This week, Miriam O'Callaghan talks to Risteard Cooper and his father, Richard.
Risteard is best known to television audiences as one third of the very popular Apres Match comedy trio. He is also an actor, currently appearing as Professor Henry Higgins in the George Bernard Shaw play Pygmalion at the Abbey Theatre. But Miriam discovers that both men share a deep and abiding passion for music.
There was always music in the Cooper household when Risteard was growing up. His parents met through the RTE Singers. They were involved with the Goethe Institute Choir and the Dowland Consort. Young Risteard made his operatic debut at nine in a production of Ahmal and the Night Visitors with the girls from Loreto Crumlin.
Richard Cooper is originally from Waterford where his father worked at the Denny bacon factory. His love of music was encouraged at an early age. He played in the local brass and reed band and he was known's as Waterford's Boy Soprano because of his performances at the local Savoy Theatre. On coming to Dublin, he pursued his interest in music, but worked as an accountant at The Irish Press.
Risteard studying singing on leaving school. He then went to New York to pursue an acting career. While back in Ireland in 1996, he met his wife Suzanne. 1998 was a significant year for him which saw him marry Suzanne, their first child was born. Apres Match started and he got his first role at the Gate Theatre. Sadly, it was also the year that his mother, Cait died. Richard tells Miriam about coping with his wife's death and the comfort he has from music and from the friends he has made through music.
Both men sing for Miriam, accompanied by Eoin Garrett, a long time friend of Richards.