Jerry ‘Chicken George’ Shevlin
On Friday 15th April, 2022, I visited Gerry Shevlin aka Chicken George at his home in Clonakilty. I brought him some creamy buns and Lucozade as it was his birthday the next day, and I heard they were his favorites.
Transcript
Harry: When did you arrive in Clonakilty?
Jerry: I arrived in Clonakilty about 50 years ago as a teenager. I loved the entertainment, the music, and the street carnivals so much, that I stayed. I love the dancing.
Harry: Where did you get the name Chicken George?
There was a Master of the Bone festival in Cork and I was dressed up with black polish on my face and a carrying a rooster. There was a character in US history called Chicken George, and so the name came from that. I ended up in the garda station, and would you believe the rooster shit all over the garda station.
Harry: What do you work as?
I cut grass and hedges and tidying up gardens. I travel around on my scooter all around the county. I’ve been to Skibbereen, Copeen, Barryroe and more. There is a lady in Barryroe who calls me ‘darling’. She says I look like Clark Gable. I carry all my own equipment. I even carried my wheelbarrow on the back of the bike a few years ago. If I won the Lotto, I’d buy a Mitsubishi car.
Harry: What is your favorite food?
I love creamy buns
Harry: Can you tell me about your love of dancing
I love the dancing. I just concentrate in my own mind, away from people, and dance away. Sometimes I listen to the robins when I am dancing. I won best costume in Dunmanway parade on St. Patrick’s day this year.
Harry: What music do you like?
My favourite music is South American, and I would be dancing to it everywhere I go.
Harry: Do you like to travel? Where have you travelled?
I have travelled to so many places, I am like a bumble bee. I’ve been to Australia twice, Papa New Guinea (which is over 10,000 miles away), New Zealand, Hawaii, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Brazil. I was in Papa New Guinea when a tsunami hit. In Brazil, it was so hot and humid with the monsoon rains. I met tribes from the village, and the music was magic. I take no phone, only my alarm clock when I travel.
Harry: Do you know anyone famous?
I knew Joe Dolan. I have been to lots of his concerts, and he would recognise me from my dancing. I’d have a can of red bull and maybe a cigar and enjoy the dancing.
Harry: What is your favorite food and drink?
A Galtee cheese sandwich on Fields bread. And Red Bull is my favorite drink. I gave up alcohol 15 years ago.
Harry: What advice would you give to people today?
We are living in a world with too much technology, and it puts too much stress on people. It’s like a zombie world. People are heading up to St. Mary’s for their last holiday.
The ice is melting – and pieces the size of Cork city are breaking away from the ice caps.
You need to have eyes as sharp as a hawk – we are living in a dangerous world, and the devil is controlling the planet.