Conal Gallen
{{short description|Irish comedian, actor and singer (born 1955)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox comedian
| name = Conal Gallen
| image =
| image_size =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1955|9|22|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Ballybofey, County Donegal, Ireland
| medium = Comedian
| years_active = 1980's - present
| genre = Slapstick
| subject = Comedy
}}
Conal Gallen (born 22 September 1955) is an Irish comedian, actor and singer.{{cite news|title=Conal set to leave them laughing in TG4 series|url=http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/lifestyle/entertainment/conal_set_to_leave_them_laughing_in_tg4_series_1_3139714|accessdate=15 February 2012|newspaper=Donegal Democrat|date=12 October 2011|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120728125159/http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/lifestyle/entertainment/conal_set_to_leave_them_laughing_in_tg4_series_1_3139714|archive-date=28 July 2012|url-status=dead}} He is best known for his comedy songs including "Horse It Into Ya Cynthia" and "I'll Make Love To You In The Henhouse (If You'll Only Egg Me On)".{{cite news|title=Conal Gallen: In today's world so-called comedians have omitted the word funny|url=https://www.irishnews.com/arts/2020/03/11/news/conal-gallen-in-today-s-world-so-called-comedians-have-omitted-the-word-funny-1860136/|accessdate=25 September 2020|newspaper=Irish News|date=11 March 2020}}
Personal life
Three of his younger siblings died before him.{{cite news|title=Friday Focus, Conal Gallen – A life of comedy and tragedy|url=https://www.oceanfm.ie/2020/07/24/friday-focus-conal-gallen-a-life-of-comedy-and-tragedy/|accessdate=25 September 2020|newspaper=Ocean FM|date=24 July 2020}} His wife Jacinta was originally from Derry,{{cite news|title=Conal Gallen: In today's world so-called comedians have omitted the word funny|url=https://www.irishnews.com/arts/2020/03/11/news/conal-gallen-in-today-s-world-so-called-comedians-have-omitted-the-word-funny-1860136/|accessdate=25 September 2020|newspaper=Irish News|date=11 March 2020}} and passed away in 2014 following a long period of suffering from Multiple sclerosis.{{cite news|title=Sadness at death of Jacinta Gallen|url=https://www.donegaldaily.com/2014/10/28/sadness-at-death-of-jacinta-gallen/|accessdate=25 September 2020|newspaper=Irish News|date=28 October 2014}} Gallen admits to have entered a period of Depression during her illness and bereavement.{{cite news|title=Friday Focus, Conal Gallen – A life of comedy and tragedy|url=https://www.oceanfm.ie/2020/07/24/friday-focus-conal-gallen-a-life-of-comedy-and-tragedy/|accessdate=25 September 2020|newspaper=Ocean FM|date=24 July 2020}} The couple had three children, Rory, Trasa, Ciaran.
Comedian
Following a robbery at the video shop he was working on, Gallen discovered the stock he had bought was itself stolen goods, and so not covered for insurance. Consequently, Gallen turned to entertainment, singing in a band called "the odd couple" and then towards comedy.{{cite news|title=Conal Gallen: In today's world so-called comedians have omitted the word funny|url=https://www.irishnews.com/arts/2020/03/11/news/conal-gallen-in-today-s-world-so-called-comedians-have-omitted-the-word-funny-1860136/|accessdate=25 September 2020|newspaper=Irish News|date=11 March 2020}} Starting with small pub gigs, he moved to theatres with the support of Charlie McGettigan.
Following the unexpected absence of a sound tech at one performance, his 12-year-old son Rory took control of the decks, and has worked with him ever since. In 2013 he co-created a play with Rory called "A Bit On The Side".{{cite news|title=Relatively Speaking: A chat with Conal and Rory Gallen|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/life/features/relatively-speaking-a-chat-with-conal-and-rory-gallen-30962136.html|accessdate=25 September 2020|newspaper=Belfast Telegraph|date=3 February 2015}}
Gallen has made numerous live appearances around Ireland, on both sides of the border, in venues such as The Millennium Forum, Derry, The Alley Theatre, Strabane. He has also released 20 DVDs and 40 CDs (2 of which are also on digital download), including the double-platinum selling Conal Gallen: Live & Full of It.{{cite web|title=About Conal|url=http://www.conalgallen.net/?page_id=14|publisher=conalgallen.net|accessdate=15 February 2012}}
Conal made his first appearance on RTÉ's The Late Late Show in January 2012.{{cite news|url=http://www.donegaldaily.com/2012/03/20/when-conal-met-ryan/|title=When Conal met Ryan ...|work=Donegal Daily|date=20 March 2012|accessdate=20 March 2012}}{{cite news|title=Conal Gallen: In today's world so-called comedians have omitted the word funny|url=https://www.irishnews.com/arts/2020/03/11/news/conal-gallen-in-today-s-world-so-called-comedians-have-omitted-the-word-funny-1860136/|accessdate=25 September 2020|newspaper=Irish News|date=11 March 2020}}
Speaking of Gallen, Fellow Ulsterman, Daniel O'Donnell said "I love Conal Gallen... I’ve seen him live lots of times and he has a good Irish humour. Sometimes I find today’s humour complicated and smart, but Conal’s is clear. You laugh as soon as you see him coming onstage."{{cite news|title=Daniel O'Donnell: On My Culture Radar|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/daniel-o-donnell-on-my-culture-radar-1.4206915|accessdate=25 September 2020|newspaper=Irish Times|date=21 March 2020}}
References
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Category:Irish stand-up comedians
Category:People from Ballybofey
Category:People from County Donegal
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