My Weekend: No weekly routine.. so no Sunday blues!

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your work.

I grew up in a household where I was exposed to a lot of great music early on. My parents are both musicians (my mother, a flautist and my father, ex-army clarinetist) and always very encouraging. My mother is a northsider through and through while my father is from everywhere really. I think it is safe to say that I am a northsider also. They met in the Butter Exchange Band and Aloys Fleischmann’s orchestra. It seems to me that there was a much greater respect for classical and band music back then on the northside. Hopefully thanks to Music Generation and other initiatives, that will return! I used to spend Sundays in Actons Hotel listening to my father play Dixieland Jazz with the Cork City Jazz Band — happy memories!

In terms of work, I’m just trying to do stuff that I’ll enjoy. I adore straight-ahead jazz. 

I play some jazz vibraphone and gig on it every now and then. I spent a few years playing drums with Harry Connolly’s band which was terrific fun. Otherwise if I can string together a few background gigs every year then I’m more than happy.

Playing with Alex Petcu’s Bangers and Crash ensemble is always an honour. The guys are a killer combination — master musicians and great fun! I’m privileged to be amongst them everytime we play.

What is your ideal way to spend a Friday night?

I am a big movie buff — if something interesting is coming out then I’ll try and catch it on the big screen. Otherwise it is nice to catch a ‘quick’ drink with friends.

Lie ins or up with the lark... which is it for you?

Lie ins usually. I’m not really what you would call a proactive person.

Does work creep into your weekend at all?

Ah yeah, but if you’re talking about playing a good gig then it won’t really feel like work. 

That being said, I marvel at people who hold down a 9 to 5 during the week and then go gigging on the weekends. No time to recover!

If money was no object where would you head to on a weekend city break? And who would you bring with you?

London with my grandmother. I have great memories of being over there with her (and my folks) when I was about 11. We were both enjoying it as much as one another.

Closer to home, is there some place you like to head to recharge the batteries?

For the last few Christmases, my family has gone for a swim at Dunworley Beach. I’ve also headed down there myself to get some fresh air or a quick dip. It never gets terribly busy and has gorgeous surroundings.

Do you like to catch up with family/friends at the weekend?

Definitely, my brother moved out of the family home last year and into his own place. It’s always nice to call out and see how well he’s getting on. I have a few close friends that I also meet up with regularly but nothing too wild.

Do you get to indulge any hobbies? Even as a spectator?

My dad and I play a bit of snooker together up in the Crucible on Blarney Street. In his heyday, my father could get a break up in the 70s. I think I fluked a 34 once!

Entertain or be entertained? If it’s the latter do you have a signature dish?

I love the thought of being a host but have virtually no cooking skills unfortunately. Honing them is definitely on the to-do list.

We have so many places to eat out in Cork — where are your go to spots for coffee/ lunch/ special meal?

Myo Cafe and that whole area near St Mary’s is lovely for a meetup. Le Chateau is always atmospheric — a true Old Cork institution. 

I started getting lunch at Umi Falafel recently, it’s really delicious.

Sunday night comes around too fast.. how do you normally spend it?

I haven’t really had a weekly routine for a while so luckily I haven’t felt the dreaded Sunday blues in a while. If I have something to do on the Monday morning then I’ll be scurrying around the house at about 9:30pm gathering everything I need.

What time does your alarm clock go off on Monday morning?

Well for the past year I was doing a performance masters in TU Dublin. That meant that I was driving or getting the train to Dublin every Monday morning. Hence, my Monday morning alarm was set at about 6:15am. God knows I can’t keep that going throughout the week.

Anything else you are up to right now...

Just hoping to play good music with friends.