A question of taste - Damien Demspey

Damien Dempsey is from Donaghmede in Dublin, and his musical influences include traditional sean-nós, as well as his heroes, Bob Marley and Elvis Presley. Upcoming gigs include Cork Opera House, next Friday, April 1; and the National Opera House, Wexford, on April 2.

Best recent book:

Miles Hunt’s The Wonder Stuff Diaries 86 - 89. He has a great way with words.

Best recent film:

The Revenant, for its portrayal of the 1st Nations of North America.

Best recent show/exhibition/gig you’ve seen:

Brian Eno invited my producer, John Reynolds, and me along to a photography exhibition of the Solar System that he done the music for in the Science Museum in west London. To see Jupiter and Pluto and Mars and the Sun, etc, close up was mesmerising and the music was sublime.

What formats do you access music?

Cds, as I’m a bit of a caveman.

Best piece of music you’ve been listening to lately (new or old):

Lethal Dialect’s 1988 and Black Bank Folks’ Rising.

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

The score of the film, The Mission.

The best gig or show you’ve ever see:

Bruce Springsteen, above, in Nowlan Park.

Tell us about your TV viewing:

The Savage Eye, Only fools and Horses, old Simpsons, Father Ted, nature programs, and documentaries and the news on RTÉ

Radio listening:

Lyric fm and Late Date.

Name three of your music heroes:

Christy Moore, Seamus Begley, Ewan McaColl.

Your best/most famous celebrity encounter:

Shane MacGowan telling me I was too drunk to sing.

Most expensive item of clothing you’ve ever bought — what was it and how much:

A pair of jeans for a photo shoot, £140 sterling. I’ve had them five years.

Tech habits:

Email for communication, and Youtube to cheer me up. Check out Donnie Montell’s Eurovision song, ‘Love is Blind’, if you want a smile put on your face.

Unsung heroes:

Father Shay Cullen and Philip Cribbin of PREDA. I’ve witnessed the work they do in the Philippines and the young lives they save

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

To decree an end to ALL royalty.