‘I’ve given up stressing if someone else lands a gig’ – Bláthnaid
DESPITE having worked in the entertainment industry for many years, presenter Bláthnaid Treacy knows just how competitive the business is and how difficult it can be to land a job.
Working freelance, Bláthnaid has had a busy year to date, including stepping from her role as a reporter into the hot seat on RTÉ’s Today Show, to co-present with Dáithí Ó Sé while Sinéad Kennedy was on maternity leave.
However, the position was to be short-lived, as it was decided that the spot would be filled by several presenters on a rotating basis, including Radio Kerry’s Elaine Kinsella, Una Healy and Rachel Allen.
In a recent interview with the RTÉ Guide, Bláthnaid admitted she used to get quite stressed about getting jobs when she was younger but that’s not something she does now.
‘It is competitive and you definitely need to know what’s coming down the line, but you can’t get wrapped up in that,’ she said.
‘There’s no point stressing that someone else got a gig. I’ve seen presenters do that before, getting themselves in a tizzy. But there’s just no point, it’s just the way it is.’
She admitted she would like her own live flagship show. ‘I’ve a huge amount of experience behind me, but I feel like it would be nice to progress and move forward now into the main presenter roles instead of behind the scenes,’ she said.
Bláthnaid admitted that instead of stressing about work, she just tries to concentrate on being happy in the moment, not needing a plan B.
While it was widely expected that Bláthnaid would be asked to step up on a more long-term basis to cover Sinéad’s maternity leave.
It was reported in the Irish Mail on Sunday that it was believed the show’s viewers preferred non-Dublin hosts.
But instead of giving the Wicklow woman the regular spot, producers are playing musical chairs with the female co-hosts joining Dáithí.
There have been many positives for the presenter this year. She celebrated her second wedding anniversary with her husband Charlie, bought a house and adopted a puppy called Mabel.
However, Bláthnaid worked hard to get to where she is, having starred on Glenroe for 13 years and then presenting straight after college.
She has appeared on TG4’s Ó Tholg go Tolg and RTÉ2’s Two Tube, as well as the Dancing With The Stars spin-off, Can’t Stop Dancing.
‘No point getting in a tizzy’