Mairead Ronan said the Covid-19 pandemic was the catalyst that prompted her to walk away from her dream radio job on Today FM.
The 42-year-old Dubliner said it was “empowering” to leave the station where she’d worked for almost two decades on her own terms.
Before landing her own lunchtime show Mairead had produced for Ian Dempsey and Ray D’Arcy,with whom she remains great friends.
Her surprise departure earlier this year at a time when her radio show was at its peak sent shockwaves through the industry.
She told the Irish Sunday Mirror: “It was very good of Today FM to let me go the way I did and let me do it on air.
“To tell that story... they really supported me and they were shocked. Most people wait to be fired because nobody really leaves media gigs ever.
“But look, Claire Byrne did it with her TV gig recently.
“I probably never would have left Today FM if Covid didn’t happen.
“I was too scared, too afraid of failure and the whole thing of ego.”
Mairead said as a former producer she never feared being axed because “when you’re in production you don’t get the chop”.
But the Ireland’s Fittest Family presenter does harbour worries over being replaced on TV.
She said: “I have that side on telly, I feel I could be replaced and you can be replaced in five minutes.”
Mairead has a savvy business head on her with her hair brand, Faro, growing.
She revealed: “We have our own warehouse now. We’re going into Arnotts now too and in Peter Mark across Ireland.”
Fresh from filming Ireland’s Fittest Families for RTE Mairead said: “It’s year 10, it’s hard to believe, it’s flown in, it’s a bit freaky.
“We’re in a brand new location for the first time ever in Rathbeggan Lakes up in Meath.
“The gorgeous Derval O’Rourke is gone, I suppose in a way like me on the radio, there’s only so many balls you can juggle.
“Nina Carberry is in Derv’s place, Davy Fitz, Donncha O’Callaghan and Anna Geary are back.
“Nina has a different sports background, a champion jockey, different but very calm, a bit like Derv, she’s not roaring at the contestants.”
And she laughed at the mere suggestion of completing the course herself.
She said: “I’ve done the ramp and Hanging Tough but not the swampy bog stuff, no thanks.”
Mairead said despite the show’s name she doesn’t feel under pressure to stay in tip top shape to present it. She revealed: “Cardio wise I’m always fit but in certain years I’ve been in better shape.
“I don’t think men feel the same pressure because I still think we’re judged more.
“I feel fantastic, I don’t feel the pressure as much, I feel I look good for my age.”
And she said the odd time she gets negative feedback on social media it tends to come from men.
She added: “With Instagram 80% of my following is women, they’re a similar age to me so they
get it.
“The very odd time I’d get something mean said to me.
“There were some mean things about how I look from a guy.
“On my radio show I was always protected from that.
“I’ve had conversations with Donnncha O’Callaghan about this, he sees it now working on radio, women seem to get it a lot worse.” But women are getting the bigger gigs on radio now, she adds: “Over my 20 years I’ve seen a massive shift in women on air.
“It used to be men on air and women ran the show.
“It was always a case of women being really good at detail, coaxing stuff out of people on air.
“But now it’s still that, in Today FM there are really strong women producers but great women on air too.”
As for going back on air, the mum to Dara, 15, Eliza, six, and four-year-old Bonnie said her kids are her focus.
She said: “I love the freedom I have now, I love bringing my kids to school, coming home, making the dinners.
“I still work, but a few people asked me recently, how’s retirement?
“I was like I’m not retired, I’ve just done two 14 hour days.
“But I’ve slowed down, the treadmill couldn’t go fast enough and I was dead on it.
“Now I love the pace, I feel organised, I feel I can catch my breath.” If RTE came knocking, she might consider it.
She adds: “I love listening to RTE Radio One.
“I don’t know, maybe when the kids are a bit bigger, I would but I don’t know would anybody want me then!”
Married to Louis Ronan for seven years, the couple celebrated 12 years together this month.
She giggles: “He’s way calmer than me, he’s a hardworking businessman, allergic to media.”
Opening up on losing her mam Maureen the day before her 21st, Mairead said: “I still feel a bit bitter that she was taken from us so young.
“I still feel a bit robbed, really sad that the cancer she had, I suppose in a good way – anyone who gets breast cancer now will survive it.
“It was really bad luck, but since Mam died I’ve been very lucky in life, she minded me.”
- Ireland’s Fittest Family starts on RTE One tonight at 6.30pm
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