In my life

Broadcaster/journalist Brendan O'Connor

Where did you go to school? Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh, Bishopstown Cork.

What was your best subject? English.

Who was your favourite teacher and why? Hard to say. I was very lucky in that we had lots of fairly inspirational characters. Ger O'Kelly and Denis Kennedy, who taught me English, and Tony O'Doherty, who used to do plays with us. And Niall O'Donoghue who taught us business tried to tell us about the real world.

Who was your childhood idol? David Bowie probably.

Who was your best friend and why? Hard to say. Different guys at different times, and other guys who I don't see any more but would have been close to at the time. My eldest brother Brian, now deceased, was a huge presence in my life as a kid and taught me lots about life and music and books.

What TV show/film most reminds you of your schooldays? Going right back I used to love watching Sesame Street with bread and butter on winter days with the curtains closed after coming home. From latter years, I mainly remember watching music programmes and Mum and Dad saying: "Is that coming up in the exam?"

What song most reminds you of your schooldays?  There are so many from The Boomtown Rats to The Smiths and The Blades and New Order. Scary Monsters by David Bowie coming out was one watershed. I could go on and on . . .

What food most reminds you of your schooldays? Fish finger sandwiches at lunchtime - we walked home for lunch.

Who did you take to your debs? A girl called Madeleine who was my girlfriend at the time.

Would you send your children to the same school you went to? No.

What was the best thing about your education? The extracurricular activities.

What was the worst thing about your education? I don't think I fitted the GAA/Irish language ethos that was slightly prevalent in the school too well.

And by virtue of needing to keep control and get us through our exams, the teachers found they had to give out to me and stuff when I think I was really only a kid trying to be myself. But then school does that to everyone. I don't know if there's a better way.