There is drinking in lots of the songs because there is drinking in life. Drinking stimulates the imagination.

I'm not so much a rock star, d'ya know what I mean? I play Irish music. There's really no age when you stop playing Irish music. Even if I retired from playing onstage, I'd still be singing in pubs.

You can’t hate people unless you love them.

I play Irish popular music, yeah? Calling it folk is like putting it in a box. It's a living tradition, you know?

When I'm writing a song, it gives me more actual pleasure to hear someone else sing it than do it meself.

I'm just following the Irish tradition of songwriting, the Irish way of life, the human way of life. Cram as much pleasure into life, and rail against the pain you have to suffer as a result. Or scream and rant with the pain, and wait for it to be taken away with beautiful pleasure . . .

All I can do is go by the words of Christ, who was the only talker we had, for f - 's sake. Buddha didn't speak. The Holy Ghost didn't speak. But I think it all boils down to the same thing - it's all about unity, love, compassion.