Tommy Tiernan: ‘‘Under the Influence’’

YOU don’t just interview Tommy Tiernan. You worry for hours, even days beforehand. You tell yourself it’ll be grand, but you never believe it. You try, and fail, to distract yourself from thoughts wherein he scalds you with his acidic wit.

Then you talk to him, and it turns out he’s composed, reflective and surprisingly nice. It’s the fear that’ll kill you – asking the questions is the handy bit.

Tiernan himself acknowledges there’s a Carrauntoohil of difference between his public persona and the one he’s assuming now, and the name of the show he’s bringing to Killarney next month stems from this surprising fact.

“My new act is called Under the Influence because the Tommy Tiernan you see live is nothing like the real Tommy Tiernan; it’s as if I walk onto the stage and someone else, or something else, takes control. It’s not me who’s driving the bus, so to speak – and if it is, it’s a bus with no wheels.”

He fires a rattling giggle, before happily zoning in on next month’s destination: Kerry. Tiernan has stomped giddily over dozens of the county’s stages, but what the Kingdom offers away from its halls and theatres is just as appealing to him.

“Kerry’s the most beautiful part of Ireland; the place is lush, vibrant and astonishingly lovely – it’s called the Kingdom for a reason.

“Connemara’s on my doorstep, and the place has a harsh beauty; it’s like a girl who has lovely eyes but no teeth! I mean don’t get me wrong, I find Connemara invigorating, but Kerry’s beauty is different; it’s untainted.”

“On stage, all of Kerry’s towns inspire shows of their own. Tech Amergin in Waterville is a very different venue to the INEC, you see, and the INEC is different to the Hillgrove,” he explains

“In Dingle, your show is influenced by the time of year,” he says mischievously. “If you play in summer, the atmosphere is civilised – but in winter, you’re the only show in town, and the locals go wild. It’s almost like performing in front of puck goats!”

It’s Killarney next month for Tiernan as he embarks on a World Tour of the Gleneagle Hotel, a venue that conjures vivid memories for the Galway-based comic.

“I’ll be at the INEC with three shows in three different rooms on December 16, 17 and 18,” he explains.

“I love the INEC. One of the rooms is compact and intimate, while another is broad and wild. They’re under the same roof, but seem to produce different shows. I’ll be playing another set in the jazz room, and I think that space could bring out something else in me; you might see more experimental stuff.

“As far as material’s concerned, there’s no set theme. It doesn’t matter if it’s Holy Communion or Vladimir Putin – if it’s funny, it’ll go in.”

All further information on Tommy Tiernan’s World Tour of the Gleneagle is available at www.inec.ie. Alternatively, you can phone the INEC at (064) 667 1555.