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I know so many Irish musicians. They're all over, because there has been so much emigration from Ireland. Like the Jews.

In Ireland, it's been like U2 and The Cranberries, which is rock, but you know they're Irish.

I've been asked why does Ireland produce so many great musicians, and the answer is it doesn't. When you count the great musicians Ireland has given the world in the last 20 years, you can do it on one hand.

My dad's Irish music was such a huge influence.

Ireland and America, music-wise, are very closely related. The Irish came over with their fiddles in hand, and you can hear it in the bluegrass and rockabilly. I love it when music from different countries combine.

A lot of Irish people perform. They perform in drawing rooms. They sing songs and they play piano.

Growing up, I was brought up around Irish music, Irish traditions.

I think between The Beach Boys, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and innumerable acts after that... rock music became a huge economic force.

The music we made then was so amateurish, compared to the rest of mainstream pop or rock and roll. But what differentiated us from what everybody else was doing in the business was the fact that you could tell that these people came from different reference areas.

Irish people are educated not only about artistry but local history.