Certain musical tastemakers, among them Today FM and the Meteor Music Award committee (who nominated him as ‘Best New Irish Act’ in 2004), have already dubbed Roesy the next Damien Rice. If this is the case, his paintings could be something of an investment for today’s buyer. I reason with him that people might be drawn to his work, in the hope of investing in the next big musical thing.
“If they are, let them keep thinking that!” he laughs. “If it sells paintings, let them think what they like!”
Modest he may be, but never let it be said that he isn’t hardworking. In fact, Roesy’s almost slavish dedication to the task of touring, along with his admirably staunch DIY philosophies, serve as inspiration to fledgling artists.
“My theory was that if there was no radio play, or newspaper coverage, I’d start gigging as there had to be people out there that would be into it,” he reasons. “To get the ball rolling, I did any supports I was offered, and I travelled around the country off my own bat. In a venue, I would go up to the person organising the show and thank them. I would sit down and organise all my own tours without a promoter, and did up all the posters. I made connections wherever I could… there are loads of brilliant people running the venues around the country. One night I’d be in the Lobby in Cork playing to six people, next month there would be 12, then 32. It was mainly due to the venues telling me, ‘keep going, you’ll get there!’. Now the shows are full, after gigging constantly for three years!”
Not bad going for someone who used to be known only as ‘Birr’s second favourite son’. Needless to say, Roesy’s kinship with fellow townsman Mundy comes up for discussion.
“We went to St. Brendan’s Community school together… he was a year ahead of me,” recalls Roesy. “He was bould, but I can’t be saying any more than that! Seriously though, he started playing the guitar there, and he took to it like a duck to water. When we get together we don’t talk much about music, although when times were hard for me or vice versa, it’s good to have a shoulder to cry on, someone in the industry to chat to.”
Despite the obvious closeness of the two, he is reluctant to play on the connection. Was he ever tempted to capitalise on the friendship, as is often the way of many Irish artists?
“I don’t think it’s necessarily like that,” he argues. “I’ve done a few openers for him, but I don’t get up on stage with him or anything like that. Our audiences are very dissimilar for a start; Mundy rocks it out, while my stuff is very different. As much as people try to make that connection, I do feel that I’m very much doing my own thing.”
Predictably, Roesy is itching to get back on the road, and will spend the summer months touring his second studio album.
“I love gigging… it’s where I come home to in a way,” he notes. “You’ll always get smart-arses in the crowd, but they’re always good craic…”

Roesy’s Only Love Is Real album is out now. See Gig Guide for details of the accompanying nationwide tour