The late Jack Mitchell, Folk Singer, Writer and Socialist
The late Jack Mitchell was born in Glasgow in 1932 and although he only lived in Galway for six years his writing, singing and sheer charisma brought him into contact with so many different people from all corners of the city.
Jack was probably best known for his contributions to the folk sessions in the Crane Bar. One of his greatest characteristics was the way he would help people to lose their inhibitions and share a song with the patrons of the pub.
His love of the Crane inspired him to write a poem about the premises, a copy of this lyric is displayed behind the bar. Jack was also a fundamental part of the Galway Singers Club whose songs are performed on Monday nights at the "Seventh Heaven" restaurant.
In his memory, the club has been renamed 'The Jack Mitchell Singing Club'. Jack would on Wednesdays be an intricate part of the Folk Nights where music, story telling and recitals were part of the night's entertainment. He would encourage members of the audience to take part in the performance.
Saturdays were spent with the Galway Writers workshop in the Bridge Mills Art centre. His love of languages often saw him perform in Conradh Na Gaeilge, where he would recite and sing in any language from Russian to Scots.
Jack, a frequent visitor to the city to see his daughter Jenny, moved to Galway only six years ago with his wife Renate. Beforehand he had worked mostly in East Germany and in Africa.
In the old GDR Jack, a committed socialist, had lectured at Humboldt University and was involved in the political song movement.
This was centred around the Oktoberklub in Berlin and in keeping with his Scottish and strong Irish traditions he would bring over groups such as Dolores Keane, Billy Bragg and many others to perform.
Jack also kept in touch with topical events around Galway and wrote on things such as the Mutton Island controversy. His popularity was displayed by the large number of people who attended his Month's Mind at the Crane Bar.
It was there where for over three hours his family and friends recollected the songs and poems he wrote and performed some of his personal favourites like 'Will you go Lassie' and 'Summer time is coming'.
Though he will be missed by his family and friends Jack has left an outstanding legacy - a play which he co-wrote with Nollaig Tate entitled 'The Great Potato Trial'.
This play will be produced by Brendan Murray and it is expected to be performed in the late summer. Galway was always special to Jack and his poem about the City of the Tribes is entitled 'Bright City'.
I suspect Galway
of a gaudy past,
once, in a Spanish dream.
Those with eyes for things
higher than shop signs
pick up hints
in stucco falderals
and curious high oriels framed
for fleeting glimpses of mantilla'd heads -
here and there in these, and everywhere
in the harmony of tinted housefronts,
muted mementos, surely,
of gaydog, flauntier days
before the Rains came, and,
careless of whites and coloureds,
watered them all down in the one wash
to this mild kinship.
[ About Jack Mitchell contents page ]
©Renate Mitchell. May not be reproduced in any form online or offline without explicit written permission.