Eugene Lambert was Ireland’s first and greatest puppet-master. To generations of Irish children, he was “O’Brien”, a jolly grown-up child who lived aboard the Wanderly Wagon and sported a check suit with the colourful flourish of magical handkerchiefs. His most beloved creation was Finnegan, a boy puppet who cheekily answered his master back. He was also the best pal of “Judge” the “Safe Cross Code” dog, but “Judge” was only one of hundreds of puppets he created, operated and voiced. Eugene Lambert was born and raised in Sligo. His interest in puppetry began at an early age when he made a puppet from the shell of a lobster the family had eaten. He attached strings to the lobster shell and made it walk up the stairs. Eugene made a number of puppets and developed an act with them on stage. He toured all over Ireland and was known as “Ireland’s youngest boy ventriloquist.” When he got married to Mai, they moved to Dublin to take advantage of the Capital’s throbbing cabaret scene. He was a fridge mechanic by day and an entertainer by night. Eugene Lambert’s early television programmes included Cártaí Hiúdaí, Murphy agus a Cháirde and Brogeen Follows the Magic Tune, but Wanderly Wagon would make Eugene an Irish television legend. Wanderly Wagon ran from 1967 until 1982 and featured characters such as O’Brien (Lambert), Godmother (Nora O’Mahony), Mr Crow and Judge. The Wagon itself became an Irish icon and it was frequently seen on the streets of Dublin during various children’s parades. Its magical powers were well demonstrated in 1969 when it survived a bomb blast in RTÉ. In 1972, Eugene Lambert opened Ireland’s first ever purpose built puppet theatre in Monkstown, Co. Dublin. He became involved with international puppet festivals and was a highly respected figure in international puppetry. He also toured all over Ireland with his family of troubadours. As he was returning from France in 1980, he was wrongly arr