Rick O’Shea gets well-versed in poetry for new programme

Rick O’Shea tells Jonathan deBurca Butler that he jumped at the opportunity to present an arts programme of his own

BROADCASTER Rick O’Shea is not known for poetry. But the smooth-talking Dubliner has been a popular radio presenter on RTÉ 2FM since 2001, and his afternoon show is synonymous with the station’s fast-paced pop feel.

However, the 41-year-old has expanded his range, so when RTÉ approached him about presenting a programme that “sets out to explore the diverse and vibrant world of poets and poetry,” he jumped at it.