Tom Dunne: Naturally, it was a joy to talk songwriting with Gilbert O'Sullivan

Many people probably don't realise what  a master of the craft the Waterford man is. And he has the hits to prove it 

Gilbert O'Sullivan emigrated from Waterford to England as a child. 

How people write songs has always fascinated me. Some write every crotchet individually; others just start to sing whatever is in their heads while others around them scramble to work out chords. But how Gilbert O’Sullivan writes songs: Well, I never.

Paul Heaton from the Beautiful South used to compose the songs in his head. Then he and pianist Paul Heatherington would book a two-week holiday in Torremolinos. Locked in a room Paul would sing future hits to Heatherington and task him with working out the music.