Sharon Photo by John Cooney

Sharon Hosts New Irish Language Programme
By John Byrne, RTÉ Guide

The welcoming committee at Sharon Ní Bheoláin's home is hard to beat. As the front door opens, her dogs Suzy, Honey and Frank (two Labradors, Frank's a springer) form a formidable front line of tail-wagging, hand-licking hounds, while Sharon's 15-month-old daughter, Faye, takes up the rear with a smile that could turn stone into sponge cake. This is no haven for the shy or wary.

As we settle in the kitchen for coffee and belly-rubs (javas for the hacks, the rubs for the hounds), Sharon laughs when I ask about spare time, given that she's only got one child, a husband, three dogs and a television career to fill her days. "I've no time! I've zero time for myself, every day is just frenetic, but you just get by."

Herself and hubby Kevin are well settled in their current Clontarf, north Dublin home, yet I enviously note that it looks like it was decorated yesterday. Given they've three frisky dogs and an inquisitive young daughter, that's some going.

"The house was bought by a builder friend of my husband," Sharon explains. "He renovated it and we moved in four years ago. I love it here: we're close to the sea, close to town, close to work. Location-wise, it's excellent." Laughing, she adds: "I sound like an estate agent."

As well as being here for an exclusive, home-with-baby photo shoot, there's also the matter of Sharon's latest TV project, a 20-part, Irish language programme that's about as multi-media as you can get.

On that level, it's a first for RTÉ, but it's also a career curveball for Sharon, who we all know as the anchor of RTÉ News on Two. Is this marking a new career path for her? Read on to find out.

Hi Sharon. How is life with baby?
Pretty close to damn perfect and, at the risk of sounding smug, I've never been happier. A colleague described the first year with baby as "a bit like your first crush". You know, it sounds so corny, but it's not a bad comparison. She's the light of my life and can do no wrong. I've become a complete wimp! My husband berates me for not having more discipline but ' hey ' if she wants out of her cot at 4am to watch Tellytubbies, I just can't argue with her!

Has motherhood changed your outlook on life?
Undoubtedly. Your whole focus shifts to this one little person. To be honest, I'm ashamed to say I've become that creature I looked upon with a mixture of pity and contempt just a few years ago. I can talk for Ireland on why breast is best, homeopathic teething remedies and nappy rash. I'm such a bore! (Laughs.) I'm enjoying every minute of it, though I just wonder will I ever get a life back?

How did you get involved in Turas Teanga?
I was approached by Eileen Seoige of Abu Media last May and asked if I might be interested. I wasn't - and that was that. When they got the commission, Eileen, her sister Brid, the Executive Producer, and Christy King, another of the producers, came to my home. I guess I was love-bombed into it!

It involved massive upheaval and we had to hire a fulltime, live-in nanny. The whole family - dogs and all - moved to Galway for six weeks. For the shorter trips to Donegal and Kerry and that I travelled alone. Looking back, I must have been mad, but it was a great experience. One I'll never forget.

It's a bit of a change from your regular news job, so how did you feel about doing something different?
Nervous. I'm a curious mixture . . . Although I work in front of a TV camera, I'm coy about giving anything of myself away. The idea of being the main cog in a 20-part series freaked the hell out of me! I like the autonomy of news, directing a package as I see fit, having control over the finished product. That doesn't apply in programmes when you're completely at the mercy of your producer/ director.

Can you tell our readers a bit about Turas Teanga, and your attitude towards the Irish language?
For would-be Gaelgeoirí there is no escaping this series. It's on RTÉ ONE and TG4; it's available on DVD, there'll be a radio series, a book (published by Gill & MacMillan) and it'll be on the Internet. I'm tremendously proud of this project.

I think it will appeal to Irish speakers at a range of levels - from those with just the cúpla focal to the more dedicated - who, together with the book (written and compiled by the highly respected Irish language consultant Eamon Ó Donaill) can really expect to put a snas agus críoch ar a gcuid Gaeilge.

My attitude towards the language has softened in recent years. As a teacher I was a demon for the tuiseal ginideach and God help any of my students who mixed up the aimsir láithreach with the gnáth láithreach. I now realise that's been the problem all along. I think it's easier to learn a language than it is to teach. I think now I'd recommend learning 'the mechanics' of a language - complicated sentence structure, tedious grammar - as you go along, and not to get too bogged down in the particular. Just try and enjoy the language and don't let anything knock your confidence.

Can you see yourself ever moving away completely from news?
No. Never. I have the best job in the world! I work with a team I respect and admire. I've wonderfully supportive bosses. I've gained so much experience, not just presenting news but reporting, scripting, and packaging as well. No two days are ever the same. You live in the moment knowing that at any time something can happen - like September 11 - something that will change the course of history, and your job is to bring that news to the public. It's fascinating, it's challenging and a great honour! Fionnuala Sweeney went to CNN, Grainne Seoige to Sky - could you ever see yourself going abroad and doing something similar?
You know I have a huge loyalty to RTÉ who have been extraordinarily good to me over the years. I can honestly say I've never even considered applying for a job elsewhere. And although I've received offers, they've never matched up to what I have with RTÉ in terms of providing a range of work experience and work-hour flexibility. That's not to say I'm not ambitious. I definitely don't want to be on News on Two forever!

How do you deal with juggling motherhood and a career?
A childminder who's worth her weight in gold, a supportive hubby and a great boss.

Is your husband an Irish speaker?
God love him, he tries, but no. I regret to say he's not. Then again, neither are my family or friends. I intend getting a copy of the Turas Teanga DVD and book for them all!

Will baby be going to an all-Irish school, or have you even considered the matter?
Oh God, please don't talk about schooling! I haven't even thought about it. I do speak to her in Irish and would like to think she will be bi-lingual, but I won't force anything on her. It'll be her own choice.