The RTE office may have had split opinions about the decision, but Niall remarks: "I can't think of a more appropriate decision than to award him the Nobel Prize". Reflecting on hearing the singer-songwriter for the first time, he also locates the Irish connection in Dylan's folk music influences.

"He never made any secret that Irish music was hugely important to him," says Niall. "He talked very eloquently about the Clancy brothers and the Irish ballad tradition and the Irish folk tradition. He was never shy about referencing the people who had influenced him and the folk tradition was enormously important to his music."

You can listen to thefull interview on the News at 1 here. The segment on Bob Dylan starts from 35 minutes in.