Home / Dave Allen
David Tynan O'Mahoney was born on 6 July 1936 on the outskirts of Dublin, Ireland. He followed his father into journalism and aged 20 moved to London to pursue a career in Fleet Street. However, he ended up a Redcoat at Butlins changing his surname to Allen. His big break came, in 1959, on the TV Talent Show, New Faces. Two years later he toured the UK with the then-unknown band, The Beatles. Success followed in BBC and ITV shows from 1967 to 1994. These shows consisted of sketches but also his memorable... moreDavid Tynan O'Mahoney was born on 6 July 1936 on the outskirts of Dublin, Ireland. He followed his father into journalism and aged 20 moved to London to pursue a career in Fleet Street. However, he ended up a Redcoat at Butlins changing his surname to Allen. His big break came, in 1959, on the TV Talent Show, New Faces. Two years later he toured the UK with the then-unknown band, The Beatles. Success followed in BBC and ITV shows from 1967 to 1994. These shows consisted of sketches but also his memorable stand up performances. Sitting upon his high stool, sipping his glass of (possibly) whiskey, he regaled the audience with his anecdotes. His gentle manner belied his strong language and his controversial material - he often mocked religion especially the Catholic Church. He died, aged 68, on 10 March 2005. As he said at the end of his shows: "Goodnight, thank you and may your God go with you".
Dave Allen Quotes
Dave Allen on Fathers and Daughters
There's an interesting thing between parents. Fathers and daughters and mothers and sons. The girl will bring the boy home for you to meet and because you've talked in liberal terms all your life you have to kind of follow this through.... more
Dave Allen on Directions in Ireland
I suppose Ireland is the best place in the world for directions. People will say to you "I wouldn't start from here if I were you." I was driving to Wicklow town and outside Wicklow town there's a kind of country road and I came to a cross... more
Dave Allen on Banks
Tell you what my pet hate in life is... Banks. I really do. I loathe banks as they stand now. When I was a young man you'd never borrow money. You might borrow a few quid from a few friends go and have a drink or go to the cinema or something... more
Dave Allen on Flying
When I fly I don't want to care about wide seats, short seats, reclining seats. How much booze they're going to give me, what food I'm getting, when I fly, three things I want to know: Will the plane take off. When it's up in the air, will... more
Dave Allen on Giving Up Smoking
I have given it up. I'm a heavy smoker. I use to even smoke in between smokes. I've given it up. Totally changed. The most extraordinary thing about giving up smoking, to non-smokers I'm a convert. I've come over. I've joined them.... more
Dave Allen on Irish Wakes
A very important part of the Irish way of life is death. See if anybody else anywhere else in the world dies that's the end of it they're dead but in Ireland when somebody dies we lay them out and watch them for a couple of days. It's called... more
Dave Allen on Religious School
First question they ask, what do you know about God? I didn't know anything about God, Who? "God!" Who's God? "God, you do not know who God is? Sister! Sister! We have an Atheist here!" "Let me tell you little boy, God is, God was, and... more
Links
Dave Allen DVD's, Blu-Ray's and Downloads
Wikipedia Listing - Detailed biography.
IMDB - Complete list of Dave's filmography.
Suggest a Link
Newsletter
Feed