Author/historian Diarmaid Ferritertells it as it was

Where did you go to school?

Holy Cross, Dundrum for primary and St Benildus College, Kilmacud, for secondary.

Were you cool or were you one of the nerdy kids?

While I was at primary school I joined the Palestrina Choir, which was another, and very enjoyable form of school, with the wonderful Ita O'Donavan in charge. As far as us choristers were concerned we were particularly cool.

I was often a stubborn, sulky brat in primary school and evolved into a quiet but occasionally defiant secondary school student. I got into trouble for my hair being too spiky/short/ridiculous and refused to wear a tie, with the continual support of my mother, who encouraged a degree of dissent while pretending not to. I began to study the flute and was a founder member of the school orchestra. Is that nerdy or cool?

Give us an extract of a school report.

My parents have kept them all, so unfortunately I have to quote from an archive that tells no lies. Here's one from January 1983, when I was in 5th class, signed by my teacher, Denis Horgan. "Diarmaid seems to resent correction. If he is corrected he clamps up and refuses to answer. He sulks if he does not get his own way."

Here's a more succinct one from June 1986, when I was in third year at secondary school: "Mathematics: 32%. May require extra work."

Who was your favourite teacher in primary school? Why?

The aforementioned Denis Horgan, who wouldn't put up with my disruption and taught me to be more respectful. He was tough and fair and had a great sense of humour. He took the class fishing in Enniskerry, sang pop songs and read us the Lord of the Rings for the last 20 minutes of the school day if we behaved.

How about secondary school? Anyone who you liked/ inspired you?

Felix Soden taught me history to Inter Cert; he was engaging, passionate and original. Maurice MacMahon taught me Irish and told interesting stories about his father, the writer Bryan MacMahon. Denis Morgan's enjoyable music classes were a welcome break from maths.

Did you have a nickname?

Ferry and Derm the Sperm. Shocking, I know.

What was the first music album you bought?

U2's Unforgettable Fire. I didn't see the need to buy many albums; my father had a great collection of music, most of which I loved, and better still were my father's renditions at home of traditional Irish songs.

What's on your iPod now?

Bob Dylan at Budokan, loads of The Beatles, Coldplay, Christy Moore and, because I share it with my wife, Amy Winehouse.

Who was your first crush?

Sheila Maher, in the summer of 1986 - sister of my best friend Kevin and now my wife.

Who would play you in a movie of your younger days?

A young Sean Penn.

What did you study in college?

I studied history as a single subject for my BA degree at UCD and went on to do a PhD in history there.

Regrets? Have you had a few?

I don't bother with regrets; they waste too much energy.

Diarmaid Ferriter's new book, Judging Dev, has just been published by RTÉ and the RIA. His series on the legacy of Eamon de Valera begins on RTÉ Radio One on October 28th