First encounters

Composer Bryan Byrne and broadcaster Ryan Tubridy

RYAN TUBRIDY

Broadcaster Ryan Tubridy presents RTE 2fm’s Tubridy on weekdays and The Late Late Show on RTE One TV on Friday nights. His first book, JFK in Ireland, was published in 2010; his second, a take on popular culture in Ireland and Britain, is due out in October 2013.

‘I MET BRIAN AROUND 2003: I was up and coming in my own career at that stage, but I was really just starting. There was a proms at Farmleigh and here was what could have been a run-out for the RTÉ orchestra, just another day at the office. And Brian came on, a young fella with a big mop of Simon Rattle-like curls. He was from Meath, a bizarre mix of Navan meets Rattle meets Byron. And he was wearing a good suit – I remember that ’cos we share an interest in the same designer, Paul Smith.

“We got talking, got on very well, were kind of kindred spirits. Then he got on stage: I love the sound of brass and there was this big band sound mingled with the orchestra. It wasn’t just the usual – suddenly you had sass with the brass. I sensed his enthusiasm, almost a hunger for it to work, his love for the music, love for the job.

“I’ve been his champion ever since then. A lot of people go into the entertainment business and start knocking everyone around them because they want to stay on top. That’s not the way I was brought up. I don’t gain anything by being his champion but I want to be because I admire his ability.

“We were a similar age – he was 26, I was 28. When I found myself with the Late Late Show, I wanted to bring back the original signature tune, but it needed some of my voice in it. There was only one man to call to do the job and that was Brian: he produced a jazzed up, fun piece.

“One Wednesday, after he’d been rehearsing one night for the 50th anniversary, we went down to O’Donoghue’s for a couple of pints and got into a big discussion. I was telling him that I hoped to start a bigger conversation about the Irish Famine, particularly for young people, one that makes history accessible. He really loved this idea. Can you imagine trying to explain the Famine to people – a million Irish men, women and children crawling along what’s now the M50, or making their way to parts of Mayo over mountains, eating grass? I said 1I’d love to get you involved musically’ . . .

I think he was composing Lament for the Fallen in his head as we were having a pint.

“We’re on the same wavelength . . . we might not meet that much, but could take up a conversation in mid-sentence. You meet people in your life like that where you can just sit down and go, ‘where were we?’ He’s very unassuming, doesn’t want the praise, we’re very opposite in that sense . . .

I predict now he’ll be accepting an Oscar for composing a soundtrack if not a song in the next 10 years.

“This is just the beginning – he’s got talent that will take him all the way. And he’s got a good grace with it.”

BRYAN BYRNE