Where is My Mind? Bressie Multi-Award winning show comes to the Civic

Niall ‘Bressie’ Breslin is returning to the Civic with his multi-award-winning ‘Where is My Mind?’ live show following an electrifying series of sold-out events in 2023.

Niall ‘Bressie’ Breslin, who has had a colourful life thus far and is accustomed to a good dose of reality check, has made it his mission to dig beneath the surface of the current world to uncover the mysteries of what makes humanity plunge, survive, recover, and prosper.

With its distinct and addictive blend of spoken word, music, monologues, and amazing guests, the ‘Where Is My Mind’ live performance has captured audiences’ attention with its heart, humour, relatability, and inventiveness.

This year’s Irish Podcast Award for Best Interview went to Niall because of his unmatched ability to establish a lighthearted and incredibly personal connection with his guests.

Tallaght native Lynn Ruane, who has been an independent senator representing Trinity College in the Senate of Ireland since April 2016, will be joining Bressie in conversation on this live show.

Niall is one of Ireland’s most powerful and inspirational mental health advocates, with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and economics, an MSc in mindfulness-based intervention, and honorary fellowships in the IADT and the Royal College of Surgeons.

In addition, he is a musician, philanthropist, best-selling author, and former professional athlete.

This week, we sat down with Niall to discuss the performance in the Civic, which takes place on April 23, as well as his career up to this point.

What inspired this tour?

Well, the podcast started back in 2019, the year before the pandemic started, and it was doing well, so it was always an idea to maybe bring it on tour.

This will be the second tour because we already did a leg of performances last year, which turned out very successful, so we also decided it would be a good idea to tour it again this year.

It’s actually quite humorous, despite the subject matter; there are definitely some funny moments to look forward to!

It will also have loads of different elements: music, spoken word, and guests, like the podcast.

What kind of work is usually involved in preparing to perform?

Before I go out on stage, whether it be performing music or public speaking, I always try to make sure I’m comfortable.

You also have to not overly script yourself; just go with whatever feels natural and don’t freeze or overthink.

Just do what feels right for you, and the audience will feel drawn to your confidence.

How does a gig typically come about?

It’s all about picking the venues that are most suitable for a performance like this to be held.

You can’t wait for these offers to come to you; you have to put yourself out there, reach out, and ask for them yourself.

You also have to check what dates are available in said venues for your performance if the organisation you reach out to agrees to rent out the space for you to rehearse and perform in.

I know the Civic was definitely one of my top choices for this tour, and I am really glad I got a gig there!

‘Where Is My Mind?’ is about mindfulness and wellbeing. Tell us more about that!

I started the podcast because I wanted to help make a difference, make a positive impact on Ireland’s mental health climate, and, generally, just tear down any stigma and harmful stereotypes affecting Irish people who may be struggling with their mental health.

I also got the idea to start a podcast based on mindfulness because of personal experience.

I have had mental health struggles in the past; in some ways, it’s my Achilles heel.

I’m always trying to help raise awareness because I can empathize with and relate to some cases, and I know how hard it can be.

I am currently undertaking a PHD for ‘Mindfulness’ so I can hopefully help more people with that.

What are your plans after the tour is over?

Well, I want to finish my PhD, of course!

I’m currently two and a half years into the degree, so this year one of my plans is to keep chugging along with that.

I’m also working on an album, which I hope to have out by the end of the year.

Who would you like to thank for helping you get to this point in your career?

First of all would be my parents, obviously.

Despite the fact that my mother was a music teacher and my father was a member of the Army, which are two completely different professions, neither of them ever pressured me into choosing a particular career path, so I’ll always be grateful to them for that.

I would also like to thank my partner, Louise, who has been my rock and supports me in everything I do.