Giant of Galway arts world who nurtured young talent

A giant of a man who made a lasting impression on the the arts and creative life of Galway and further afield is how friends and colleagues have described the manager of the Town Hall Theatre, Michael Diskin, who died on Saturday last.

President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina, led mourners at Michael Diskin’s removal on Monday evening, and was represented by his Aide de Camp, Cmdt Tony Whelan at Tuesday’s funeral Mass at the Jesuit Church on the city’s Sea Road.

Colleagues and friends of Michael spoke at the Mass of his contribution to the arts and his support for his native city’s creative community since 1989, when he became the first paid manager of Galway Arts Festival.

He became the first manager of the City’s Town Hall Theatre, when the former cinema opened as a municipal theatre in 1995 and apart from a three-year career break, he worked there until days before his untimely death.

Audiences at Saturday night’s performance of The Curious Savage by Compántas Lir at the Town Hall stood for a minute’s silence for Michael, which was followed by a round of applause. His colleagues at the venue led the tribute.

Forty-nine year old Michael Diskin, who was from Lenaboy Gardens in Salthill attended St Patrick’s Primary School and the Bish Secondary School before continuing on to NUIG where he graduated with a BA Degree. He did post-graduate studies in Scotland’s Strathclyde University and was awarded a PhD for his work on Unionism in Northern Ireland. He then worked with Craig Gardner accountants and the Japanese Embassy in Dublin, before returning to Galway in 1989 to become Manager of the Galway Arts Festival. Subsequently he moved to a similar role in Galway Arts Centre and in 1995, moved on to become manager at the new Town Hall Theatre. During his career break, from 2007-2010 he worked at Belfast’s Lyric Theatre for a period.

Michael Diskin was a leading figure in the campaign by Galway arts groups to support Michael D Higgins’ bid for the presidency last year and was subsequently invited to the inauguration with his wife, Evelyne. Although unable to attend due to his illness, the Diskins were present at a party in Áras an Uachtaráin last month, held to honour the Galway arts community. They stayed at the Áras on that occasion, as guests of President and Mrs Higgins.

That happy occasion was recalled at Michael’s funeral Mass on Tuesday. So too was Michael’s work in helping to set up the Blue Teapot Theatre Company, which provides a platform for people with intellectual disabilities to create drama.

Breandán Ó hÉadhra of Galway City Museum, spoke of Michael’s love and support for the Irish language and how he believed the Irish language artists were sometimes sidelined unfairly. However, Michael refused to differentiate between arts in Irish and English; “to him they were all arts”.

Playwright and performer Little John Nee stirred mourners to laughter and tears when he said “Michael didn’t suffer foods gladly, but he suffered me”, as he described how Michael Diskin helped him forge an international reputation for the show, The Derry Boat and supported him through the creation of subsequent shows.

Michael was also praised for his honesty and his intelligence, his humanity and his bravery during his long illness, which he faced with profound courage.

His colleagues in Galway City Council, which is responsible for the Town Hall Theatre, have lost a great friend, according to City Manager, Joe O’Neill, who praised Michael for “the way he made the Town Hall one of the most successful city theatres in the country”.

“He had a real love of the arts, he was very pragmatic, he had great organisational skills, he was able to manage people, and he always delivered on what he set out to do,” said Mr O’Neill, who said Michael helped place Galway firmly on the artistic map.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.

You can leave a tribute to Michael Diskin here.