Arthur McGonigle: Arty G, a busker and character known to all inOmagh, has died aged 59.
A campaign is already under way to have a statue erected to himand his companion, Gizmo the dog, whom Arty reputedly found in awheelbarrow in Japan.
Arty, whose real name was Arthur McGonigle, was an institution inOmagh and part of the town's identity. He had a treasured place inthe heart of the community, across all ages, classes and creeds.
After his death, a neighbour tied a guitar to the railingsoutside his flat. It was rapidly covered with written tributes, andsurrounded by wreaths.
Within days, more than 1,300 had registered as fans on the Arty GRIP internet site. Many such tributes, together with film footage ofhis funeral, may be found on a Bebo site, http://www.bebo. com/Profile.jsp?MemberId=3362920752
Not surprisingly, Arty's funeral was one of the largest seen inthe town. Within days of his death, funds were being raised to erectplaques in his memory in the town centre and in the estate where helived.
A week later, dozens of young musicians held a Busk-a-Thon toraise funds.
This culminated in a fundraising gig attended by hundreds ofpeople, at which local bands played free. Campaigners, who have thesupport of the chairman of the Northern Ireland Assembly's culture,arts and leisure committee, Barry McElduff, hope eventually that thestatue to Arty and Gizmo will grace the town centre.
Arty G's regular spot was outside the Northern Bank. His presencegave the town centre an originality that centres of many other Irishtowns are losing.
The authorities recognised his uniqueness and tended to ignorehis breaches of legislation prohibiting street drinking.
Arty G didn't even have to sing. When he was there passersbythrew money into his hat or bought food or a hot drink for him andGizmo. From his takings, he often bought sweets or food for youngpeople he saw as more unfortunate than himself.
When his guitar was stolen, it caused outrage in Omagh and staffat the Northern Bank bought him a new one.
Arty G had a wholly original take on life. "Have you ever walkedthrough the desert eating ketchup?" he once asked.
Gizmo, a similar free spirit, adopted him about a dozen yearsago. The origin of their relationship is not entirely clear. OneBebo fan insists they met when Arty was touring Japan with BlackSabbath and Deep Purple.
Arty G was a survivor of the pioneering days of Irish rock music.He was recognised as a superb blues guitarist.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s he played with blues bandWarmth.
Warmth's major gig was the Pop For Peace concert in Belfast in1970, which brought together bands and fans from across thecommunity, but failed to stop the developing Troubles.
To earn a living Arty G also played with showbands. In 1971 hemoved to London in search of the big breakthrough.
Tragically, it didn't happen and his health never recovered fromthe effects of his London years. From the mid-1970s he turned tobusking and appeared at a number of festivals.
As well as in Omagh, he had regular pitches in Enniskillen andBundoran, and sometimes ventured farther afield. When travelling bybus, Gizmo accompanied him, having been trained to hide in a specialbag.
Arty G narrowly escaped death in January this year, a neighbourrescuing him from his burning flat. When death did come, it wassudden: waiting for the bus into the town centre to go busking.
Showband legend Brian Coll was a neighbour, and summed up hislife.
"He was an exceptional, intelligent and witty guy," Coll said."He brought so much happiness to a lot of people, and did so littlefor himself."
Arty G was predeceased by his parents, Patrick and KathleenMcGonigle, but is survived by his brothers, Gerry and Tony, andsisters Marie (McCourt) and Gay (Tarrant).
He is survived also by Gizmo who lives now with a family in theGallows Hill area of Omagh. When out walking, he is stoppedregularly by people who know him.
Arty G (Arthur McGonigle): born July 6th, 1948; died November3rd, 2007
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