One of the leading voices in the Irish political and current affairs scene, Ciara Doherty had been working consistently in the broadcasting world for over 22 years across everything from early morning breakfast shows such as Ireland AM to late night news analysis panels, like The Tonight Show.
The 43-year-old decided, after much deliberation and number crunching with her husband Richard Stern, to tap the breaks and step away from that world for just over six months. “I didn’t know how much I needed it until I stopped. It was go, go, go for the longest time, and then… nothing,” she said.
“Now don’t get me wrong, I mean that purely on a professional basis. I was a stay-at-home mom for those months, and that’s a job in itself. But it’s different, and I loved every single second of it. I was there when the kids woke up, brought them to school, I was at the gates to collect them afterwards, and then we had dinner together before bedtime. It was mundane and ordinary and after not getting to experience that for so long, it felt absolutely magical.”
It was her children, Renee (6) and Edie (4), who were the driving forces behind her decision to change things up on a professional front.
“My eldest, said ‘Mummy, I understand you have to work, but is there any chance you can get a day job like daddy?’ And oh, as a mother, I felt guilty! I’m one of those mothers who carries guilt all the time, especially when it comes to the children; are you there enough, are you doing enough, have I been too distracted? That comment absolutely hit home with me.”
It was then, that Ciara decided when she was going back to work, it’d be on new terms, ones which meant she was available for the kids when they needed her most. So, when Newstalk approached Ciara with the opportunity to present their new daily podcast, she leapt at the chance. Here, the Donegal native, tells us more…
You’re back! How does it feel returning to the broadcasting world after a few months away?
It feels great! It’s exciting, challenging and I’m really enjoying it. I have never launched a new programme or podcast before so this has been really interesting and fun to be part of, to shape the sound and the tone of Newstalk Daily. It’s a real honour to get to launch something in your own name. I’m enjoying the variation of the topics, too! I worked with news, current affairs and politics for so long, and I’m fascinated by it still, but outside of that, I enjoy a story, any story. I’m nosey by nature, I’m so inquisitive so getting to look at stories from courts, entertainment and sports, has been interesting.
Did you enjoy the break though?
Yes!
Do you feel refreshed now, ready to dive back in?
I really do, I feel like a new person I suppose. I started working in media on my 21st birthday in ITV and other than maternity leave and a break for my honeymoon, I had never taken a chunk of time off. I worked consistently for 22 years. I loved having some time out to focus on the things that are a priority to me; my kids, my husband, my home, my wider family and myself. It felt like a real break because it was a significant length of time. I always knew I’d return to work in some capacity so I gave myself permission, for the first time in a long time, to just stop.
That can be difficult to do when we’re all so used to being busy and switched on all the time…
We’re really fed this narrative that we need to be going 24/7 and we need to make every second count, we must be on this journey of self-improvement and career advancement. I bought into that, believed it and I enjoyed it, but to get the chance to step away from that cycle was quite special and something I really valued and now feel the benefit from. Doing normal, everyday things was great and I feel very refreshed.
You said it was special to step away, but was it daunting too, to step away from Virgin Media, a station you’d been with for 14 years?
No, surprisingly it wasn’t, and that’s the truth. I had worked in ITV, Newstalk, Virgin Media and I was confident that I’d find work again. I knew there’d always be work. I didn’t know what it would be, but knew there’d be something. I felt like it was the right move for me and knew the time off would be good for me and good for my family. That was the priority.
It was actually working in the TV world where you first met your husband, Richard Stern, right?
Yes, I met him back in TV3 (Virgin Media now). Loads of people meet their partner in work, as it’s where you spend the majority of your day. I had great experiences and opportunities there. Of course one of the most special parts and a great bonus was meeting Richard. We got married, had kids and we’re extremely happy together. It’ll always have a special place in my heart for that particular reason.
And your two adorable little girls, how are they?
Ah they’re great! Renee is six-and-a-half and Edie is four. They’re lovely ages and lovely girls!
Despite having such a public job, you’re a very private person, especially when it comes to your family, so we won’t pry, but did they love having you around for those few months?
Oh yes! Someone said to me before that the only thing children want is for you as a mother or father to bear witness to their lives, which sounds very profound, but as a parent it made complete sense. They just want you there in the morning feeding them brekkie, chatting to them about their day, if you can be there at the school gates it’s such a bonus and to have dinner together, hearing about what happened in the playground, it’s the simple things that mean the most to them. I realised I wasn’t around as much as I wanted to be and they didn’t particularly enjoy me beingmaway all evening and night. When I was going back to work, Renee, my eldest, said ‘Mummy, I understand you have to work, but is there any chance you can get a day job like daddy?’
Did that give you food for thought?
Oh, as a mother I felt guilty! I’m one of those mothers who carries guilt all the time, especially when it comes to the children; are you there enough, are you doing enough, have I been too distracted? That comment absolutely hit home with me. When Newstalk Daily came along and the opportunity was there to work in media, to create this podcast, but to be at home in the mornings and the evenings, I jumped at it! That’s the day job the kids dreamed of and they’re not easy to come by.
And the time goes by in a blink of an eye, especially when they’re that age!
The days are long but the years are short! We can’t believe that Renee is going into first class. In no time, she’ll be a teenager and won’t be interested in me at all. So many people have said to me, particularly my parents or Richard’s parents, that we’ll look back on these days and say yes they were the busiest but they were the best days of our lives. It’s not easy to stop and enjoy it when you’re in the middle of it, as any parent will know, but it was important to me to try spend more time with them. Being with them is what makes me truly happy and that’s where I feel my worth. I want to savour it as much as I can.
