This much I know: Shay Byrne, radio presenter
Before I got into radio, I ran a painting and decorating business with my father. I also worked in the mobile phone and technology area.
I was an outgoing child, always very chatty and open.
My biggest challenge so far has been the death of my father. That was the thing that knocked me back.
I’d worked with him for so many years, six days a week, just the two of us, and I was suddenly on my own. He got sick in 1999 and died in February 2000. I got married that October.
I met my wife Linda doing Grease together. A friend had pointed out that I had no hobbies and suggested I join this musical society.
He told me I’d love it as there were 30 women and only six men, and three of them were gay. I thought, hey, even I could possibly score there.
Linda teaches children to sing. We have three children of our own now — aged 11, nine and seven.
In 2005, RTÉ were looking for radio continuity announcers. I sent in my CV. 400 people applied and 13 got through. I got onto Radio 1. That was part time so I was still able to do the painting and decorating.
I’m not sure how good a painter and decorator I was. The Celtic Tiger was roaring, foreign labour was coming in, but I remember sitting in a car-park in a leased jeep, owing a lot of money and not knowing how I was going to pay it all back.
It was 3pm and my staff were out playing football in the sun. I cried and simply decided to wind the business down. My plan was to get as much extra work in RTÉ as I could.
I offered to do anything in RTÉ. Make tea, work for free. I was a bit wide- eyed and enthusiastic but word got out that there was this slightly older guy who could turn his hand to a few things. I started to get to know people.
In 2007 a researcher job came up on The Tubridy Show. Thanks to the faith that people like producer Elizabeth Laragy had in me, I got the job. I offered myself as a fill-in for any other shows. Maxi’s job on Risin’ Time came up, and that was it.
I got there in the end, not really through talent, but through reliability and availability. One of most important traits in broadcasting is the ability to get on with others. To work in a team.
In the beginning I was nervous on air, especially when I realised there were 300,000 people listening. Once that red light goes on, you have to be willing to take charge and to live or die by the decisions you make.
My advice is to practice. Rehearse. Speak your lines out loud.
I’m a night person. I love being out but I have to go to bed between 9pm and 11pm because at 5.30am — it’s showtime.
I get up at 4.10am. Linda is understanding. She sets a fail-safe alarm for 4.45am. She wakes up to make sure I’m gone. You never really get used to getting up at that hour.
I come off air at 7am. I do all the paperwork for the programme. Then I plan the next day’s show. I choose the playlist. I like giving information so I generally use scripted notes.
I have meetings and am home by 2pm for a nap. On Friday I leave early and get home by 8.20am so that I can take the kids to school.
I don’t have any faith. I don’t believe in an afterlife. But I witness joy on a daily basis through my three children. That gives me strength.
My biggest fault is that I am too willing to say yes to things. I’ve just said yes to a sponsored cycle from Paris to Nice, 700km over six days in September for The Irish Youth Foundation.
I have four months to train. I’ve been putting up a bit of weight so it’s a very good thing.
My biggest fear is death. I never really worried about it until recently.
Life has taught me there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. You can pick yourself up and if you are open and honest people will help you.
It is the simple things in life that are most important. Cutting the grass well. The kids asking if we can go out for pizza. Lobbing a few stones into the sea at Bray.
Tune in to RTÉ Radio 1 for Shay Byrne’s Risin’ Time, Monday to Friday, 5.30am to 7am.
In conversation with Hilary Fennell
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