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Tributes for puppeteer

Tuesday, 02 March 2010

THE much loved Southside puppeteer and ventriloquist Eugene Lambert died last week at the age of 82. Born in 1928 in Sligo, Mr Lambert later moved to Monkstown, where he died at home on Tuesday, February 23. He is survived by his wife Mai and eight of their children. Mr Lambert and his family were the driving force behind 'Wanderly Wagon', RTÉ's famous children's programme that first appeared on Irish television screens in 1967. All of the Lambert children worked on the show, which ran until 1982. Mr Lambert also founded the Lambert Puppet Theatre in Monkstown in 1972. An early passion for puppets and ventriloquism became a lifelong career for Mr Lambert, who was also a driving force behind the International Puppet Festival of Ireland. Cllr Victor Boyhan (Ind) was a neighbour and friend of the Lambert family, who lived at Clifton Ville Terrace. “Eugene was an extraordinary person with so much artistic talent,” Cllr Boyhan said. “I was so saddened to hear of his passing. To say the family was different would be an understatement. “I envied the freedom that was encouraged in their home and I have no doubt this allowed for great artistic expression. All of Eugene and Mai's 10 children were amazingly creative and artistically expressive. “Only recently, I called around to see Eugene and his enthusiasm for his imaginary and creative characters never waned. I was struck yet again by his wonderful imagination, his storytelling and his love of the arts. “One of his greatest abilities to my mind was his capacity to make his characters real and meaningful and this enabled him to communicate his wonderful stories to children, which he loved.” He added: “We have lost a great neighbour, friend and artistic genius. He has left behind a wonderfully artistic family who continue to share his enthusiasm, imagination and creativity.” RTÉ Director-General, Cathal Goan also paid tribute to Mr Lambert, saying his passing marked the end of a “remarkable, creative and public career, which has touched the lives of countless Irish people young and old”. “RTÉ has been privileged and proud to have provided, through Wanderly Wagon in particular, one of the many stages on which Eugene and has family demonstrated their talent and originality,” Mr Goan said. “Eugene would have been distinctive for his skills if he was a master puppeteer alone. But his aptitude for comedy, character and drama led him and his family to forge a body of work and give an amount of pleasure that was unique and memorable.” Arts Minister Martin Cullen extended his sympathy to wife Mai and her family. “Eugene Lambert was a master of the art of puppetry and his place in Irish theatre is unparalleled, both in the quality and uniqueness of his work as a puppeteer and ventriloquist and for the longevity of his contribution,” Minister Cullen said. “Eugene’s legacy will live on through his talented family. With the support of his wife Mai and family, Eugene Lambert enriched the lives of both adults and children with such memorable work both at his theatre, in their tours around the country in Jury’s Cabaret and over many years on RTÉ television. He will be sadly missed. May he rest in peace.”