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Noel Gallagher On Paying Taxes, Westlife Euro 2012 And More













Noel Gallagher has been one of the most outspoken voices in British music for the best part of two decades. Never one to hold his tongue or any range of subjects, Noel was in town this week to play support to the Red Hot Chili Peppers in a bumper show at Croke Park. While there, Noel called a press conference to announce details of an upcoming double-headliner gig with Kasabian in Marlay Park on August 23rd next but seemed more intent on discussing other matters, like playing a GAA game in Croke Park as a child, the possibilities of an Oasis reunion and Ireland's performance in Euro 2012.

Have a peep at the highlights below.

On playing in Croke Park in 1983
Someone's just given me a photograph of it actually. I remember I scored, I scored a point. We got hammered, but I scored. I can't remember at which end.

On what happened to his GAA career
I'd gone as far as I could take that team. It was decided that I'd be better off in the music business. I'm not an athlete, too much hard graft goes into that. [My brothers] all played too. I enjoyed it at the time; I've got to say, until smoking, drinking, birds and drugs take over. Football goes out the window then, doesn't it? Just watching football is hard enough.

How did Noel end up playing at Croke Park?
The Irish community in Manchester has lots of Gaelic football teams and we played for one. We were the champions of Lancashire for years, from U-14s right through to U-18s and we came over here to play an Irish team and we got leathered.

We stayed with the other team's families. It's funny actually, I was in Australia in January doing The Big Day Out and I bumped into an Irish guy and he was about my age. "Were you in Dublin..." and he gave the dates of the GAA game...and he said his mam and dad had a picture of me. I must have stayed at their house. They often wondered if it was the same guy! I said, yeah that was me. Apparently I used to eat a lot of Weetabix, hence the fairly successful career since.

On what position he played
Oh I've no idea. I can't even remember what the positions are. I would have been some goal-hanging twat I would have thought.

On following Gaelic Games
My older brother Paul follows Mayo. If I knew [the All Ireland Final] was on I'd probably watch it but nobody would tell. I've seen a few down the years, it's quite exciting. I'm not too into hurling. Fuck that, it's like gang warfare innit?

On if his kids want to be rock stars
Who doesn't want to be a rock star? If that's what they want to do, but I've assured them that they're not going to be as good as me.

On what he's like around the house
I think I'm brilliant; my wife thinks I'm useless. I'm sure it's like any other relationship that anyone else has with their wife. I don't do a great deal. I don't have a shed, I don't do any whittling. Do I do the ironing? Good lord, no. I've got staff for that. Although I shouldn't refer to the wife as 'staff'.

On artist tax exemptions in Ireland
I'm a bit uncomfortable with that. There's only so much money you can earn. Nobody likes paying 50% tax but if that's the way it is, it's the way it is. I wouldn't ever go and see my accountant and try to squirrel away a few bob here and there. For what?

On how much tax he pays
Me? Well I sorted that out with Tony Blair in the 90's, I don't have to pay anything (laughs).

On Liam Gallagher and the possibility of an Oasis reunion
I texted him at Christmas, after the City match. I don't think [a reunion] is going to happen. It would be great for everybody else except me. I would be great for millions and millions but I wouldn't be very happy about it. I was in Oasis for nearly 20 years. I've been doing this, what I'm doing now, for one year. I'd like to see what it's like to do it for a lot longer.

I spoke to Gem (Archer, formerly of Oasis now of Beady Eye) recently, not about that, but nobody ever brings it up with any seriousness. Liam does publicly, but he says a lot of things publicly. I wouldn't take anything he says seriously.

On Ireland at Euro 2012
Why is everyone being so hard on the team. They played Spain and Italy, two of the semi-finalists - one of them is going to win it. You're lucky to get a kick off Spain, let alone a goal. If you look at it in the cold light of day neither England nor Ireland have good enough players to win tournaments like this.

On whether or not he was sad to see the end of Westlife
Why, what's happened? They've not been killed, have they?

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds will play a double-headliner with Kasabian at Marlay Park on August 23rd. Tickets on sale from Friday, priced at €49.50. Support is from The Cribs.

Source: entertainment.ie

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