Do you think that Dubliners want to be writers or do you think they want to be bankers now?

I think people will always want to be writers but they’ll be writing for different media. For example; I guess if Joyce was around today he might be writing for television or might be wanting to write film scripts. I mean Stuart (Stuart Carolyn, Ex-Last Word Producer) is just starting out now wanting to be a writer. He wrote a play, he’s written a novel and I think he wants to write movie scripts.

But the creative force of a person will always be there, it’s where that force directs itself and I think probably in the contemporary world – people like Jim Sheridan. My Left Foot is a great example of Dublin evoked on film, very successful internationally. Maybe the novel is over; maybe. But film is only beginning.

Are Dubliners smart?

Yes. Very. They’re smart and nice which I think is a good combination. Dublin people are very sharp – they can spot a spoofer at 1000 yards.

Would you ever move back to the North Side?

That’s a good question… Hmmm… Yeah! I would yeah – I might move to where Bertie and all those guys live and what’s that guys name – Brian McFadden – don’t they all live in some gated place? It sounds awful actually – No I wouldn’t… No.

You would or you wouldn’t?

I’d like to move back to the Northside but I would not like to live in a gated community where you need security. I’d prefer to live on the street where you’re in touch with the man in the local shop and stuff like that.

You live in Ranelagh –

Yes  

…which is, of course, very south Dublin…

Yes. It is, yeah…..surrounded by them.

Do you identify more now with southsiders?

No I don’t know. it’s just …an accident really. I mean Jane [partner Jane Gogan] is a southsider. She belongs to that class – so we’re an equal opportunities household.

In terms of the programme, how will a Dub Audience differ to a country wide one?

I don’t think it will differ at all because if you look at the demographic of Dublin I’d say way over 50% of people who are now living here were originally from the country. It’s a very cosmopolitan city in that respect. There are all kinds of immigrant communities. People from the country or people who are first generation Dublin.

I don’t think it differs at all really, that’s my judgement of it and I wouldn’t approach the programme any differently in those terms than I approached The Last Word. If you do a good radio programme people will listen to it.

The localisation of the programme, I wouldn’t be hugely into. If a drain is blocked in Darndale or in Ranelagh… Ranelarr (sic) – where I live – so be it. We won’t be covering it on the programme.

Would you ever leave Dublin for a big deal elsewhere?

No, I could have and could go anytime really, but no. I love living in Ireland. I don’t think necessarily in our business that Ireland’s the place you should be because it’s small and largely mediocre but in terms of after work and your kids and growing up and all of that, this is a lovely place to have kids growing up.

And to live a fairly ordinary life in terms of going around having a few jars, going to a restaurant, saying hello to people in the shops and that. I mean Daniel Day Lewis, I noticed the other day, is living outside Dublin there and running in the marathon and no one bothers him. Y’know “Howya Mr Lewis, How are things? Ya makin a movie now” but there’s no swarming all over him and no paparazzi. He’s left alone actually.

You won’t find yourself in the eye of that particular storm – largely; unless you put yourself in it.