We're all ordinary in a way. We can all be hurt. We can all be unbalanced. We all have feelings. Life can treat us harshly, even shockingly sometimes.

I could not flourish in the Hollywood system because the first thing spoken about is "What genre is it?" and "Who's it for?" It's a very strange question to me; it's for human beings.

The play is a very simple idea really; someone needs some support and consolation, and she finds a place where she gets it.

I guess Im attracted and repelled by isolation. It scares me. And its why I tend to write about older characters, too, because for them the stakes are somewhat higher.

Directing is such a crucial part of the writing process; you start directing and you see what does not work. "Oh, God, what was I thinking?" and then you can rearrange it.

I love stories that frame that: This is what life is about - you don't have a clue.

I think Catholicism took root very quickly in Ireland because it's a very superstitious religion, the holy ghost, the holy spirit, it has a goddess, very visual, the music.

We know so little of the why, what the universe is, what infinity is. The veil around us is very fragile.

I just want the actors to put their faith in the language. Just let the words do the work.

I have a theory about Ireland, being at the edge of Europe. For 1,000 years, people didnt know what was beyond. But we thought about it - a lot. And that beyond became internalized in our psyche.

If I wasn't plagued by needing to write things, that would perhaps be a blessing.

Twenty years after we had left so fierce and proud, we were all right back where we had started, yoked to each other and the same old drama.

Be Here Now is all about being present and not fearing what you don't know.

You have to admit he's good looking," Bree pressed, leaning against my kitchen counter. "Of course I admit it. I'm not blind," I said, busily opening cans.

To write about business one should be in business, just as in writing about Tasmania one should visit Tasmania.

The problem with me is I always think I should've done better. I felt that after the World Cup final and through my whole career.

On the Death of his Child Dew Evaporates And all our world is dew...so dear, So fresh, so fleeting

The world won't step into its greatness until we step into ours.

What inspires me is not so much the music as the opportunity to interact with composers. I think that has driven everything I've done.

The most important philosophy I think is that even if it isn't true you must absolutely assume there is no afterlife.

Let all the laws be clear, uniform and precise for interpreting laws is almost always to corrupt them.