TV review: An Ghig Mhór sees John Spillane offer The Donnys some tough love

John Spillane mentoring Kilkenny band The Donnys in An Ghig Mhór

There is a bit of a niggle in the first episode of An Ghig Mhór (RTÉ One and RTÉ Player).

The idea is an experienced success story on the Irish music scene mentors a young artist or band, as they prepare for their first big gig. 

The opening episode has Cork’s John Spillane keeping an eye on Kilkenny band The Donnys.

The Donnys: "To show the band their '70s rock vibe would appeal to people who grew up listening to Led Zeppelin, Spillane (or more likely the show producers) decided they should visit, wait for it, a group of Irish soldiers who served overseas with the U.N."

It works because they don’t exactly get on. This isn’t a Cork and Kilkenny clash. It’s a generation thing.

Spillane has been in the music business for 43 years. The keyboard in The Donnys is too young to drive himself to rehearsals.

There is a bit of a class tension as well. The Donnys seem a bit posh, they don’t really have an accent. No one would accuse John Spillane of lacking an accent.

So when they tell him they have put up five posters for their debut gig in a Kilkenny night-club, he calls them lazy and says it should be 50. 

Next thing you know Spillane is handing out flyers to middle-aged men in Kilkenny with the band watching on muttering that most of their fanbase is young and online.

It’s all starting to sour between mentor and Donnys. 

John Spillane, onstage at the Lord Mayor's Civic, Culture Community & Voluntary, and Culture Awards Ceremony 2025: a different world from Ireland's indie and rock venues. Picture: Larry Cummins

ROCK 'N' ROLL ADVISORY

To show the band their '70s rock vibe would appeal to people who grew up listening to Led Zeppelin, Spillane (or more likely the show producers) decided they should visit, wait for it, a group of Irish soldiers who served overseas with the U.N. 

The Donnys: "They are probably going to make it with or without advice from John Spillane."

This was the only misstep in the show – it felt like the veterans were hanging around from another documentary, possibly about Irish people who served overseas with the U.N., and RTÉ decided to get a bit more value out of them.

In fairness, time spent with some peacekeepers seemed to break some of the ice between Spillane and the band, and it was all systems go in the run up to the big gig. 

The Donnys were unreal when it came to showtime, lashing into the rock god cliches, with topless lead-singers and guitar solos in front of some admiring girls. Spillane (who gives great telly) is well impressed, saying he didn’t expect them to be this good.

In fairness, it wasn’t really their first big gig, a quick Google shows they have played support slots with The Undertones and The Stunning.

They are probably going to make it with or without advice from John Spillane. 

But this show is well worth it for Spillane’s no-filter take on life, along with a reminder you don’t really want rock and roll stars taking advice from their elders.