Gilbert O'Sullivan Waterford gig sells out in 20 minutes

Tickets for Gilbert O’Sullivan’s long awaited return to Waterford sold out only 20 minutes after going on sale, ahead of his two upcoming gigs in Theatre Royal in December.

The Cork Road native’s career has spanned 50 years. His first single success ‘Nothing Rhymed’ was released in 1970 and almost overnight it achieved Top 10 status in the UK and Europe charts.

He subsequently released his debut album, ‘Himself’, in 1971. His second, 1972’s ‘Back To Front’, firmly cemented Gilbert amongst the world’s biggest musical talents, with Top 10 singles and Number 1’s around the world, including the classic ‘Alone Again (Naturally)’, which topped the US charts for six weeks and earned him three Grammy nominations.

British recognition soon followed with the songs ‘Clair’ and ‘Get Down’ reaching the summit of the UK singles charts and his LP Back To Front topping the album charts.

In the same year at the 18th Ivor Novello Awards Gilbert was named ‘Song Writer of the Year’. 

To date he has won three Ivors and in recent times performed alongside other artists at the BBC Proms in the Park.

He has made three appearances at Glastonbury, including on the main stage, and toured extensively throughout the UK, Ireland, Europe, Japan and Australia.

A hometown performance is eagerly awaited, with the local musician announcing to the Waterford News & Star earlier this year that a show in Waterford was on the agenda.

He said: “That’s the plan, it has to be. We are going to be doing two shows in Cork, two nights in Dublin in September and the plan is to come to Waterford, so that will happen.” 

Also this year O’Sullivan was granted the Freedom of Waterford, in recognition of his contribution to global popular culture through his music.

At the special ceremony in City Hall in March, Mayor of Waterford City & County, Cllr Joe Conway said that the Freedom of Waterford represented “a distinguished honour” and said that Gilbert O’Sullivan was a “a signal composer and performer from Waterford roots who has made an indelible mark on the world of modern music”. 

During his acceptance speech, Gilbert reflected on his childhood in Waterford, and referred to how proud his mother would have been to see Waterford recognising her son.

He told the Waterford News & Star on the night: “When we left Waterford, at eight, and when I came back in 1969, when I had moved to London and I could afford to come back, I arrived at the station and I just felt I was at home and I was like 20 years old or something.

“That’s how it felt, and it’s a special place.”