Faces of Galway 22/100

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Meet Alan from Galway

If you have ever heard the soulful sound of a saxophone in Salthill then you have heard Alan in action. Better known as "Sax on the Prom" Alan spends his free time playing a range of tunes in the hope that he will bring some joy into lives of those who walk the prom. A self taught saxophone player Alan has received the 'nod' from the likes of Sharon Shannon and the man with the golden trumpet; Johnny Carroll! But a recent visit from President Higgins has been the highlight for Alan. He had a lovely experience playing for, and chatting with, President Higgins just a few weeks ago. Another highlight over the last two years was when a couple stopped to watch Alan play. He guessed they were Brazilian and asked if he could play a song for them. He chose Roberto Carlos's "Como é grande o meu amor por você ". The lady stood listening with tears streaming down her face so he stopped and she explained it was the first song her parents danced to at their wedding and the tears were happy tears!

Alan is a Galway native but spent many years working abroad. He worked in New York on the construction of the  Twin Towers. He was home, on holidays, in Galway on 9/11 but remembers clearly watching on TV as they came crashing to the ground. Sadly one of His co-workers died in the incident. He left New York in 2004 and moved back to Galway. 

It was two years ago Alan started playing saxophone on the prom. It was initially just for himself but after three months a woman approached him and asked him where he was collecting his money. She told he he should have be busking and organised the box he now has.