Páraic Breathnach, presenter of RTÉ Radio new late night arts show
Páraic Breathnach has been feeling a lot like Liam O'Flaherty's seagull these past few weeks. In O'Flaherty's famous short story, His First Flight, the young gull perches on a ledge, afraid of spreading his wings and taking to the air.
Breathnach will take a deep breath and push himself off at 11pm on Monday night for the first broadcast of RTÉ's new late-night arts show The Eleventh Hour. Though an experienced arts broadcaster, with his own show on TG4, he is about the only new voice so far in the autumn Radio 1 schedule.
"I'm putting a bit of pressure on myself. It's a new medium [for me] and I've always loved radio and wanted to do radio. I'm excited like a child, but also a bit scared. It feels a bit like hang-gliding. I've always wanted to hang-glide, but I don't know if I'd be able to throw myself off the side of the cliff if the time ever came."
Breathnach, an actor, arts administrator and co-founder of Galway arts company Macnas, has had what he describes as 30 years at the coalface of the arts. Since meeting his fellow presenters at a photocall recently, he says Dave Fanning has become a mentor. "He speaks so fast," Breathnach jokes, "but in fairness to him he worked in night-time radio and he's very good on the difference a night-time audience makes. It allows you more freedom. The kids are in bed and people are relaxed."
Getting the radio job has been like getting a cap for Ireland, he says. "I'm working for the Irish team. It's quite a powerful situation, but I hope . . . that power and space won't change my attitude."
Is he looking forward to it? "I'm thrilled. I haven't been as excited in years. It reminds me of the story of a friend who met an old fella on a mountain in Connemara and asked him 'have you lived here all your life?' The fella answered him, 'Oh Jesus no. Only until now.' So up till now it's the most exciting time of my life." u Catherine Cleary
The Eleventh Hour starts on Monday on RTÉ Radio 1 at 11pm. Photograph: Brenda Fitzsimons