Seán Rocks, presenter of RTÉ radio's culture show Arena, dies aged 63

Irish Times

4 days ago

Seán Rocks
, the presenter of Arena,
RTÉ radio's
main arts and culture programme, has died following a brief illness at the age of 63.
Rocks had presented Arena since it was launched in 2009. The show aired Monday to Friday from 7pm to 8pm.
He is survived by his partner Catherine, his sons Morgan and Christian and a large circle of family and friends.
RTÉ director general Kevin Bakhurst said
'it is with enormous shock and sadness' that the broadcaster learned of his 'untimely passing'.
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''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, Mr Bakhurst said.
'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.'
The broadcaster's director of audio Patricia Monahan, RTÉ's Director of Audio, said: 'He was interested in everyone's point of view and had a great ability to command an audience's attention. He was never more at home than when he was on stage.'
He previously presented Seán Rocks on Sunday on Lyric FM.
Rocks, who grew up in Monaghan town, was a teacher and a celebrated actor before moving into broadcasting.
Throughout his tenure on Arena, Rocks interviewed many artists, musicians, actors and writers including Edna O'Brien, Danny De Vito, Saoirse Rónan, John Banville, Brendan Gleeson, Emma Thompson and Salman Rushdie.
Rocks also made regular appearances at national and international arts festivals.
He had worked with RTÉ radio since 2000, presenting several daytime programmes on Lyric FM including The Lyric Breakfast and Lunchtime Choice. 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 Soul of Ireland documentary for BBC Radio 4.
Rocks worked extensively as an actor both at home and abroad, appearing at the Abbey, Peacock and Gate theatres in Dublin, as well as at the Royal Court, National, Donmar Warehouse and Tricycle theatres in London.
His screen credits include The Bill, Glenroe and Fair City.
Rocks was the MC at the State banquet in Dublin Castle for the 2011 visit of Queen Elizabeth to Ireland.
In a 2014
interview with the Irish Examiner
, Rocks said he 'didn't set out to be an actor'.
'I worked as a teacher for seven years. I liked teaching younger kids but it remains the most difficult job I've ever done. When you're on, you're on – it's like acting and live radio. The skill sets are similar too – the most important trait in all those jobs is to be able to listen,' he said.
'I didn't set out to be an actor. When I was at college I got involved in am dram doing concerts and plays, which meant acting at night, and my voice was getting really tired, yet it was vital for my work as a teacher.'
In the same interview, he said he 'always loved telling stories, even as a kid'. 'That's what acting and presenting is: telling stories.'