I've been asked why does Ireland produce so many great musicians, and the answer is it doesn't. When you count the great musicians Ireland has given the world in the last 20 years, you can do it on one hand.

I like naming characters.

The problem with being Irish... is having 'Riverdance' on your back. It's a burden at times.

I tend to plan as I write. And I want to leave myself open and the character open to keep on going until it seems to be the time to stop.

Dreaming was only nice while it lasted.

It's great meeting children because you never know what they will say.

You know people are always putting Ulysses in the top 10 books ever written but I doubt that any of those people were really moved by it.