A Question of Taste: Mary Black

Mary Black plays live in the open-air courtyard of the 2,500-acre Curraghmore Estate in Portlaw, Waterford, on Saturday, September 19, as part of the Comeraghs Wild Festival. Tickets are €27.50 and on sale from www.comeraghswild.com 

Best recent book:

The Goldfinch, by Donna Tartt.

Best recent show you’ve seen and what you enjoyed about it:

Paddy Sherlock, in Shanley’s bar in Clonakilty recently. Paddy is a trombone player and a great singer, from Dublin, and has been living and playing in Paris for the last 30 years. He had the whole audience in the palm of his hand and the atmosphere was electric.

What formats do you access music?

Still a die-hard CD fan… I support record shops.

Best piece of music you’ve been listening to lately (new or old): The great 2012 debut album, Boys and Girls, from Alabama Shakes. They’re coming to the Olympia this November.

First-ever piece of music or art or film or gig that really moved you:

Elgar’s ‘Enigma Variations — no. 9 Nimrod’.

The best gig you’ve ever seen:

Paul McCartney, in O2 Dublin, about three years ago — amazing!

Tell us about your TV viewing: Cookery programmes, documentaries, and my secret guilty pleasure is Fair City.

Radio listening:

Marian Finucane, daytime talk radio, and John Creedon.

Name three of your music heroes: Joni Mitchell, Sandy Denny and John Lennon.

Your best celebrity encounter: Singing with comedian Steve Martin on his Grammy-winning album, The Crow (the closest I ever got to winning a Grammy).

Most expensive item of clothing you’ve ever bought:

A dress and coat for my nephew, Eoghan’s wedding three years ago — €500.

Tech habits:

iPhone 6, calls, texts, internet and Facebook with friends.

Unsung hero — individual, organisation or group you think doesn’t get praise they deserve:

Sister Stan, from Focus Ireland, and Fr Peter McVerry, who work tirelessly to help the homeless.

You are queen for a day — what’s your first decree?

House all the homeless in Ireland, fire most of the people in the Dail.