RTÉ radio presenter and actor Seán Rocks has died following a brief illness. He was 64.
Rocks is best known to Irish audiences as the host of the broadcaster’s long-running Radio 1 arts and culture show, Arena, which has aired on weeknights since 2009.
On Arena, he interviewed countless high-profile actors, playwrights, authors, musicians, and artists, including Salman Rushdie, Edna O’Brien, Frank McGuinness, Roddy Doyle, Rupert Everett, Martin Sheen, Nicola Coughlan, and Brendan Gleeson.
He had hosted the programme as recently as last Friday. Prior to Arena, Rocks worked as a presenter with RTÉ Lyric FM for nine years.
Outside of radio, Rocks worked extensively as an actor both in Ireland and abroad, appearing on stage at the Abbey, Peacock, and Gate Theatres, as well as the Royal Court, National, Donmar Warehouse, and Tricycle theatres in London. His stage work included collaborations with several notable companies, including Rough Magic, Druid, and Field Day.
President Higgins led the tributes to Rocks.
He said that Ireland had “lost one its finest broadcasters and advocates for the arts and artists,”
He said: “Working with Seán has been described as a joy by all who knew him. He was a warm and engaging person, loved by all who had the opportunity to meet him or to listen to his programme.
“Just last month, we had the benefit in the Áras on Bloomsday this year of Seán’s brilliant critical and presentational skills and of welcoming his family. His trademark warmth and knowledge of the performers and their work lifted the occasion as it always did, communicating an instinctive respect for performance.”
He added: “Seán himself of course was an actor of considerable talent, performing in notable roles in theatre, including the Abbey and the Royal Court in London, television and film across Ireland and the UK. Like Sabina, he was part of the history of the Focus Theatre.
“May I express, on behalf of Sabina and myself, our deepest condolences to Catherine, to Morgan and Christian his sons, and to all of his many friends, colleagues and devoted listeners across the country.”
“It is with enormous shock and sadness that we learned today of Seán’s untimely passing,” RTÉ director-general Kevin Bakhurst said on Thursday morning.
“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.”
Mr Bakhurst said the “listener at home” was always Seán Rocks’ focus.
“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. I want to extend my most sincere sympathies to Seán’s beloved Catherine, his children Christian and Morgan, his friends, and his colleagues at this terrible time.”
Irish Examiner Arts/Culture Editor Des O’Driscoll described Seán Rocks as a “brilliant broadcaster”.
“He always sounded so knowledgeable in those interviews on Arena, and had a lovely warm manner that got the best out of his guests,” he said.
RTÉ’s Director of Audio Patricia Monahan said her colleague’s “passion for radio and the arts was infectious,” and that his curiosity across cinema, theatre, books, and classical music “was compelling to listen to.”
“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,” she said.
Ms Monahan added that Seán Rocks was always “full of energy and ambition for the future” and called his death “a huge, untimely loss to radio and RTÉ.”
“He will be sorely missed by his RTÉ Radio 1 colleagues and his wider RTÉ family. Our thoughts are of course with his beloved, Catherine, children Christian and Morgan and his extended family and friends,” she added.
“As you take your final bow Seán, May you rest in peace.”