Síomha Ní Ruairc has opened up about her decision to leave Ireland AM earlier this year.
She admitted that she realised “something’s got to give” when she was working seven days a week, especially as she was pregnant.
She was working on Ireland AM along with her other jobs that included her hugely successful podcast, How To Gael, TG4 and Conradh na Gaeilge.
Speaking to Miriam O’Callaghan on her RTÉ Radio 1 show, she explained: “I worked on Ireland AM for two years, and I was part of the weekend team, so I was presenting every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.”
She went on to say: “But I have other work going on, I work with Irish language organisation Conradh na Gaeilge, I have my other podcast, How to Gael.
“I was working seven days a week, and it was very unsustainable for, well, for anyone, but also for a pregnant woman who should be putting her feet up the odd time. I had no days off. I had no real time with my husband, and I said something’s got to give.”
She admitted that it was her maternity leave that made her pause and think about what she was going to do.
“Unfortunately, I had to look at everything I was doing and see what was the most practical thing to give up, and as a self-employed, independent contractor, my TV work isn’t covered by maternity leave, whereas my other work like with Conradh na Gaeilge is.”
She admitted that it was a “very difficult decision” to leave Ireland AM, but it was the right choice for her.
“I made the very difficult decision to step away from Ireland AM to prioritise the work that did give me maternity leave, and this is finding no fault with Ireland AM or Virgin Media whatsoever. Unfortunately, that’s just the sector of being an independent contractor and being self-employed.
“I don’t know if I will come to regret that for my own career in years to come? But for me right now, it was definitely the right decision.”
While Síomha may have left Ireland AM, that doesn’t mean she’s sitting on her laurels. She launched her new podcast, Labour of Love, where she speaks to experts about pregnancy and birth.
