Richie Kavanagh

Richard Kavanagh (born 19 March 1949) is an Irish singer-songwriter.

Despite psoriasis crippling his hands, at the age of 44, he went on to become a singer-songwriter who wrote the song "Aon Focal Eile" which gained national attention in 1996. Tony Keogh in South East Radio was the first person to play the song and, after Gerry Ryan began playing it on his RTÉ 2fm national morning show, Kavanagh had a top-ten hit.

Early years Richie Kavanagh was born and raised in the Raheenwood area of Fennagh, County Carlow in Ireland where he still resides. Kavanagh's local parish of Myshall is also famous for producing the racehorse Danoli. Kavanagh was encouraged to write songs and sketches by one of his primary school teachers. His other major influence was the travelling road show which would visit his locality when he was a child. and chef.

Richie started his career in the 1970s as a singer songwriter and started to write his own material. He was briefly involved in a double act called Dave and Dick before going solo. He had a hit song called "Face Her For Mount Leinster", and was establishing himself as a popular entertainer. At that time, his act included his alter ego 'Johnny' as part of his comedy routine. The popularity of this song led to him being referred to as 'The Pot Hole Man' up until the release of "Aon Focal Eile".

Kavanagh's stage costume, featuring gloves and a hat, were initially chosen to cover his psoriasis but became part of his trademark look. In March 1996, Kavanagh was called by his son and advised that a song he had written and recorded a few years earlier, "Aon Focal Eile" had been played on Gerry Ryan's radio programme, only it was not Kavanagh's version but a cover by Noel Furlong.

The song became a cause célèbre in Ireland after it was banned by BBC radio stations and could only be played on other radio stations in the UK after midnight. In May 1996 Kavanagh had two albums ("Travellin' Man" and "Aon Focail Eile - 15 Best Comedy Songs") in the Irish top ten album chart at the same time.

He won an IRMA award for Best Single of the Year in Ireland for 1996. The single is currently the 15th-best selling single in Irish chart history.

His songs have often been a topic of controversy due to his explicit and risque lyrics, such as "A Ride On A Tractor", "Mickey's Buckin Ass", "My Girlfriend's Pussy Cat", "If I Didn't Get A Ride" and "My Wife, Johnny's Morris Minor". He has also had hits including "The Mobile Phone", "Stay Wut Her Johnny", "Chicken Talk", and "Mobile Phone".

On 9 February 2011, while being interviewed on the Sue Nunn Programme on KCLR Radio, Kavanagh announced he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Despite this, he vowed to continue performing.

Critical Reception and Legacy

Musically, Kavanagh's combination of a Country and Irish sound with English double entendre driven music hall songs has been compared to Brendan Shine, particularly his hit "Do You Want Your Old Lobby Washed Down?". However, Kavanagh's defenders argue that his "stage antics and two-fingered salute to establishment norms" are consistent with the punk ethos.

In 1996 Kavanagh was described as "the first entertainer to become a star through local radio" in the Irish Independent.

"Aon Focal Eile" 1

"Mickey's Buckin' Ass" 11 "The Mobile Phone" 8 2001 "Pussy Pussy Cat" 5 2002 "If I Didn't Get A Ride" 15

"How's Your Whole Family" 29 "If I Could Drink (500 Pints)" (featuring Big In Sweden) 21