Shape I’m In: John Creedon

IF John Creedon was a weather condition, he would probably be described as a warm, westerly breeze coming in from the Atlantic. And it blows through all aspects of his world - work and play.

The words flow effortlessly as he discusses his fear of heights and faith in life.

He had to apply a “huge dollop of faith” while filming his latest TV project, Creedon’s Four Seasons in One Day, a transatlantic journey to understand the forces behind our weather. On one of the 40 filming days, he had to take to the skies in a small plane to view the conditions from on high. “I just said to myself this guy is a Ryanair pilot, he seems like a nice man, stop analysing it. If the worse comes to the worst it will hurt, it will come as a shock and it will be all over.

“At one stage the pilot said, ‘at one o’clock you can see the town of Maynooth’. All I could do was roll my eyes a little to the right. I saw the spire of church below and managed to say in a really nonchalant way, ‘Yeah, even from up here you can see it obviously began as a monastic settlement’. But I couldn’t feel anything south of my hips at that stage. By the time I was down I was glad I’d done it.”

Aged 55, he has four adult daughters and lives in Cork City with his partner Mairead.

* Creedon’s Four Seasons in One Day, RTÉ One, Sundays, 6.30pm; The John Creedon Show, RTE Radio 1, Monday to Friday, 8pm to 9.50pm.

What shape are you in?

Big and roundy, built for comfort but not for speed. I do a good deal of walking. I love to walk for my head as much as my feet. And I love to swim in the sea when I get the chance.

Any health concerns?

Not at the moment. I would consider myself very lucky. I’m very grateful. I am well aware that life is a lottery in every department. For some reason I have never been in hospital in my life. I have two main fears: heights and surgery. But all fear ultimately is the fear of the unknown.

What are your healthiest eating habits?

When I’m at home, most mornings it would be all fresh fruit, Greek yoghurt, and honey. I’m on the road a lot. I do about 100 hotel nights a year and I’m a sucker for the full Irish — I can’t resist it. Maybe it’s the famine in me.

What’s your guiltiest pleasure?

Having put away the bread the butter, then going back again and having one last slice. And, at the end of the day, dark chocolate from the fridge with a glass of milk.

What would keep you awake at night?

Circling thoughts. It could be anything. I’m reminded of Mark Twain who said in my lifetime I have had many issues that gave me cause for concern but also which never happened.

How do you relax?

I love a pint of Beamish. Going to see Cork City play — the love of my life. I’m also very fond of hurling. But Mamma Nature really is the one. Anywhere in Co Cork, I go up into the mountains, I go west I go east, and roll around in the greenery.

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?

I’d love to have Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jesus, the Buddha, so that I could tell them what I think.

What’s your favourite smell?

Without doubt a hayfield. It’s sweet, it’s natural, it’s those aunts and uncles who are gone, it’s collie dogs, big old red horse, it’s Adrigole, it’s Inchigeelagh, it’s cousins, it’s laughing, it’s teasing. The whole shebang.

What would you change about your appearance?

I don’t look in mirrors a lot. From a health point of view, I’d like to lose a bit of weight but I’ve been saying that to myself for years. In terms of my appearance, I is what I is and I ain’t what I ain’t.

When did you last cry?

About a year and a half ago on the way home in the car from the hospital where Rosie, my youngest granddaughter, was born. I was thinking about the overwhelming magic of it all.

What trait do you least like in others?

Manipulation. All the world is a stage but I’ve seen some really bad acts purporting to being genuine. I’m not in the favours game. My responsibility is to the audience. I agonise because no does not come easily to me.

And in yourself?

I’ve gotten better but I talk too much. I hope I don’t flood people. I don’t intend to but sometimes I’m so enthusiastic.

Do you pray?

I don’t but I meditate from time to time. I try to step out of the story and observe myself. If you start noticing your own mind the next question is who’s noticing it? And that is closer to who I really am.

What would cheer up your day?

Cork City winning away from home — any day that Cork City pick up three points is a good day.