Source: Daily_Mail
Andy Reid shows true pluck: Sunderland winger takes on the Banjo
Getting in tune: Reid (right) enjoys his tuition from Gerry O'Connor
Although a competent and frequent guitar player during squad get-togethers with club and country, Reid had never played in front of that kind of audience before - certainly not with the banjo.
The exercise was part of a documentary Faoi Lan Cheoil (loose translation, Let's Go) for the Gaelic-speaking TG4 channel in which eight celebrities, including Oscar-winning actor Jeremy Irons, learned a musical instrument over six months for a public performance of traditional Irish music.
Reid was paired with legendary Irish musician Gerry O'Connor and, after months of tuition at his parents' Dublin home, O'Connor's home studio in Tipperary and a visit to Sunderland's training ground, Reid eventually lined up for a night with the folk star's group, Four Men and a Dog.
Reid, who now has a specially made Clareen banjo, admitted: 'It was certainly different. When I go out on a football pitch I'm really confident because that's what I do and from your apprenticeship you gear up for playing in front of big crowds and get used to it.
'But to go out and play the banjo, which I had only been playing for seven months, and perform in front of people, some of whom I knew, that's a completely different story.
'It helped that I'd performed in front of people as a footballer. In the past I've been up with bands I know and did the Sunderland Foundation charity dinner and fashion show, which went all right. But that was with the guitar and I was OK because I can play that.
'With the banjo, all the focus was on me, which made it harder, but I was playing with brilliant musicians so I had a feeling they would make sure I came through at all costs.
'It was a tough seven months but great fun. I really wanted to do it when I heard Gerry was going to be the teacher and I loved working with him.'
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Irish passion: Sunderland midfielder Reid is hoping his performances for the Black Cats can earn him a recall to Giovanni Trapattoni's Republic of Ireland squad
Reid started playing his guitar in front of his Sunderland teammates in his first week during a team-bonding session in the Lake District. Although never brave enough to test his Bob Dylan repertoire in front of Roy Keane, one of the American's biggest fans, the former Ireland captain had seen Reid perform on international duty and insisted on the musical introduction.
Current Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni has yet to appreciate Reid's playing ability, either as guitarist or creative midfielder, and Reid is reluctant to be drawn into his inexplicable exclusion from the most recent squad.
He has yet to play under the legendary Italian but Ireland are sitting pretty in their World Cup qualifying group. What is clear is that Reid wants to play for his country.
As he prepared for today's visit of Aston Villa to the Stadium of Light, the 26-year-old said: 'I love playing for Ireland and nothing makes me prouder. I'd pay my own plane fare to play and I'm always available. I just hope the manager selects me and gives me a chance.
'Of course it has been hard. I want to play for Ireland as I'm sure every Irishman does but I have to keep playing the best I can for my club.'
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