James Galway
‘The Man with the Golden Flute’ was born in Belfast in 1939. He
began playing the penny whistle as a small child before switching
to the flute. He continued his studies at the Royal College of
Music and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London,
followed by the Paris Conservatory. After several positions in
prestigious orchestras, such as the Berlin Philharmonic, he
launched his solo career in 1975 and is now acknowledged as one of
the world’s finest classical flautists. Among numerous awards and
honours, he received an OBE in 1979 and was knighted for services
to music in 2001.
Growing up in
Belfast gave me an education which set me on the road to a
successful life. I don’t mean Mountcollyer or Saint
Paul’s schools, but the city itself. There were many
parks where we played after school and at the weekends, including
the Waterworks where we would go and sail our little boats on its
reservoir. It has a beautiful park attached to it as well, which I
only came to appreciate later in life.
There was Alexander
Park, just next to Mountcollyer School, which we crossed
over once a week to go and play soccer and hockey in the Grove,
another park with facilities for us to play games and a round of
golf. Then there was York Street Station, the
Fire Station in Whitla Street, the docks and the
shipyards. We would spend hours exploring these wonderful places
and being chased from them! I also remember the bands, both flute
and general, in which I learned to play.
There were also many
local orchestras where I learned the business as a youngster of 13
and which provided a good foundation for my career. The town has a
very good opera house, the Grand Opera House, and wonderful places
of entertainment like the Waterfront Hall, as well as many
community theatres where you can see up and coming acting talent.
Indeed for the modern visitor there is a lot to do and see in and
around Belfast. For me Belfast was a
wonderful place to grow up in and is a great place to visit. It is
always a pleasure for me to visit and refresh the memories of my
youth.