| Aidan Walsh: Master of the Universe | |
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 DVD cover | |
| Directed by | Shimmy Marcus |
Production company | |
Release date |
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Running time | 70 minutes[1] |
| Country | Ireland |
| Language | English |
| Budget | €70,000 |
Aidan Walsh: Master of the Universe is an Irish documentary film exploring the life of Aidan Walsh, directed byShimmy Marcus.[2] Funded partially by theIrish Film Board and filmed over four years, the documentary was released in October 2000.[1][3]
Encouraged by friends in the music industry, Aidan Walsh becomes an unlikely celebrity.[4]
Separated into a number of chapters, the film follows the life of the "eccentric" Walsh from his early life in a school for children with learning disabilities in Cork, through a number of music-industry and videography business ventures in Dublin, to his participation in the1997 Irish general election.[4] The film includes commentary from Walsh's former business associates and contacts in the music industry, including musiciansSimon Carmody (Golden Horde) andGavin Friday (Virgin Prunes), radio presentersGerry Ryan andDave Fanning, and music journalist Richie Taylor.[5][6]
Aidan Walsh: Master of the Universe was screened at theGalway Film Fleadh in July 2000 and theCork Film Festival in October 2000.[1] In a review, published inThe Irish Times in October 2000, the documentary is described as "immensely entertaining and surprisingly touching" and that it "rightly tackles attitudes to Walsh and whether we are laughing with or at him".[3] The film received the "Best Feature Documentary" award at theCeltic Film and Television Festival in March 2001.[7][8][9]
The main subject of the film, Aidan Walsh (sometimes spelled Aiden Walshe), was born inDublin in 1954.[10] He did not know his family, and spent his childhood in the Lota School for Boys inCork.[4][11] After briefly attempting to join theIrish Army, he was discharged in 1972 and moved to Dublin.[10] Taking advantage of low rents in the then largely derelictTemple Bar, he briefly operated avideography company and co-founded a music recording and rehearsal studio.[4][12] With friends and connections in the city's music industry (includingSimon Carmody andGavin Friday), he signed "Ireland's fastest ever record deal" in 1987.[10][13][14] After a number of attempted business ventures, Walsh contested the1997 Irish general election, receiving just 43 first preference votes (0.12%) in theDublin Central constituency.[10][15]
Aidan Walsh – Master Of The Universe [..] Best Feature Documentary, Celtic Film and TV Festival
strange achievements such as landing the quickest record deal in pop music history
After just three live appearances he now has a record deal