On The Spot with: The Guitar Studio’s Owen McNulty

With a guitar in his hand, and music in his blood, Owen McNulty is a passionate musician, who has recently opened ‘The Guitar Studio’ in Omagh, alongside his friend, Matt McGlinn. Located at Market Place, the studio is made in music heaven, boasting bespoke, high-quality guitar tuition; songwriting; and performance mentorship

If you could be invisible for a day, what would you do?

I’d take a spin over to Facebook HQ, and find the big red button that deletes the whole thing.

What is your least appealing habit?

How many words am I allowed for this answer?! Personally, I think I can be a bit indecisive, or even apathetic about a lot of things.

What is your greatest trait?

Out of my multitudinous great traits, including my wonderful humility, I think my calm demeanour has served me well over the years.

I think I have patience when dealing with people, and I always try and see situations from other peoples’ views without rushing to snap judgements or raised voices.

If you could ask God one question, what would it be?

‘Can you help us out a bit down here, big lad?’

Did you have a role model as a youth?

In an outrageously clichéd fashion, I would have to say my father. He’s the epitome of an ‘honest hard-working family man’. There was rarely a cross word growing up in my house. With five siblings, and as a father now of only two, I can appreciate how hard things would have been for my own parents.

How would you describe Tyrone to someone who has never been here before?

The best thing about Tyrone is the people. There’s so much fun, creativity, honesty, and joy in Tyrone people. I’ve lived in a few places over the years, and the people of Tyrone have an independence of spirit that you don’t see in Belfast or Dublin, or some of the bigger towns and cities in Ireland.

What are you watching on television?

I just started series three of ‘Narcos Mexico’ on Netflix which is excellent TV, and the constant subtitles makes sure you’re not getting distracted by the constant ‘look-at-me’ tractor-beam that my phone sometimes seems to have. The best thing on TV now is ‘Succession’. It’s easily one of the greatest shows ever made. Big budgets; HBO production; a stellar cast; gripping family drama; and funnier than any comedy that’s on TV right now.

Tell us a song that reminds you of your childhood.

There used to be a cassette tape in the car called ‘Wally Whyton’s Party Playtime’ that I have strong memories of badgering my parents to play… to everyone else’s annoyance! And, of course, there are the standard ‘Ten Green Bottles’, ‘Twinkle Twinkle’, etc. All the classics.

Who is your favourite musician?

Neil Young. He’s the archetype of an artist for me. He shamelessly follows his muse, and lets the winds of inspiration blow him in whichever direction it sends him. It takes courage to do that as an artist, and it’s something I definitely don’t have!

What is your favourite film?

It used to be ‘Fight Club’. As a younger man, I liked what it had to say about the world, and about capitalism and commercialism. But now that I’ve aged a bit, I must be getting soft as it’s probably ‘School of Rock’. It is shamelessly ‘feel-good’, with a huge performance from Jack Black, and some super-talented child actors and musicians. The film’s climax just makes me smile from ear-to-ear every single time.

What is your favourite memory?

When Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored the winner against Bayern Munich in 1999 to win the Treble for Manchester United.

And your saddest?

I’d rather not say, but I would say that the strength of those who suffered at that time, in the midst of enormous pain, is something that will always inspire me.

What makes you angry?

At the risk of getting too political, the governments in most of the English-speaking world are a total disgrace to every single voter that has put them in their current positions.

Has there been a defining moment in your life that has got you to where you are today?

I used to work dutifully in the NI Assembly as a public servant in a press office, but taking a redundancy package with the encouragement and support of my wife, Joanne, to take a chance and start my own business teaching guitar, is my defining moment.

What is the most embarrassing thing you have done?

The single most embarrassing thing must have been erased from my brain as I can’t think of anything in particular… That’s for my therapist to work out! Truth be told, I probably embarrass myself a little bit every weekend when singing or playing a song in the wrong key, or forgetting the words to something like ‘Brown-Eyed Girl’.

What is your most treasured possession?

My Taylor guitar. It was a wedding present from my wife that looks gorgeous and sounds fantastic… And so does the guitar!!!

Do you have a catchphrase?

‘It’ll be grand’.

What’s your drink of choice?

A good Americano with an extra shot. Or, if we’re talking post-7pm (maybe even 6pm), there’s a beer called ‘Lagunitas IPA’ that I absolutely love. Nice and strong too! But quite hard to find recently, so if any of your readers know where a man could find some, make sure and email in.

Who would play you in a film of your life?

If it could be anyone, living or dead, I’d pick Jimmy Gandolfini. Greatest performance of any character on TV ever as Tony Soprano.

What has been your greatest achievement?

Opening The Guitar Studio, Omagh, with my friend Matt McGlinn. I’m lucky enough to have played some great gigs in front of hundreds of people, and shared stages with some amazing musicians and friends.

But for us to open our guitar school and recording studio during the Covid-age has been difficult and intense but very rewarding…

And we’re working our way towards an exciting 2022!

What is your favourite quote?

My favourite quote isn’t one to live by, but it’s still my favourite: ‘If you’re going to eat the poison, you may as well lick the plate’.

What song would you like played at your funeral?

‘Robin Hood’ by Ocean Colour Scene. They were my first love in music when I was a kid, and this song is about doing the things that make you happy and give you pleasure – and not feeling the need to apologise for it if you’re not hurting anyone.