D Friday, January 22, 2010 metrolife 17 :60second interview Shane Lynch Shane Lynch, 33, is a member of Boyzone, who have just released a new single, Gave It All Away, which features the vocals of the late Stephen Gately. Shane is also a panellist on RTs All- Ireland Talent Show and has appeared on several reality TV shows Interview by Daragh Reddin Im sure people were watching their screens thinking: Look, at those feckin eejits. But we went on to sell 30 million records Is it tough hearing the new single or is there a sense of satisfaction that youve managed to release it despite Stephens death? A touch of both. As a human being you have different emotions at different times. When Im feeling happy and strong Im delighted with the record. At other times I feel a little low and get very upset hearing it. All the personal stuff aside, we love the record were proud of it and were proud of Steo. Youre a born-again Christian. Has your religion been a consolation to you over the last few months? Its a belief Ive taken on board to the point where I understand that God doesnt make mistakes and its up to me to come to terms with whats been taken away. That doesnt stop me from feeling sad or confused about a situation but it helps me to accept that there is a reason for what happened that might, one day, be revealed to me. For now though I have to crack on and try to deal with things. Are you closer as a band since Stephens death? Weve always been close. When we reformed two years ago we realised how much we missed each other. Now that were all adults we have the same interests in life and the same understanding of life. We all have family values and an appreciation for what makes life work. We enjoy each others company now whereas first time around we couldnt wait to get way from each other so we could spend time with our own pals. That footage of Boyzones first performance on The Late Late Show has been haunting you for 17 years. Does it feel like that long since you formed? It certainly does. Far from haunting me though, I take pride in that clip. Fine, it wasnt the best performance in the world but its a brilliant story. Im sure people were watching their screens thinking: Look, at those feckin eejits do they really think they can make mornings I couldnt even get out of bed because I was so sore. But I enjoyed the challenge. Who would you like to win Celebrity Big Brother? I want Alex to win because I think hes been very misled. Its early days for him in the world of celebrity and he doesnt know what to do with it. I think Vinnie Jones is an awful man and sets Alex up at every opportunity. Im sure hell get his comeuppance though. Your Wikipedia page states you were a nymphomaniac mechanic before you joined Boyzone. Can you elaborate? A what! A nymphomaniac mechanic. Ha, ha. Listen I dont even own a computer so its nothing to do with me. A nympho mechanic? Holy s**t. Im certainly mad about motors so if thats what it means fair enough. But if its something sexual theres been some kind of mix up. The All Ireland Talent Show, Sun, RT1, 6.30pm. Gave It All Away (Polydor) is out now it? But we went on to sell 30 million records so, in that respect, if you work hard enough you can make things happen. Youre a judge on The All Ireland Talent Show. Are the judges quite competitive? Were competitive to the point where if somebody makes a comment about your act you have to fight your corner because you chose them and you believe in them; that causes a bit of tension. Mind you, the pressures not really on the judges but on the acts. Which performer have you up this week? A drag act called Joanna Ride shes mad as a brush but hilarious. Youve been a staple of the reality TV circuit for several years and came first in The Games. How was that? The Games was an amazing experience, as was Cirque De Celebrit. I like those shows because you train with Olympic coaches and youre given the best advice. A lot of Coming in from the Nordic coldI spy: TRacey DavIeS puts her undercover credentials to the test at Finlands espionage museum Night vision: Tampere, Finlands third largest city, lies on a strip of land between two lakes features@metroherald.ie Out Of Office I m surprised you didnt get that one right, says the curator at Vakoilumuseo spy museum. The answer to question four what is the most common cover-up profession for a spy? is not a priest but a journalist, like you, he says with a smirk. OK, so according to the results of the secret agent test my blossoming career in international espionage is not looking good. Its the start of a new decade, so embracing the old adage, new year, new career, I hop on a flight to Tampere in Finland to get the low-down on life as an international spy. The uniform of beige mac and dark glasses is always bang on trend. But why Finland? Well, the countrys geopolitical position between East and West means its a hotbed for international espionage. So what better place to shed light on the most clandestine of careers than at Vakoilumuseo, which was the worlds first spy museum when it opened in 1998. Im welcomed at Tampere airport by temperatures of -12C (10F). My particulars freeze despite nine layers of clothing and it crosses my mind that if I was an actual secret agent, all theyd have to do to get information out of me is remove my thermal vest and earmuffs and shove me outside. Tampere is Finlands third largest city after Helsinki and Espoo. Despite being traditionally industrial theres an abundance of super-cool Nordic architecture, including a church in the shape of a fish and a bird-shaped library. I head towards the Finlayson district and battle with my first spy task: locating the museum. Hidden away in the depths of a shopping centre is Vakoilumuseo, an exhibition of espionage through human intelligence. If you thought all those James Bond gadgets were invented for the silver screen, think again. The museum is jam-packed with real examples of Qs expertise. Displayed in glass cases are lighters that turn into handguns, money-concealing house bricks, hollowed-out library books and lipsticks that hide microfilm (unfortunately this item was unavailable for purchase in the gift shop). For female spies, there are dress rings filled with poison and even ashtrays with radio transmitters and microphonic smoking pipes. Vakoilumuseo is very hands-on and its easy to get carried away disguising your voice and detecting gun caches. However, Im here to find out if I have natural skills in espionage by taking the secret agent test. Although its meant as a bit of fun, the test is no gimmick. I pass the shooting trial and crack a secret code but fail at being an undercover journalist (pah!). After a morning of stealth and trickery, I warm up in a traditional Finnish sauna. Finns like to prescribe sauna as a cure to all that ails you and its customary to cool off in an ice hole. As etiquette dictates guests go first, I leave the womb-like warmth of the sauna and, feeling giddy with courage, pad through the snow to the lake. I squeal like a pig as I dunk my bikini-clad body into its icy waters. Its nipple-shatteringly cold but fantastically invigorating, so I do it again. And again! I ask my neighbour why the Finns love a sauna. She replies: In a sauna, we are all equal. Politicians sweat with postal workers, surgeons sweat with cleaners. When youre naked everyones the same, she grins. Even spies like me. Tracey flew from London Stansted to Tampere with Ryanair (www. ryanair.com), flights from 40 return including taxes and charges. For details on Vakoilumuseo spy museum visit www.vakoilumuseo.fi For more information on Tampere visit www.gotampere.com index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html