barbeque in Annaghdown on the banks of the Corrib, a really beautiful, quiet area of Galway just outside the city.

There was lots of music and singing, and as I am incapable in either of those departments I brought my pens and paper and did some caricatures instead!

Bon voyage Mia!

Child Labour Development Education Workshops

2007-06-15T12:50:00.000Z

Tuesday was World Day Against Child Labour, designed to raise awareness of the fact that over 200 million children are forced to work around the world. Every year I work with Transition Year students around the country on the child labour issue for Concern. I try to get across concepts of globalisation, trade and consumer responsibility in the workshops, but I do try to keep it fun!

Firstly the participants are asked to think of their favourite possession and draw themselves using it, reflecting their state of mind when using it:

The usual items that come up are mobile phones, iPods and so on. I then do a short role-play where participants are suddenly in my sweat-shop doing finger-breaking work for less than five minutes, involving lots of shouting and firing. They are asked to record their feelings immediately after this:

Next participants are asked to make a model box of themselves as child labourers:

The finished pieces look like this:

The thought bubble at the back contains their thoughts and feelings from the earlier exercise. The whole thing is designed to found a feeling of empathy. The day ends with an action plan where the group suggests tangible actions they can take individually or as a group, and each pledges to act on one of the suggestions. Participants are asked to take the model box home with them and display it somewhere prominent in their home as a reminder of their pledge.

The workshops run in several locations around the country every March. If your are interested in your school attending you can contact me directly or ring Lizzy Noone of Concern on 01 417 7740.

Smoking Cartoon

2007-06-15T12:49:00.000Z

Smoking cartoon.

Cllr. Padraig Conneely cartoon

2007-06-15T12:37:00.000Z

Local publicity junkie and city councillor Padraig Conneely after a rather embarrassing appearance on the Keith Finnegan Show on Galway Bay FM. This was a bit of a hit locally when it was published. You can see more of my cartoons in the publications section of my website.

New Double Vision

2007-06-15T12:33:00.001Z

Check out Charlie Adley's Double Vision online and in the Connacht Tribune!

New Caricature- Click for Full Size

2007-06-12T14:39:00.000Z

A recently completed caricature. Happy birthday!

If you would like to talk to me about a caricature just give me a bell on 087 7599249 or contact me here.

New Young Pony Club: Very Cool...

2007-06-12T13:44:00.000Z

Apart from the guitarists who appear to have come straight off the stage from an Abba Tribute gig.

Also by New Young Pony CLub (sounds remarkably like CSS):

HSE Cartoon Strip

2007-06-12T08:45:00.000Z

This is the cartoon strip I used to do for the Health Service Executive's western publication Health Links, the McSlaintes and O'Tinns. You can see more of these cartoons in the publications section of my website.

Just when you thought it was safe to drink the water...

2007-06-12T08:24:00.000Z

...it isn't. Surprise surprise, Galway City Council have announced that they won't have a safe supply by next Friday after all. Not content with deliberately neglecting Galway's water supply for ten years (to be fair the County Council are equally complicit in that one) we now are guaranteed a third world water supply at the peak of the tourist season.
Prospective tourists should be assured that most hotels and restaurants have their own filtration systems in place and provide safe clean water. The people of Galway, however, will have to make do with continuing to buy water.

Financial Improvisation on Dublin Bus!

2007-06-11T17:24:00.000Z

If you don't get it you might not have seen this:

New Double Vision

2007-06-08T09:12:00.000Z

Check out this Friday's Double Vision, also available in the Connacht Tribune!

Chicken Tikka Massala

2007-06-05T13:50:00.001Z

Chicken Tikka Massala, another cartoon from the Connacht Tribune. I think Charlie was claiming Chicken Tikka Massala was a British invention!

Karl Marx

2007-06-05T13:44:00.000Z

Karl Marx from my Connacht Tribune cartoons.

Wayne Rooney

2007-06-03T17:41:00.000Z

Wayne Rooney and the 'aul pig's gut from Double Vision.

Congratulations to Cathy and Paul!

2007-06-01T19:56:00.000Z

Congratulations to Cathy and Paul, who were married in Limerick recently. They opted for an Allan Cavanagh caricature for their guests to sign, and they were delighted with it!

If you are getting married and would like a caricature for your stationary or would like a guestbook caricature just get in touch!

You can see more wedding caricatures here.

Going throught the archives...

