8 Questions for Gerry Adams

Name the things you can’t live without?

Fresh air, my wife, grandchildren, dogs.

What’s your motto/advice that you live by?

Give it 100%. Live in the now.

Why did you choose to become a politician?

By accident — it was all Ian Paisley’s fault.

Ten years from now where will you be?

Hopefully living in a one-island society, or a united Ireland.

Name four guests for your ideal dinner party?

Jesus, Mandela, James Connolly, Billy Connolly. Can I have more than four? Roisin Dubh, Emma Goldman, Seamus Heaney, Leonard Peltier and Imelda May.

What is your funniest political memory?

I have tonnes of funny political memories. A friend of mine who was asked to stand for Sinn Féin was told that he was only standing to fly the Sinn Féin flag and there was absolutely no possibility of him ever getting elected — as it turned out, he topped the poll and was stuck on Belfast City Council in a bear pit for a very long time.

What are you currently reading?

A book about Spike Milligan; Peter Sheridan’s book that I can’t remember the name of; I’m reading an autobiography of Teddy Kennedy; I’m reading a thing called The Spirit Level which is about equality; I’m reading the collected works of Robert Frost.

What keeps you awake at night?

Reading.