LOUISE HERAGHTY Radio presenter :'Listeners are your friends and can feel that they're part of the show now. When I listened to 2FM as a kid, if I got to speak on air with Larry Gogan, it was a rare privilege'
First of all, congratulations on becoming a charity ambassador.Thanks. My involvement with the Children's Miracle Network began last year, when I went to Disneyland with three Irish families whose children had been through horrific illnesses. It was incredible to see these kids being treated like celebrities for the week.
This year I was asked back as an ambassador, which I was delighted to be. The charity was set up by the Osmonds – it was the Osmond Foundation.
As in Donnie and Marie Osmond?Yes, they were all there. That famous English golfer too. What's his name? Nick Faldo? Yes, that sounds like him all right.
I've been listening to your radio show all this week. Has anyone ever won that "cash call" thing?Of course! We've given away €55,000 over the past few years. You've never heard anyone winning? Well, honestly, they do.
What's the best thing about your job?Going in there every day and playing music and interviewing cool people and making the public happy. When somebody texts in to say that I've just cheered them up by playing a particular song, that makes my day. Because, let's face it, the country is pretty depressed at the moment.
But you don't get to choose the songs you play, do you?Erm, I'm not really allowed to talk about this . . . It's true that we have a music director who picks the songs. But it's still based on research, so it's what people want to hear. Of course, if someone requests a particular song, I'll generally play it. Within reason.
Have you ever had to play anything you absolutely hated? Occasionally there are artists such as Shayne Ward, for example, who are not to my taste. But thankfully we don’t have to play him too often any more.
Has radio changed much in the time you've been working in it?With Bebo, Facebook and the blogs, etc it's become more interactive. Listeners are your friends and can feel that they're part of the show now. They're not just texting into fresh air. When I listened to 2FM as a kid, if I got to speak on air with Larry Gogan or Dusty Rhodes, it was a very rare privilege.
You did two years with AA Roadwatch, but you don't have an AA Roadwatch accent. Congratulations.No, I'm a Sligo girl and proud of it. Regional accents don't seem to be looked upon favourably in broadcasting in this country. Whereas in the UK, the BBC make a point of accommodating them. Absolutely. When I started in AA Roadwatch I would get teased for being a culchie. But to be honest, I think that "rindabite" thing was actually created by people who came in there before me.
That problematic "ou" sound is particularly unfortunate in a job where every other word is either "roundabout" or "southbound".[Laughs] But at the same time, the AA Roadwatch girls were the first "radio babes". So I think it worked out well for me to be the first with a western accent. I still miss the banter with Tubridy, but it doesn't compare to having my own show.
Do you any have ambitions to get into television?Of course I want to be on television. I know a lot of radio presenters will pretend otherwise. But they do, too. Radio is nice in so far as you don't have to look your best every day. But I absolutely want to get into television. What sort of show? Not Xpose, I don't think that kind of show would be for me. But certainly something closer to what Lucy Kennedy does than Miriam O'Callaghan.
www.ChildrensMiracleNetwork.ie