After years on our screens, it’s hard not to imagine Dáithí Ó Sé lightening up our days, but he almost took a very different career path.
The Kerryman, who turned 50 at the start of June, has had a very fun and fulfilling life so far, and for him, the best is yet to come.
Looking back on his life as he settles into a new decade and relaxes into the Today show’s summer break, Dáithí remembers how things could have gone a completely different way.
Looking back, Dáithí recalled: ‘When I finished college, I never wanted to be in school, and for some odd reason, I decided I wanted to become a teacher.
‘When I was in college, I was finding my own way. When it came to studying, I remember in my final year I was doing well, actually in my own head, and I went to my teacher for advice.’
And that conversation completely changed his path. Looking to do an MA in History, with the hopes of a career in teaching, he was told, ‘Don’t do it.’
Dáithí said the teacher told him ‘you don’t have the patience to sit down,’ and for the young Dáithí, that was that.
‘The one thing I should have done was an MA in History, and it was the one thing I always wanted to do,’ he added.
Although he didn’t end up becoming a teacher or doing the MA, Dáithí did go back to education in more recent years.
He said: ‘Two years ago, I went back to college. It was a nine-month course at Kingston College in Dublin, in mentoring and coaching.’
When asked if he had the patience to sit down and keep still on this course, he laughed, telling EVOKE proudly that he did.
‘There was a 10,000-word thesis that I sat down and finished as well,’ he added. ‘I had the patience to do it, it was a great sense of achievement.’
Hitting the big 5-0 can often bring thoughts of retirement to mind, but for this presenter, he has no plans to step away from the studio anytime soon.
Without hesitation, Dáithí said he could see himself presenting for another 20 years and would be happy to stay with the Today Show.
‘I work with the best show on TV in Irish television,’ he said.
As for what his answer could be if the Late Late Show came knocking, he said: ‘Sure, no one would leave the Today show for the Late Late Show? The Today Show is a way better show. ‘
