Saturday with John Creedon: 'I do love a brisk walk in Fota, Garryvoe, or Blarney'

One of Ireland's favourite broadcasters, John Creedon is hitting the road once again on a journey to explore how music shapes the identity of Ireland in a new series Creedon's Musical Atlas of Ireland.

'Creedon's Musical Atlas of Ireland' will air on Sunday evenings at 18:30 on RTÉ One from the 6th to the 20th of October.

9.30

Most weekends I’m on the road, but I love the weekends when I’m in Cork because that’s the only downtime I ever really have.

If I’m at home, I don’t get up at a fixed time because every other hour of every day seems to be measured.

Not unlike TS Eliot’s J Alfred Prufrock, whose life was measured out in coffee spoons, my Saturday is measured out in radio shows — whatever programme is on, I’ll start my day with that. 

Playback, Reignite and Brendan O’Connor are the backdrop to my Saturday mornings.

I might have a peep at the phone, though I know I shouldn’t, and send messages to my daughters who are all over the world. 

Martha is in Australia, Meg is in Scotland, and Nanci spends much of her time there too. Kate, my eldest girl, lives in Cork.

They all have two kids each. I don’t Facetime them from the bed, though — I wouldn’t frighten any child with that face first thing in the morning.

11.30

I might have a bit of fruit, potter around, do a job out the back, stick on a wash, and then have something else to eat. I often have the house to myself because my partner Mairead works on Saturdays.

I’ll do a few jobeens around the place, and then I’ll catch up with family — with the four girls or with my sisters — sometimes in person, though usually over the phone.

It’s a treat to amble into town — to go in with my hands in my pockets. If Kate’s around, I’ll meet up with her and her two girls for a coffee or a bite to eat.

I’ll go into the English Market and get my bread and bits and bobs, and I’ll arrive home with them and an arm full of newspapers.

13.00

In the afternoon, I’ll listen to the radio again — I love Second Captains Saturday — it’s very funny and they get great guests.

A real treat for me would be to stick on the telly and watch a match because I’m usually always running around.

I’m not a great man for exercise — I’m always walking up and down hills with work so I get exercise then — but I do love a brisk 40-minute walk in Fota, Garryvoe, or Blarney.

If the water is warm, I might go for a swim, but that’s only occasionally.

I like the Japanese concept of shinrin-yoku. I have a few hidden forests that I like to go to, especially early in the morning. 

I find after a while in nature that my head stops buzzing with all the things I’ve to do and that I am drawn in by nature and come to realise that we are only part of it.

We are blessed in this part of the world with the Atlantic Ocean and being able to look up at the stars at night — a bit of wilderness is beautiful.

15.00

I’m the Saturday chef, so I’ll start cooking in the afternoon, so that when Mairead gets home, I will have concocted something or other.

At some point in the afternoon, I will switch to jazz or Cuban music. I’ve a DAB radio with lots of worldwide stations on it — one station I love is called Festival Salsero — I’ll put that on and add extra chilli to the food.

I really only do two meals on a Saturday — a slow picky breakfast and dinner, which could go on for hours. Call me old-fashioned, but there’s always dessert on a Saturday.

I used to be a great man for pubs and restaurants, but less so now — I don’t know if it’s since covid or what, but I’m less drawn to crowded places.

Also, I don’t know what it is, but it seems that some of my friends have either passed on or moved away in the past few years, so I don’t have a gang that I go out with in Cork — those days are kind-of gone.

20.00

If there was a match on in Cork city on a Saturday night, I’d go. I’m a big supporter of Cork City FC, of the Cork hurlers, and of Glen Rovers hurling club. 

More often than not, though, I get my sport on the telly as I’m on the go all week.

My ideal Saturday, if not spent in Cork, would be spent sipping cocktails in Havana, and listening to music. 

I’m very lucky to have gone to lots of places all over the world, but there’s something about Cuba and the people that I really love.

Failing that, my ideal Saturday would be spent with my kids and grandkids in Cork, Edinburgh, Glasgow or Melbourne.

Saturday in Cork for me is an ambulant time — do some shopping, chill out, let the day fade away.

• John Creedon is hitting the road once again on a journey to explore how music shapes the identity of Ireland in a new series, Creedon’s Musical Atlas of Ireland. 
• This series delves into the profound impact music has on Irish culture, revealing its unique ability to capture the essence of what it means to be Irish. 
• Creedon’s Musical Atlas of Ireland will air on Sunday evenings at 18:30 on RTÉ One from October 6.