Arena host Rick O’Shea: ‘I’m going to say it out loud. I have no self-esteem of any kind’

Rick O'Shea, now at the helm of RTÉ Radio 1's arts and culture program Arena, describes his new role as a "dream job" secured amidst significant competition. However, the opportunity arose under tragic circumstances following the unexpected death of the show's long-time presenter, Seán Rocks.

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I was told he’d gone into hospital, I thought maybe for tests. It didn’t seem serious.

O'Shea initially stepped in to cover for Rocks during a planned holiday. He recounts how Rocks fell ill and was hospitalized, with O'Shea unaware of the severity until he presented the show on the day Rocks collapsed. "I was told he’d gone into hospital, I thought maybe for tests. It didn’t seem serious," O'Shea recalls. By the next day, it was clear Rocks would not return, and the situation became dire.

Taking over from a beloved colleague was challenging, especially for the show's staff who were close friends with Rocks. O'Shea acknowledged being "really conscious that I was working with a team that knew him and loved him well." He praised their "extraordinary fortitude and professionalism" for continuing to produce the program despite their grief.

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I was really conscious that I was working with a team that knew him and loved him well, some of them for decades.

When questioned about RTÉ's handling of Rocks's employment status and the subsequent financial difficulties faced by his family, O'Shea stated, "It’s not something I want to get into." He also opted not to discuss the 2023 RTÉ payments scandal, indicating he has "very strong feelings" but prefers not to share them publicly.

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It’s not something I want to get into.