We chatted with GAA star Bernard Brogan about movies, Netflix and music

Fresh from helping Dublin overcome Carlow in the Leinster quarter final last weekend, footballer Bernard Brogan took time out of his busy schedule to chat with entertainment.ie about what he gets up to off the pitch.

Thanks for chatting with us Bernard. When you’re not training or at matches, can you tell us what you like to do to relax?

Well, I run my own business so that takes up a lot of time and obviously sport, and football, has gotten so professional that it takes up a massive amount of hours. So, what I try and do is, I try and spend time with my wife as much as I can.

It has to be done.

(Laughing) Exactly. We enjoy simple things, like we just finished a box set of Designated Survivor on Netflix. We binged on it over the last couple of weeks which is a nice way of doing it.

I haven’t seen it. Is it good?

It’s very good. So, things like that. We like the cinema. I love going for swims in the Irish Sea, Ciara would get in with me as well, and we’d go for a swim out in High Rock in Malahide or down to Clontarf off the wooden bridge. Then we might head in to Gourmet Food Parlour for a coffee after which is a nice Sunday morning thing. I try and meet my friends every Saturday down in the local restaurant, we call it a breakfast club. We never really see each other because life is so busy. So, we’ve got a group of six or seven of us that like to catch up for an hour and have a natter, because sometimes life can just pass you by and you don’t get to see your friends, you know?

You mentioned the cinema. What type of movies do you like? Or is there a certain type of genre that you’ll go and see?

Not really, to be honest. I just like to go in and get the popcorn and a bottle of water and just relax into it. Something that you don’t have to think too hard about. We were at the cinema last week, actually. What did we go and see? (long pause) I can’t remember the name of it now.

It must have been good!

Yeah! I’ll go in and watch whatever. It’s more the experience of just getting into the cinema, you know, lights off, bit of popcorn and just being able to relax and get away from the world for a few hours.

And you have Netflix….

Yeah, I went through all of House of Cards. I enjoyed that. Designated Survivor wouldn’t be a million miles away from it, it’s a similar type of show. Obviously, it’s not Netflix but I’d be a big fan of The Walking Dead. So, I do like a series. I love getting into them and following the story line. There’s great enjoyment in it, especially if you’re busy during the day or busy training. It’s nice to get an hour and watch something good instead of just flicking through channels.

This is a bit of a cliché question but I’m going to go with it anyway. If you had to pick an actor to play you in a movie about your life, who would it be?

(Thinking) They’d have to be able to kick a ball.

Yeah, it would probably have to be an Irish person.

I don’t know. Well, Colin Farrell is from down the road in Castleknock! I’m not saying I’m as slick as Colin Farrell, I mean, we’d probably have to dirty him up a bit. So, maybe him.

Would music play a big part in helping you chill out off the field?

Not a massive part. Obviously everyone enjoys music, but I wouldn’t be a mad music head. I listen to commercial music, commercial dance let’s say, before games to get the blood going. Actually, I’m a big Michael Jackson fan which is a bit of a weird one! I’ve always enjoyed him, he’d be my go to guy. So, yeah, it’s mainly commercial dance music before training or on the way into Croke Park to get a bit of a buzz going.

Do you get a chance to go to any gigs or festivals over the summer?

Unfortunately not. The only festival I’ve been at was Forbidden Fruit last year. A few of the lads from the team went this year but I couldn’t make it thank God, it lashed rain on them. Festival season is usually July and August and thankfully we’ve still been playing over the last few years, so I haven’t been able to make it but they’re definitely on the bucket list when I retire. I’ll be at several festivals over the summer months please God.

So, you wouldn’t really listen to any bands?

Well, I like The Coronas. I like Damien Dempsey. I like that kind of Irish stuff. Kevin McMenamin (fellow Dublin footballer) would be a big influence, he’s in his own band, The Solids. They played the second day at my wedding. The place was absolutely rocking. They even got me up for a song.

What did you sing?

I sang ‘Riptide’ (Vance Joy). Kev sings it and he knew that I loved it, so just on the night he kind of browbeat me into it. I wouldn’t be a singer now but The Solids were rocking the place so I got involved.

Can you tell us a little about the King of the Hill campaign that you’re promoting today?

I suppose why I’m involved is I would have grown up on King crisps, you know, in your local GAA club. My Dad and my uncle are involved in Brogan’s bar, they’re in the pub trade, so I would have grown up with King crisps. They’re doing an initiative where they’re giving away €1,000 to clubs, not just GAA, soccer, rugby, any club you want. I’d be a firm believer in kids playing sports and the lessons and values that it teaches you, and King have put their money where their mouth is and are really trying to support the grassroots. So, it’s a great initiative and that’s why I got involved. They’re a great Dublin crisp, a great brand, and we’re having fun along the way making some videos (see below) and trying to create a bit of craic with it.

Thanks for chatting to us and good luck with the rest of the season.

Thank you.

King Crisps will be running an on-pack promotion for the month of June, giving loyal supporters the chance to win €1,000 every day for a club of their choice! Check out the on-pack and the King Crisps Facebook page for more details)