I guess you could say that we are all really looking forward to the show. We have played live recently most notably at the Kilkenny Cat Laughs Comedy Festival. It all went really well and I think we were very, very good - the audience seemed to go home happy. The show is going to be a big spectacular really. You know we are competing with the likes of Riverdance so we feel we have to deliver something a bit special. I shouldn't say this, the lads will go mental, but the gig will cost us around £160, 000. I've sunk a fair amount of my own money into it, but it will be worth it.
There is a great part of the show where three 14 foot, Eamon Dunphy robots are lowered from the ceiling and we have a massive video game where various Apres Match characters go head to head with the Dunphs pouting - Barry Murphy was injured in rehearsals on friday and had to be rushed to hospital. But he's OK now.
We also have a TV link up with a top European country (Turkey), I know U2 did that type of thing on Zooropa but they don't have a monopoly on those satellite ideas do they? Please dont print that. And while I don't want to give too much away I can say that one of Ireland's top trad acts are playing live too. (Off the record Tony Fenton, who is filling in for John Creedon, will be the host D.J. with give away prizes, anagrams, music, and craic.)
People often ask me have I ever met Eamon Dunphy being in RTE and that. I haven't actually - we do all our broadcasts from a secret, studio in Montrose so we don't meet the characters we do impressions of. RTE bosses didn't want to take any chances and they were right. I'm really scared sometimes. One top music celebrity gave me really threatening looks at the opening of Liz Bonnin's new book launch - I had to leave.
In many ways the success of Apres Match has driven us apart as people. We used to enjoy drinking together but now we just seem to communicate through accountants and legal people. Please don't quote me on this but I think the other two really hate me. I heard them say I was limited. Well all I can say is I'm opening a Spar in Louth next week. They're not. Who is limited now? Don't print that either.
Apres Match perform live at Vicar Street, Dublin for a limited run from next Tuesday.