Bryan Dobson talks to the Roscommon People about life after leaving the RTE hot seat, enjoying the pace of life on visits to Leitrim and Roscommon… and his joy at being a grandfather
by Audrey Healy
“I could have retired next October anyway but I thought if I stayed another summer that would have been one less summer to have to myself and I thought about staying for the election but then I’ve covered a lot of elections and there didn’t seem to be any reason to stay. To be honest, the pension is decent enough and the children are well and grown up and have their own homes and relationships and it seemed like a good idea at the time”.
He may have officially retired from RTE but he’s still quite busy! Veteran broadcaster and former Six One news anchor Bryan Dobson, who left the station earlier this year, took time out this week to speak to the Roscommon People about life after retirement and his ‘plans’ for 2025 – which are full of the unknown – just the way he likes it!
“I am currently filming a documentary about the lives of Irish missionary priests and nuns, to be produced by Scratch films, and I’ve already begun filming with the Columbian Fathers in Dalgan in Meath and I’ll be travelling to the Phillipines to interview Irish priest Fr Shay Cullen who campaigns against child sex trafficking, in the New Year. That will take me from the end of January into February,” he explains.
So how is he finding life post-RTE? “Very well, thank you very much,” replies the popular broadcast journalist who followed his many years at Six One with a move to radio and News At One.
“My main concern was how I would fill the days and in particular the dark hours in the long winter but thankfully that hasn’t happened and I have no regrets so far! I’ve also done quite a number of interviews – including The Meaning of Life with Joe Duffy – I found it quite personal but I prefer it that way. I’m not used to being interviewed!” he laughs.
“I also did a ‘retirement course’ and heard that you could lose 80% of your social contacts when you retire so I’m currently involved in a number of local committees and organisations and it’s very rewarding. I feel it’s important to give something back to the community – I have my health and I’m very happy – I have no interest in disappearing just yet.
“Thankfully I’ve had something to do every day and I drew up a list of people I wanted to meet – but I’ve barely gotten round to meeting them all yet! I really didn’t expect retirement to feel this empowering!”
As a regular visitor to County Leitrim, (Ballinaglera to be precise), how does life in rural Ireland compare to that in Dublin city? Raised in Sandymount, Bryan speaks with clear affection for rural life which he labels “a delightful contrast”.
“The pace is slower and I’ve taken up swimming and doing a lot more reading,” he says with a smile. “I’ve also been back and forth to Boyle, a lovely town, where I interviewed Dawn O’Porter as part of the Arts Festival and I have my season ticket to Lough Key (Forest Park)”.
As he’s been gone off our TV screens a while now viewers may not have noticed that there is less of Bryan to see – as he confides that after a chat with a consultant and dietician he has shed a phenomenal four stone! Admitting that he’d allowed the weight to creep on a little over the years, he embarked on a healthy eating plan and lost a lot of weight – to the point where he “looked a little gaunt”. Accordingly, he subsequently regained a little, leaving him fitter and with more energy to spend time with his wife Crea, daughters Sophie and Hannah and the apple of his eye, his toddler grandson Myles.
“Myles is a little over three now and there is another on the way,” he says with obvious pride. “And I think I look at life in a different way since he came along – or else I notice things about him that perhaps I didn’t notice about my own children growing up”.
Having interviewed Bryan a number of times over the past three decades I can say that this is the most relaxed and carefree I’ve ever seen him and it’s clear that the 64-year-old is very comfortable with his recent career move.
“People ask me now what was the highlight of your time (with RTE)… and certainly I’ve interviewed a few very important people such as former Taoisigh and many opposition leaders. Those were the people I had most dealings with over the years… but when I thought about it afterwards I realised I’d like to be remembered for just turning up five days a week and reading the news – that’s the impact on people’s lives I’d like to be noted for – (as) a news presenter”. (Although now he admits as someone in the news environment “I’m waiting to hear the news rather than ‘in the know’ as before… and I miss that”).
And of the recent General Election he wasn’t reporting on – but watching avidly – what are his views?
“Personally, whatever your politics is, it must be tough for the Sinn Féin leadership who had reasonable (polling) figures two years ago with hopes of getting into government, now facing another five years of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael”.
As for ‘The Monk’ Gerry Hutch and his near-success in the race for Leinster House? “There is obviously a lot of alienation in certain parts of the city and people were angry and they made their feelings known”.
And what of Lanesboro native and former RTE news colleague Ciaran Mullooly’s decision to enter politics – and his subsequent success in the political field? “Well, I wasn’t surprised he took that route,” says Bryan, “because I think since he left RTE he became very involved in community and rural issues and he ran a good campaign”.
So how about it? Dobbo for the Dáil? A catchy catchphrase perhaps? It’s a definitive no, it would appear.
“No, I think it’s a very tough life, with huge challenges and major sacrifices for your family and your friends. I’ve just retired from one job and I don’t want another one!” he laughs as he heads off to prepare for a family festive treat that might include indulgence in a mince pie or two – with lashings of cream.
After all, it is Christmas!