You must have appreciated having that time at home with the kids, simply just enjoying the every day.
A lot of people have asked me what did I do over those few months and it goes back to that idea where we’re told we have to fill our lives, all the time, to achieve something and have something to show for our time. Initially, I thought I’d train as a Pilates teacher or renovate the entire house, but the reality was that I enjoyed simple things like collecting them from school, going home to Donegal on a regular basis, spending time with mum and dad, it was the little mundane things and I think we crave and miss that. My dinners also improved!
Did you find it helped you look after your mental health too, being able to take a step back and take time for you?
Oh yeah! You’re still busy when you’re a stay-at-home mum but I was able to find snippets in the day for me. I was able to prioritise fitness. I was never someone who was into that, I’d have had to be dragged there! I was someone who only went to the gym when there was an occasion coming up and I wanted to fit into a dress. Whereas recently, I’ve been going for myself and for my mental health and it’s been a game-changer. I’ve formed new habits, it’s part of my life now and I wouldn’t be without it. The time out gave me the space to focus on myself and my own health. It’s not lost on me that it’s such a privileged position I was in, because I know most of us work because we have to and we don’t have a choice. Financially, it’s incredibly difficult for most working families out there and I consider myself genuinely very lucky that I got the chance to do that and that I was financially secure enough. But it’s not something I’ll be repeating!
Tell us, when you first took the break, after so many years ingrained in constant news cycles, did it take a while to put down the papers and ignore the bulletins, or will that always be a part of you?
It’ll always be part of me, and sometimes it felt like I was never away because I was still reading the papers, watching the news, listening to podcasts. I live and breathe news. I couldn’t help but read things and think, oh that would be a good interview, that’s a great guest etc. I’d never get away from that! But did I spend two days on the couch watching Rivals, guilt free? Yes, I did, and that was one of the highlights!
Throughout your years in the broadcasting world, you’d have delved into some of the toughest, most heartbreaking stories. Were you able to distance yourself from them, or did they ever take a toll on you?
I wouldn’t say they took their toll, but I’m not the type of person who can forget things easily and I am an emotional person by nature. I would be invested in people and their stories. I feel it’s important to allow yourself to emotionally respond when you’re in an interview. There are definitely ones which have stayed with me, guests who I still think of and guests who I Google ten or fifteen years later to see where they are in their lives. I care a lot.
Do you think it makes you better at your job being able to invest at such a personal level?
I don’t like to describe myself, but I do try to be an empathetic person and authentic as a broadcaster. I hope that comes through when I speak to people, because if I look and sound like I care, it’s because I genuinely do. Does it make me a better broadcaster? I’ll let others be the judge of that.
You have a bit more freedom now than previously in terms of content you can cover on the podcast. We joked earlier about how you were able to chat about Oasis – something totally unheard of in the past. Do you enjoy being able to branch out and explore different topics now?
Yes! It’s the part of the podcast I’m really enjoying. I think it was Brian Dobson who was asked what he missed most about doing news and he quoted an editor who said, ‘I miss knowing what’s going on.’ I completely related to that. When I had those few months off, that
was what I missed, knowing what’s going on behind the scenes. I love that information, it feeds me. I’ve always been interested in people and stories and knowing what’s going on. Should that be something to do with GAA, something that’s happening in the courts or something that’s happening in the world of entertainment, I’m interested in it all. And always have been! To me a good story is a good story, no matter what the genre is. I’ve really enjoyed having the opportunity to dive into those.
The podcast market is so saturated at the moment, how do you find it in terms of competition, making sure you stand out?
That’s tough! It’s deeply competitive. Most news organisations have moved into the podcast market or are planning to do so. But no more than in the radio or TV market, there’s always space for something new. I hope I can bring my own experience, my own personality and interests to the podcast and people enjoy that. With Newstalk Daily, I’m on it five days a week bringing news stories and I hope it grasps people’s interests.
Are you happy with this new chapter, new challenge, new routine?
Yes! It always takes a little while to find your feet but at 43 I know that now. I know with any new project or venture, it’s not perfect from the outset and it takes time to find your niche, your groove and a routine that works for everyone. I’m happy that this is something I can get my teeth into and grow with. It’s working for me, and it’s working for my family and my life so I’m really happy.
Do you think you’ll miss the buzz of live TV, could you be pulled back into that world in some capacity down the line?
I’d never say never, I’m not someone who enjoys drifting through life and I’ve probably shown that throughout my career, switching between news, current affairs, breakfast television, radio, podcasting and documentary. You never know where the road might take you or what the future holds. It’s important to keep moving forward and to future proof yourself in this industry, it’s important to try something new when you can. But it’s also important to give yourself permission to step back and take time for you, knowing that it’s ok. We’re often reluctant and scared to do that. But I did it, loved it and came back. I often hear young people talking about if they should take time to travel and take a year to experience new things and I’d always say yes! We’re all going to be working ‘till we’re 60, it’s ok to take a break if you can.
Taking that leap of faith can be scary sometimes.
My husband said to me when I was making the decision to leave Virgin, that sometimes you simply need to back yourself, and that I should back myself in that particular instance and I did. I’m grateful for that now.
Do you feel like a different person now?
Well look at it this way, it’s 12.30pm and once we finish this chat I’m heading to a Pilates class! [laughs] I recorded the podcast earlier, it’s a great episode which people will hopefully love. This is a lovely life. I’m very grateful, I can’t say that enough!
