"I'd love to live in Ireland but I'd like to live as me, not what someone thinks I am. People don't understand - I lived there before I was famous"

In this quote, Van Morrison reveals his desire to reside in Ireland again, however on his own terms. He does not want to live as the celeb persona that others might see him as however rather as himself. He makes a point to point out that he lived in Ireland prior to he ended up being famous, recommending that he wants to reconnect with that part of himself and experience the country as a routine individual again. It's possible that he's annoyed with the way individuals treat him based upon his fame and wishes to be able to have a more grounded experience living in Ireland.