2007-06-01T19:41:00.000Z

I have a wealth of cartoons from Double Vision that haven't seen the light of day on this blog and some of them proved very popular when published in the Connacht Tribune, so every so often I'm going to pull them out of the ether for you to enjoy. Some of them are a bit strange out of the context of the article... actually most of them are strange in the context of the article so forget that and just behold my mighty line!

You can see more cartoons here and here.

New Double Vision

2007-06-01T09:27:00.000Z

Check out Charlie's Double Vision, available every Friday on the internet and the Connacht Tribune!

New Double Vision

2007-05-29T15:55:00.001Z

Slightly late but better than never check out Charlie Adley's Double Vision.

It's on, it's off... it's on again!

2007-05-22T12:35:00.000Z

Update to previous post: It appears that the Macnas Parade has been saved. Galway City Council have pledged an emergency fund for the Galway Arts Festival, who had a major sponsor pull out earlier this year. Part of this fund is going into a budget for the Parade, so it looks like the single biggest free gig of the Festival. I think the Council are to be applauded for this, but there is a caveat: this money is a crutch, and if Macnas' funding is not increased by the Arts Council, and supplemented by Dept. of Tourism, regional development bodies and local businesses the parade will lurch towards extinction in the next 2-3 years. This isn't a prediction I'd like to see come about.

As for this year, I can't wait to see the spectacular work of Aine, Peter, the rest of the team and the hundreds of volunteers that give the parade life every year!

Allan Cavanagh- as seen in the Inishowen Independent!

2007-05-22T12:16:00.000Z

I'm now contributing to Inishowen's favourite local paper, the Inishowen Independent. Above is a cartoon of the local candidates for Donegal North-East, l-r from top: Cecilia Keaveney, Frank Gallagher, Arthur McGuinness, Ian McGarvey, Siobhan McLaughlin, Padraig McLochlainn, Mary Doherty, Niall Blaney, Joe McHugh, Jimmy Harte and Jim McDaid.
And congratulations to Margaret Mulhall from Shrove, who has been named Sportsperson of the Month in today's Inishowen Independent. Each month a panel of local sports experts (sure that could be anyone with a few pints on them!) will choose a local sportsperson who has excelled in their particular field. Look out for future caricatures!

New Double Vision

2007-05-21T14:32:00.000Z

Read the new Double Vision!

Cutty Sark badly damaged in fire

2007-05-21T14:07:00.000Z

One of my favourite sites in London, dry-docked in Greenwich, is the Cutty Sark. This morning a fire destroyed a good portion of it, although apparently it had been largely dismantled for restoration and the damage could have been far worse. I really hope it's salvageable, it's a really beautiful sight.

Vardis Scam in today's Daily Mirror

2007-05-17T09:43:00.000Z

A few readers have been saved from getting burned by Vardis from reading my earlier post. Well, Vardis is back in the news today, in this report from the Daily Mirror:

HERE'S a man who claims to have helped 500,000 vulnerable children who have suffered terrible abuse.

This is how he did it... Andrew Lownsbrough runs Vardis, a publishing company based in Ormskirk, Lancs.

His call centre staff cold-call businesses around the country, asking them if they want to advertise in its charity booklet for the Foresters' Fund For Children.

The Foresters' Fund gets a cut so everybody's happy.

Er, no, not exactly. Rupinder Lotay was asked to pay £347 for an advert for his East London bridal hire firm but was told that he'd have to wait two months to see a copy.

He refused to pay - like Chris Naylor, who runs a catering business in Ilkley, Yorks.

Chris was sent a proof of his advert but it was an exact copy of one he'd already placed in another magazine. "I believe that I'm being asked to pay for an advert in a booklet that doesn't exist," he said.

Vardis claims it distributes 15,000 copies of its booklets but just 12 per cent of the money raised goes to the Fund.

The fundraisers also insist the charity has seen a "significant increase in its turnover" during their six-year collaboration.

Which is strange, because the fund's gross income in 1999/2000 was £85,361 and it has dropped steadily ever since to just £32,000 in 2005/2006.

The charity says that it helped 285,000 distressed and disturbed children last year by awarding grants to chosen projects - which works out at 17p per youngster.

Last year, Vardis teamed up with the Laura Crane Trust, a charity that supports cancer research and teenage cancer victims.

