Actor/comedian Pat Shortt tells it how it was

Pat Shortt answers some questions

Where did you go to school?

Do you want the whole story? Well it's kind of an odd one. I was in the Presentation Convent in Thurles for baby infants and then after first class I moved to the Christian Brothers' school in town. For secondary school I was in the Christian Brothers' college and then after the Inter Cert I moved to the vocational college for fifth and sixth year. My father was the headmaster there.

Were you cool or were you one of the nerdy kids?

Well I thought I was cool. Other people might have thought I was a complete knob. I played saxophone and I was in a band. I was really into art and photography, so I suppose that is more cool than nerdy.

Give us an extract of a school report

"Exceptionally good - bright, fantastic, but where the hell is he?" No in fairness, I wasn't great in school. I was always more into music.

Who was your favourite teacher in primary school? Why?

God, it's no reflection on any of my teachers, but I just don't have very strong memories of primary school. They were all grand but I don't remember much. It was a long time ago!

How about secondary school? Anyone who you liked/ inspired you?

Daddy! I'd be shot if I said otherwise. Ah there were a couple of teachers in each school. I gravitated towards art teachers I suppose, although I did have a physics teacher who was very kind to me. The teachers in the vocational college were good heads all round

Did you have a nickname?

Shorty because of the name, but other than that not really.

What was the first music album you bought?

I was of that generation where music was very defined. There were punks, mods, new romantics and so-on in school. I was into ska, rude boy ska if we're being specific, The Specials and all that. I'd say one of the first albums that influenced me was one by Paul Desmond, the alto-sax player with the Dave Brubeck Quartet. He was one of the reasons I started playing saxophone.

What's on your iPod now?

I've only just got my iPod back. One of the kids took it and left it in a neighbour's house. I like The Shins at the moment. There's a great band I play with called Headgear in Limerick and I was listening to the Wasted Youth Orchestra recently. Great stuff.

What posters did you have on your bedroom wall?

I never had any. If I had it would probably have been some print of contemporary art. I loved Klimt so probably something by him.

Who was your first crush?

(Laughs uproariously) God I hate these questions! I was absolutely cracked about a girl in primary school. It was well before I started going out with girls, but I was mad about her. That's all I'm saying!

Who would play you in a movie of your younger days?

Good Lord. Probably James McEvoy. I worked with him on Inside I'm Dancing. He's a super actor and I was skinny like him when I was younger!

What did you study in college?

I went to Limerick College of Art and Design and did the foundation year that lets you have a taste of everything. By the end of that, though, I got the opportunity to go out on the road touring and I never went back.

Regrets? Have you had a few?

Not really, not in relation to education anyway. I'd have loved to have studied music, but I don't regret not having done that. Art college was great, but it felt right to leave at the time. No regrets.

The award winning Garage, starring Pat Shortt, is released on Friday. A new series of Killinaskully is back on RTÉ 1.

See www.patshortt.com for further details