Radio presenter and actor Seán Rocks has passed away at the age of 63.
RTÉ confirmed that he had sadly died after a short illness.
Seán presented RTÉ Radio 1’s nightly arts and culture magazine, Arena, since its inception in 2009, and recently presented a Sunday afternoon programme back on RTÉ Lyric FM, where his radio career began in 2000.
Seán was praised for his conversations with authors such as Salman Rushdie, Edna O’Brien, and Roddy Doyle, and actors like Rupert Everett, Martin Sheen and Brendan Gleeson.
He also guest-presented, produced, and wrote several series for the national broadcaster. He won a Silver Medal at the New York Festival of Radio for the documentary Soul of Ireland for BBC Radio 4.
The presenter and actor worked extensively as an actor both at home and abroad, appearing at the Abbey, Peacock, and Gate Theatres and with many important independent companies including Rough Magic, Druid and Field Day, and at the Royal Court, National, Donmar Warehouse and Tricycle theatres in London.
His television and film roles included The Bill, Glenroe, Fair City, Dear Sarah and Go Now.
Seán is survived by his beloved Catherine and sons Christian and Morgan.
Kevin Bakhurst, RTÉ Director-General, said: “It is with enormous shock and sadness that we learned today of Seán’s untimely passing. Seán said once: ‘Radio is never about the presenter. It’s about the person who is opposite you.’
“Loyal listeners, especially to Seán’s beloved and long-running Arena on RTÉ Radio 1, will recognise the man in that quote: modest yet learned; subtle yet probing; curious yet polite.
“The listener at home was always his focus. Not only is radio the poorer for his passing, but so too has Ireland lost one of its most passionate advocates for the arts, and one of its most informed and versatile voices. I want to extend my most sincere sympathies to Seán’s beloved Catherine, his children Christian and Morgan, his friends, and his colleagues at this terrible time.”
Rest in peace, Seán.