Jacquie Roeder, whose daughter Laura died from the disease, agreed to an 80/20 split on fundraising - in favour of Vardis. But the complaints from advertisers were soon flooding in.

"We are very sad that people who wanted to help our charity have got caught up in something so awful," Jacquie told us.

"We saw some of the wall-planners and there were no contact details for the advertisers. They were effectively useless." Advertisers who refused to pay were chased by something called Crown Debt Recovery, using a consumer credit licence issued to Andrew Lownsbrough.

The Laura Crane Trust broke its contract with Vardis in September, after getting £3,520. The charity has no idea how much Vardis pocketed.

There has also been a previous incarnation of this sham. Vardis GB Ltd went into liquidation in 2003 owing £69,000.

The current version coincidentally operates out of offices that were previously used by the notorious Barrington House Publishing Corporation. That lot was shut down by the courts after raising £3.5million for wall-planners for sick kids. Just 5p in every £1 went to charity.

Lownsbrough, 37, wasn't there when we called, so we waited for him at his home two miles away.

But when he arrived in his new £80,000 BMW M5 he wouldn't answer our questions.

If you want to donate to the Laura Crane Trust, please visit its website lauracranetrust.org or call 0148 451 0013.

If you want to donate to Andrew Lownsbrough, you need your head examined.

Green Party's Political Broadcast

2007-05-15T15:36:00.000Z

This is simply one of the nicest pieces of PPB I've ever seen:

And I know a few of the stars, so I have to put it up!

New Double Vision

2007-05-14T20:22:00.000Z

Check out Charlie's latest article over on Double Vision. Art by moi.

Good Luck to John Cunningham!

2007-05-14T11:07:00.000Z

John Cunningham is retiring as editor of the Connacht Tribune. You'll still be able to read John in the Connacht Tribune in his Corridors of Power political analysis column. All the best in the future John and enjoy the golf!

New Double Vision

2007-05-08T14:41:00.000Z

I've published Charlie's latest article over on Double Vision. Check it out for a slice of Galway life!

Cartoons from Country Living!

2007-05-08T14:25:00.000Z

Showband Era

Traditional Funeral

Random Testing and the Rural Pub

Shticks are Great!

Every year the Connacht Tribune runs a supplement called Country Living. It features a range of articles on modern rural living as well as nostalgic pieces on how it used to be. Frank Farragher, the editor always gets me to do a few cartoons to illustrate the articles. The above cartoons come from this year's publication.

Birthday Portrait

2007-05-08T14:13:00.000Z

Recently finished piece for a birthday present, worked up to A2 size from an old photo of the subjects from when they were children (without revealing ages I believe it was circa 1970s!).
I forget sometimes being so reliant on inks that pencil itself is a beautiful medium, especially when you're working with a good range- I use B, 2B, 5B and 8B, starting with the hardest and working up to the softest, which corresponds with the darkest areas of the portrait. You need to be very careful when working with soft pencils as they smudge so easily.

Ryanair Cutbacks

2007-05-01T16:38:00.000Z

Charlie's last article is now live on Double Vision. Check it out!

Photos from the Mayor's Ball!

2007-04-29T20:21:00.000Z

Had a great night on Saturday at the Mayor's Ball in the Galway Bay Hotel. The meal was beautiful, five courses of the best vegetarian food I've had in a long time. Managed to raise a few quid for charity as well during the caricatures, as each person donated as I drew them. I also tried to get donations from people before they saw the finished product!

Shane Lennon and Lucia Evans put a brave face on it!

The lovely ladies of the Galway Junior Chamber...

Andrew and Alison asking for a refund...

Aidan and the missus squaring up to me...

...and even more satisfied costumers!

Well done to everyone involved for what was a very successful night.

Galway Water Crisis Update

2007-04-29T16:59:00.000Z

Via Galway Water Crisis:

PETITION

The petition, which now has over 2,000 signatures, is now available at several places in Galway to sign. They are as follows:-

Kenny's Gallery,High St

Charlie Byrne's Bookshop,Middle St

Dillon's Jewellers,Cross St

Pat O'Connor's Gallery, The Bridge Mills

I-Supply, Sea Road

Ernie's Fruit and Veg shop, Sea Rd

Back to Music, Abbeygate St Lr

If any other business is interested in having a petition please let us know. We will pop in and see you.
Thanks to all the businesses above for helping us. We really appreciate it.

Mayor's Ball tonight!

