28 Quotes by Ian McElhinney

I was living in Britain and then America, but it wasn't until I returned to live in Ireland in the late '70s that I really became aware of Seamus Heaney. I discovered quickly that his poems are very accessible.

One of the problems that comes up time and time again seems to be this notion of being 'pure' Irish. If you are Protestant, born in the Northern part of the island and deeply into the Protestant tradition, that somehow does not make you a legitimate Irish person. Yet there is a huge British influence in parts of the South.

For years, I was just Joe Bloggs. There was no excitement until 'Game of Thrones,' and then people started recognizing me.

But I think you have to accept - as I have accepted - that the demands of TV are different than the demand of book writing.

It's strange to be getting into your dotage and suddenly discovering that you have a fanbase.

On another level I'd unfortunately read the books. I knew Barristan had a different story in the books and I was hoping for a bit more of Barristan alive before he met his comeuppance... well, comeuppance is unfair, he didn't deserve a comeuppance.

'Derry Girls' just has a sense of knowing exactly who these people are and also a fun memory of how things were, even in spite of all the chaos around them. It's very entertaining and it stays wonderfully buoyant because it focuses on the kids and the families.

Being part of 'Game of Thrones' is amazing, really incredible.

But I love the change and the variety directing brings.