Paul Mulligan

Galway-based singer-songwriter, Paul Mulligan, may not be a name that's familiar to many, but it's pretty certain that many will be familiar with the name of John Prine who contributes vocals and guitar to a couple of tracks on Strong Friend -- one of which is Prine's own song "Aimless Love."

You can possibly imagine what Strong Friend might sound like just from that opening paragraph. Mulligan brings his easy, story-telling into a predominately acoustic musical setting that draws subtly on both his native Irish tradition and the American country influences that one might associate with Prine. Of his fellow countrymen, Mulligan is probably closest in style to Christy Hennessy in both the personal, reflective nature of his lyrics and the delicate, sensitive delivery of his vocals.

The album opens with Mulligan reflecting on his first car, a 1969 blue Ford Cortina -- looking back on teenage dreams but ending rather unfortunately; "that tractor and trailer that came out of nowhere / and turned my Cortina into a concertina." Shame! One imagines that when Mulligan sings of crying "as they towed her away," that the lost dreams weighed heavy on his mind even more than the lost automobile!

"My Time Is Not My Own" finds Mulligan wearily pondering the frustrations of modern life and the associated demands on your time. The final verse opens with a sentiment that many of us can probably relate to; "I'm gonna wake up Sunday Morning / I might just disappear / Become a mountaineer / Get far away from here / Don't forget your phone / 'Cause your time is not your own."

The two duets with John Prine are particularly enjoyable; Prine's ragged voice being the perfect foil for Mulligan's smoother sound. The pedal steel is deployed on both occasions to lend that beautiful lonesome sound.

Strong Friend is a beautifully understated collection of dreams gone by and the usual unrest with everyday life. The songs are both penned and delivered with poise and sensitivity, asking the right questions and tugging at the right heartstrings. - www.folking.com

One of the most exciting initiatives in live music in Galway is the current series of gigs organised by the KAM (Kinvara Area Music) Collective in various locations in KInvara village. The latest gig took place on Saturday 14th and was a collaboration between veteran singer/songwriter and Eurovision winner Charlie McGettigan and local singer/songwriter Paul Mulligan. Kinvara residents are no strangers to innovative and quality music and this discerning audience were charmed and entertained by the vocal talents of both singers. As McGettigan humorously explained both of these songwriters had written songs with similar themes, so when Paul sang his happy/sad song about the demise of his beloved blue Cortina, Charlie was able to follow with his own Cortina story. McGettigan entertained with songs and stories about life in Leitrim and had the audience joining in and empathising about the joys of living with teenagers and this was complemented by the softer and more gentle tones of Mulligan’s voice and lyrics as he talked of the pressures of modern life and the importance of the simple pleasures in life. Both of these performers have been gigging for a number of years, surprising one listener who assumed they had been playing together for years such was their compatibility and experience. They performed with the energy of 20 year olds combining nuances of nostalgia and optimism with old fashioned folk and country roots.
The gig was held in the comfortable and intimate setting of the old dance hall of Johnston’s Hostel with people bringing their own wine and beer (and ice-cream!); everyone enjoyed the comfort of the stuffed armchairs especially when the light went down and the candles and fairy lights twinkled on every table. The encore, a rendition of the McGettigan song ‘Feet of a Dancer’, made famous by Maura O’Connell, was complemented here by the purity and perfection of Mulligan’s harmonies and had the audience joining in for one last hurrah before they adjoined to the local pub for nightcap.
- Connaught Tribune