Green Party Leader and Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, John Gormley, takes time out of his busy schedule to talk to us this week. John’s father, Vincent Gormley ran the Ture Inn Public House in Inishowen for many years. John’s uncle, John Gormley still lives in Muff. John has been campaigning on green issues for years and has also been the Lord Mayor of Dublin. John lives in Ringsend in Dublin with his wife and 2 children.
What have you been downloading on your iPod?
My most recent download was the Waterboys – Fisherman’s Blues.
What would you never throw away?
Very little. I tend to hoard and recycle.
What book are you reading?
Robert Dallek’s book on JFK. An Unfinished Life 1917-1963.
What was your favourite childhood game?
Football
Have you been to the cinema recently, what did you see and was it any good?
I saw Once on DVD. It was OK.
What section of the newspaper do you turn to first?
I turn to the letters page.
What is your idea of a good night out?
A good meal in a good restaurant.
Most embarrassing moment of your life?
Too many to mention!
What is your idea of a great meal?
Anything in the Café Paradiso vegetarian restaurant in Cork.
Have you a favourite TV programme?
I’ll watch any rugby on the TV
How do you relax?
Either sleep or read
What job did you want to do when you were a child?
Centre forward with Liverpool
What have you been downloading on your iPod?
My most recent download was the Waterboys – Fisherman’s Blues.
What would you never throw away?
Very little. I tend to hoard and recycle.
What book are you reading?
Robert Dallek’s book on JFK. An Unfinished Life 1917-1963.
What was your favourite childhood game?
Football
Have you been to the cinema recently, what did you see and was it any good?
I saw Once on DVD. It was OK.
What section of the newspaper do you turn to first?
I turn to the letters page.
What is your idea of a good night out?
A good meal in a good restaurant.
Most embarrassing moment of your life?
Too many to mention!
What is your idea of a great meal?
Anything in the Café Paradiso vegetarian restaurant in Cork.
Have you a favourite TV programme?
I’ll watch any rugby on the TV
How do you relax?
Either sleep or read
What job did you want to do when you were a child?
Centre forward with Liverpool
Where would you like to go for your holidays?
Wales (Pembrokeshire)
Your idea of heaven?
Living in total harmony with nature.
Your idea of hell?
Our planet destroyed by climate change.
What famous people would you invite around for dinner and why?
John Lennon (Deceased unfortunately!)
Favourite animal?
Dog.
Biggest fear?
Mental illness.
Biggest thrill?
Getting elected to the Dáil in 1997
What got you into politics in the first place?
I was involved in environmental issues and environmental campaigning for a long time. It was this that eventually led me into politics as I realised that to make changes you had to effectively lobby the Dáil.
The world’s most irritating invention?
Airports.
Personal philosophy?
Don’t let the begrudgers get you down.
What is your idea of a good night in?
Early night with a good book.
Biggest disappointment?
The elections in 1992 – not getting elected.
Which period in history would you most like to have lived through?
1920’s Berlin.
World’s most useful invention?
The pen.
Any last words?
No!
