‘What was my worst ever job? Trying to sell cleaning products for a pyramid scheme’
Belfast-born composer Brian Irvine has collaborated with Seamus Heaney, U2, Primal Scream and David Holmes. His recent opera,
won the 2023 Ivor Novello Award for opera and was shortlisted the same year for an Olivier Award. He worked with Holmes on the score for
a six-part BBC drama series, and for a film starring Liam Neeson and Lesley Manville. Irvine is also a part-time professor of music at Ulster University, was the first music laureate for the City of Belfast, and has been awarded an MBE for services to music. Irvine, who lives in the seaside town of Donaghadee, Co Down, will conduct 50 young Limerick musicians for a new concert series presented by Bangers and Crash Percussion on a tour that starts at the Lime Tree Theatre in Limerick on September 15.
How did your upbringing shape your relationship with money?
I grew up in Belfast and Bangor during the Troubles. Most of my relationship with money stems from my father, who was a course bookie at the horse races and the dog meetings at Dunmore Park. I remember his cash bag was an old doctor’s bag with ‘Ronnie’ painted on the side in big red letters and him saying we could keep as many 50p coins as we could grab with one hand.
I remember that you’d never know if he’d won or lost that day – there was always a pile of chocolate bars or watches piled up on the table either way.
Was there ever a time when you felt broke?
I always felt kinda rich. I never thought about money that much – it always seemed to arrive by doing things that were fun. It was never something that was worth going after in itself.
What’s the most expensive place you’ve ever been to?
I was brought up to believe that
What was your biggest ever extravagance?
My father also had a small window cleaning business. From when we were about 12, myself and my brother were out cleaning windows every weekend and during school holidays. I remember buying myself a very hip corduroy jacket from Next with my saved-up window cleaning money when I was a teenager.
That, or the piano I bought when my parents died. There was a few thousand pounds left to myself and my brothers and sisters, and the piano I bought with that money reminds me of them both whenever I play it.
What was your best ever investment?
An electric guitar from Kays Catalogue, a small practice amp, and a distortion pedal I bought when I was a teenager.
Would you buy property now?
Only if I was going to live there.
Do you still carry cash?
Whenever I remember to. My dad always had cash so the feel of a wad of cash always reminds me of him. I bank with one of the main high street banks and use their mobile service but I actually find banks quite dreadful.
What was your worst-ever job?
Trying to sell cleaning products for a pyramid scheme that my mate’s father had got us involved in.
Are you a spender or a saver?
Definitely a spender.
Do you have a pension?
Not really.
What would you not be able to do without if you had to tighten your belt?
I would simply buy fewer things. Which I am already trying to do now.