'Writing music for fun': Paul Brady at 70

Paul Brady managed to attain financial security before the downloading revolution laid waste to the music business – something for which the veteran singer/songwriter is eternally grateful, writes Nadine O’Regan

Paul Brady: ‘I live a comfortable life and people still want to come and see me, so it’s great’ Pic: Julian Behal

Paul Brady’s post is different from other people’s post. The majority of us have to be content with unappealing invoices or TV licence reminders through our letterboxes of a morning. But Brady gets wonderful surprises. The singer-songwriter laughs when I remind him of it.

“Mailbox money,” he says, as he settles himself in his chair for our interview, looking spry despite having woken at 5.30 that morning. “You never know what you’re going ...