A question of taste - Brian Morrissey

Brian Morrissey is from Nenagh, Co Tipperary, and has been living in Cork since 2008. He is the creator/producer of Pulses of Tradition, which features Irish traditional music, song and dance, which runs in Triskel Christchurch in Cork from June to September.

Best recent book: Running Full Circle by Frank Greally.

Best recent film: Room.

Best recent show/exhibition/gig you’ve seen: Flook at the White Horse, Ballincollig. They are a phenomenal four-piece powerhouse group, who blew me away the first time I heard their music in 1997 and they continue to inspire!

What formats do you access music? iTunes

Best piece of music you’ve been listening to lately (new or old): The Best of Olodum, from the brilliant Brazilian percussion ensemble.

First ever piece of music or art or film or gig that really moved you: Micheál Ó Súilleabháin’s gig in Nenagh, Co Tipperary, when I was in my mid-teens. That gig planted a seed that led to me studying and teaching music at University College Cork and the University of Limerick and ultimately producing Pulses of Tradition here in Cork.

The best gig or show you’ve ever seen: KAN’s gig in The Pavillion, Cork a couple of years ago. Inspirational music — innovative and technically flawless!

Tell us about your TV viewing: Generally, I either watch sport of some sort or something on TG4, the best quality Irish television station by a mile.

Radio listening: The Purple Vespertine on Lyric.

Name three of your entertainment heroes: Barney McKenna, Mel Mercier, Nic Gareiss.

Your best celebrity encounter: Singing Christy Moore’s ‘Joxer Goes to Stuttgart’ about 15 years ago for an audience in England which included Jack Charlton in the front row. He told me afterwards that it was the first time he had heard it live.

Most expensive item of clothing you’ve ever bought: A new suit for €400.

Tech habits — what you use, and what you use it for: Mac Notebook — I use it to keep the webpages and Facebook pages up to date for Pulses of Tradition and the Lee Sessions. I also use GarageBand to try out new musical ideas and to record the music/songs of the children in the school that I work in, Gaelscoil Charraig Uí Leighin.

Unsung heroes — individual, organisation or group you think don’t get the profile/praise they deserve: Parents of special needs children. They don’t get half enough support or assistance from the state.

You are king for a day — what’s your first decree? Place the arts at the very centre of state policies, acknowledging the incredible impact that the Irish arts make abroad — unlike the recent actions of our Government!