2007-04-28T15:29:00.000Z

I'll have some photos up next week from the Mayor's Ball in the Galway Bay Hotel, which is happening this evening. It promises to be a fun evening and raises thousands of euro for various charities every year. It's a slightly different event this year, with an organic menu and non-black-tie policy, there'll be a few raised eyebrows, but that's what you get when you have a furry Green for a mayor!

Now someone remind me to take my camera!

Dear Green Eyed Monster...

2007-04-28T15:27:00.000Z

...thanks for reading.

Allan.

Another critique on Ryanair!

2007-04-27T00:47:00.000Z

Check out Charlie Adley's Double Vision!

Where have all my smoker friends gone?

2007-04-27T00:35:00.000Z

Smoking cartoon t-shirts now available!

Yesterday I had 187 visitors, mostly from the above smoking cartoon via the original post on smoking that featured the cartoon. Most visitors were from American and Canadian universities. The visitor numbers have dropped way off today. Maybe I've inspired a mass quitting!

Come back, I'm worried about ye!

Perceptions of Mental Health Cartoons from the Mayor's Youth Conference

2007-04-26T15:15:00.000Z

Perceptions of mental health cartoons from the Mayor's Youth Conference. I sat in on the session and came up with the cartoons based on the issues raised. The cartoons will be used in the report on the conference. You can see more of my conference cartoons here and here.

Transport cartoons from the Mayor's Youth Conference

2007-04-26T15:03:00.000Z

Transport cartoons from the Mayor's Youth Conference. I sat in on the session and came up with the cartoons based on the issues raised. The cartoons will be used in the report on the conference. You can see more of my conference cartoons here and here.

Anti-Racism Cartoons from the Mayor's Youth Conference

2007-04-26T15:01:00.000Z

Anti-racism cartoons from the Mayor's Youth Conference. I sat in on the session and came up with the cartoons based on the issues raised. The cartoons will be used in the report on the conference. You can see more of my conference cartoons here and here.

Dickie Rock and the Big Pants

2007-04-26T12:50:00.000Z

From the Country Living section of the Connacht Tribune, buy it this Friday!

Mayor's Youth Conference

2007-04-25T12:54:00.000Z

God I'm bald.

Thanks Aengus McMahon.

City Council to recycle water bottles for free.

2007-04-25T12:37:00.000Z

From Galway Water Crisis:

FREE RECYCLING OF WATER BOTTLES WILL BE AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY. Just put them in clear plastic bags and put them out at your normal day/time. This was announced at the 23 April meeting of the City Council in a letter to the councillors from the manager.
Here is an excerpt of the city manager’s letter:
This issue of disposing of the bottles is primarily bulk and not weight. The best advice is to squash the bottles after removing the caps. This allows a reduction in bulk in the green bin and also allows the refuse freighter to compact the bottles more efficiently.
The following measures are being put into place:
(i) Bottles which are put in clear bags will be collected with green bins as per normal collection dates. It is important that water bottles are not mixed up with other waste to facilitate recycling. Free clear bags will be made available from the Environment Department, City Hall, on request.
(ii) A container will be available in Sandy Road Depot from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Saturday to facilitate this collection of plastic bottles.

Also let me give a plug to the Galway Wants Water forum, which has been set up to give Galwegians a voice in the current crisis.

Beleagured Galway Mayor gets even more beleaguered...

2007-04-24T18:15:00.000Z

...or is about to! Mayor of Galway Niall O'Brolchain gets a caricature makeover at the Mayor's Youth Conference today.

Photo courtesy of Aengus McMahon.

Galway Mayor's Youth Conference

2007-04-24T15:12:00.000Z

Just back from the Mayor's Youth Conference in the Galway Bay Hotel. I was doing my conference cartoons based on the responses to the themes of the conference: mental health, transport and anti-racism. There were 300 young delegates from all over Galway and it always amazes me how articulate and confident many kids are today (at 32 I'm old enough to be of the speak-when-spoken-to generation!)
I got some good images and I should have them up next week.
I'm also doing caricatures for the Mayor's Ball in the Galway Bay Hotel this Saturday 29th April. I'm doing it gratis and I'll be collecting donations for the charities for each one I do. If you're going come over to me and get a lovely caricature!

Feeling thirsty?

