1. When did you think about a career in music and what were your first steps into it?
I consider playing music an extension of what I already do in the acting world. Performing in Once The Musical taught me a lot and spurred me on to take the musical experience a little further.
2. Best gigs you’ve been to?
The Dubliners at the Stadium, Dublin in 1975 – my earliest and best memory of being at a show. BB King at the Stadium about 10 years later and The Who at the 3Arena about four years ago.
3. Fantasy wedding/birthday party band?
The Commodores.
4. The record you’d take to a desert island?
Will the Circle be Unbroken by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, for the songs and musicianship.
5. And the book you’d take to a desert island?
Delia Smith’s Complete Cookery Course – it has saved my life on many an occasion.
6. Top three films
There Will Be Blood, Cyrano De Bergerac and Withnail & I.
7. Worst film you’ve seen?
Un Couer en Hiver. Pure muck.
8. Favourite authors?
Colin Toibin, Tom Murphy – mainly a playwright, but his novel The Seduction of Morality from which the play, The Wake, was taken is a wonderful read and my wife Susan Collins. Sue and Sinead Culbert have a book just out called DirtBirds Self Help Guide (how to have confidence when you feel lower than a snakes arse).
9. Sport you most enjoy and top team?
I don’t follow any sport, but I admire and respect the skill and dedication required.
10. Ideal holiday destination?
France, Italy or Spain and I’m as happy as a clam.
11. Pet hate?
Bad manners.
12. What’s your favourite:
Dinner? Roast chicken.
Dessert? Ice cream.
Drink? Sparkling water.
13. Who is your best friend and how do you know each other?
Peter O’Neill, whom I met in second year in secondary school, would be one of my oldest friends.
14. Is there a God?
Most definitely there is a god… zilla.
:: Phelim Drew, actor, singer and son of the infamous Ronnie Drew will bring his live band show to Northern Ireland this December. A Celebration of Ronnie, The Dubliners and Friends will visit The Black Box in Belfast (Dec 5), Annie's Bar Omagh (Dec 6) and Seamus Heaney Homeplace Bellaghy (Dec 7). They will be playing songs made famous by Ronnie, Luke, Barney, Ciaran and John, plus personal favourites by others including The Pogues and Paul Brady. Tickets via venues and Ticketmaster.ie.
