Our staff pick for the month of May comes in the form of this UTV news story (1969), newly digitised as part of the BAI Archiving Scheme 2.

Reports of mysterious goings on in the night are terrifying the citizens of Drumbeg. Hulking shadows lurking in the bushes, grotesque figures digging in the long grass, strange faces glimpsed at cottage windows. Ian Hill has come to investigate.

He narrows his investigation down to one modest cottage, and what he finds in the attic may shock you. A strange menage of monsters; Rasputin, the Mad Monk, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Werewolf, and The Monster of Dr. Frankenstein.

However, as with all things, there is usually a rational explanation, and in this case the presence of these monsters is the result of a young man's hobby, 18-year-old Alan Quigley. Alan talks to Ian about how he became interested in make-up, modelling, and monsters. He mentions the great career opportunities available if you were to make the right contacts in the world of films, and speaks on breaking down gender norms, describing how make-up should not be seen as a gender exclusive career path. 

Alan goes into detail about how he creates the monsters, using things like mud from the garden, ping pong balls for eyes, and human hair - provided by his hairdresser girlfriend!

Following his dreams Alan did indeed go on to train as a make-up artist at the famous horror production company 'Hammer Studios' in London for several months. After this he came back to Northern Ireland where he became involved in the music scene, and played guitar with many of the top show bands of the mid 60's and 70's. However, his passion for art remained, and after a chance meeting with renowned Irish artist Dan O'Neil in Belfast, he became consumed with artistic ambition once more.  

He has gone on to have a great career in the art world, with exhibitions throughout Ireland and many of his pieces held in private collections worldwide; America, Canada, London, and it all began in a little rural cottage in Drumbeg.