2007-04-23T19:45:00.000Z

Galway Water Crisis Protest

2007-04-22T21:38:00.000Z

Following on from my last post, The Looking Glass has asked me to post on a protest that's happening over the water fiasco:

"Protest going ahead Monday 23 April. Assemble at City Hall, College road from 6pm. Please text people about this and ask them to pass it on. Also can you copy and paste this and post it as a bulletin yourselves. Its crucial we get large numbers of people at this protest. Thanks"

See you there and bring your own water!

Galway Water Crisis

2007-04-20T01:21:00.000Z

My take on the Galway water crisis. And when global warming kicks in we'll have plenty of sand to bury our heads in.

And on a related note some Galway citizens are taking a proactive role in questioning exactly what's being done about the current crisis:

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Small turn-out but I believe it was an ad-hoc meeting and the questions asked are very valid. Personally I think this is going to hurt our tourist season badly. I hope to be wrong on that. If you are a potential traveller to Galway reading this, you should know that an alternative water supply will be in place soon, and the only inconvenience to you is having to brush your teeth with bottled or boiled water.
God, it's like Jaws, only microscopic!

Indexed!

2007-04-20T00:37:00.000Z

You may very well have come across these before (I know I did somewhere) but I've just rediscovered the comic brilliance of Jessica Hagy on Indexed.

Sometimes there is an inverse correlation between how funny your gag is and the number of lines needed to illustrate it.
Jessica uses very few lines.

Fox News and a shred of human decency

2007-04-19T20:10:00.000Z

As in, it doesn't have one:

This came the day after Kurt Vonnegut died. I actually feel a little ill.

Kurt Vonnegut RIP

2007-04-19T11:09:00.000Z

I meant to post on the passing of Kurt Vonnegut before now but didn't have a moment. I only quoted him a few weeks ago, and I have that quote on the wall beside the computer screen where I see it every day. I think it captures something of the essence of his work- pessimism peppered with hope.

The above clip (apologies for the quality) is an absolute gem.

As has been much quoted the last week:

So it goes.

Quotations- Not so famous second lines from history...

2007-04-17T13:34:00.000Z

Check out Charlie Adley's Double Vision!

Hello Smokers!

2007-04-07T18:29:00.000Z

Smoking cartoon t-shirts now available!

Greetings to everyone arriving via this post on smoking. My pagerank seems to have jumped for this blog in the last few days and I've loads of visitors looking for images of one thing: smoking! At the moment the smoking cartoon appears on the second page of a Google image search for smoking. If you'd like to help me get on the first page you could link to the original post on smoking from your own blog or website.

This image seems to be lucky: it's driving my traffic up, and it's the first one I sold at the Galway Comedy Festival Cartoon Exhibition! So maybe linking to it is lucky as well. Not that I'm superstitious or anything.
Go on, link to me and I'll give you a free fortune reading!

Good Friday it's Double Vision!

2007-04-06T14:34:00.000Z

Go and read Charlie!

Comedy Festival Exhibition

2007-04-06T12:15:00.000Z

The Galway Comedy Festival exhibition opened last night in the Town Hall Theatre. It was opened by Niall O'Brolchain, Mayor of Galway, who may have missed his vocation as a stand-up comedian- he welcomed everyone to Galway, capital of cryptosporidium!
I have four pieces in it and sold two, this one and this one. And in case your wondering, that's my self-portrait for my biography above.

Concern Workshops

2007-04-03T12:00:00.000Z

I'm planning a post later on the Concern development education workshops I facilitated around the country last month. I had a great bunch of Transition Year students in Galway, Dublin and Cork. This is an ongoing project aimed at raising awareness of global child exploitation. There are currently over 200 million children being used for labour in the world today.

Caricatures from Gweedore Wedding

2007-04-02T11:53:00.000Z

Congratulations to Brian and Miranda, who got married last weekend in Gweedore, Co. Donegal. The reception was in An Chuirt Hotel, Gweedore, and of course they had the good sense to have me there entertaining their guests! You can see more of my wedding caricatures here.

New Double Vision

2007-03-31T15:42:00.000Z

Go on over to Charlie Adley's Double Vision for a read!

It must be Friday...

2007-03-23T14:25:00.000Z

...because there's a new Double Vision up!

Double Vision

2007-03-21T17:02:00.000Z

Charlie's latest article is up on Double Vision, belatedly for reasons beyond my control etc. etc. I also haven't got around to my report on my Concern Workshops, which I'll try and have up in the next day or two. Back soon!