5 minutes with: Ronan MacManus
In full voice
By Loobs
April 18 2003
The first in a series of 5 minute interviews to appear on here, features the lead singer and frontman of Le Cheile, Ronan MacManus
Name:
Ronan MacManus
Age: old enough to know better
Where do you come from?
Born in Kingston, raised in Twickenham, now live in Watford/Harrow area
Married/sprogged up or free and available for the lovely cailins?
Engaged, getting married in August
How did you get involved with London Irish?
Played rugby from age 6 at Irish until age 18 and when everyone grew past me. I realised that I could better serve Irish from behind a microphone
Favourite LI memory:
Playing: captaining mini-rugby age group to victory at LI mini festival and receiving the trophy from the great Mike Gibson.
Post-playing: Conor O’Sheas last minute winning try under the posts against Quins at Sunbury (still sweeter than even the cup final day)
Least favourite LI memory:
Sitting in the stands at the Stoop and watching our boys getting absolutely spanked by the Quins one opening day of the season on a scorching hot day. Finished the day heart-broken, very sun burnt and very, very drunk!
How did you all meet up?
The forming of the band as it is now is too long (and not interesting enough) a story. Myself and my bruv Ruairi have known Chris (drums) more or
less since we were born, family friend. We’ve known Andy for nearly 10 years and met Joe (flute) and Kane (fiddle) about 4 years ago, although it seems more like 40.
Day job: None. Professional Musician (/lay about/ Guinness taster, unofficial)
What would you be doing if you weren't playing music?
Playing the fool
Biggest laugh on stage:
Probably St Paddys day just gone, the whole gig, the whole day, the scale of the thing was the biggest buzz (apart from the sport side of things with Irish AND Celtic losing to arch-rivals)
Biggest downer on stage:
Don’t think I’ve experienced one. Maybe the news filtering thru that the bar had run out of Guinness
Favourite Film:
Back to the Future l, ll & lll (if I had to choose between them it would be ll) Awesome!
Least Favourite film:
Jeepers Creepers, pure sh*te
Favourite song/piece of music:
a) to perform,
Too many to choose from, but if I’m pushed I’d have to say “Black is the Colour”, beautiful song, beautiful lyrics
(b) to listen to
At the moment it’s Aslans version of “Angie” the Rolling Stones song, awesome voice on the man, brilliant song
Least favourite to perform and to listen to:
Don’t really have a least favourite, maybe one of the ones we’ve done at every gig since we started. Nothing against the songs themselves, just get a bit stale (notice how I avoided actually naming a song?)
Favourite Actor/actress and why?
I would usually say DeNiro, but Daniel Day-Lewis was absolutely outstanding in “Gangs of New York.” Comedy-wise it has to be Mike Myers, especially in “So I Married an Axe-Murderer.” If you haven’t seen it I strongly urge you to.
Least favourite Actor/actress
Again I don’t really have a least favourite
Who most influenced you musically?
My Dad mostly, fantastic voice, still to this day at age 75. Then I’d have to say the big bro Elvis Costello, inspiration to write songs and
concentrate especially on lyrics.
Favourite expression:
A smile
Least favourite expression:
“The luck of the Irish” is boll*x it doesn’t exist, we never get any luck.
Favourite book:
“U2 at the end of the world” by Bill Flanagan, read it 3 times now. Just read Frank Skinners autobiography, brilliant!
If you could live or be anywhere, where would it be?
A land where Guinness IS actually good for you.
Who would you take with you?
Anyone who isn’t pain in the arse
Now, the most asked question on the desk..
"Are they really Elvis Costello's sons?"
For the last time, he’s our Brother (and yes I am aware of the age gap)
Why don't you have a recording contract, or do you? You've got a pretty good demo disc!
There’s good stuff happening for us at the mo. Can’t say much more than that
Or are you the highest selling unsigned artistes in the UK?
We probably are, never thought of it like that