Seán Rocks, host of RTÉ Radio's long-running arts program “Arena,” passed away last week at age 64. Seán was a wonderful broadcaster - skilled, cultured, courteous, curious and kind. His unpretentious, infectious enthusiasm for the arts and his easy, warm manner made the program compelling. How well liked he was became clear as the tributes flooded in after news of his death.
My own experience gives an example of why he is so fondly remembered. Seán interviewed me on “Arena” way back in 2011 for my first novel “The Brothers' Lot.” I don't profess to understand the technology of it all but basically we spoke over some kind of super high-fidelity telephone line. I sat is a small soundproof cubicle in WNYC's offices in Manhattan wearing bulky headphones and staring at a big high-tech microphone surrounded at close quarters by that sort of ubiquitous gray polyester office partitioning. It was, to put it mildly, a weird unnatural set-up for someone unused to radio. Seán came on the line and we chatted for a few minutes. I could not disguise my nervousness. We chatted a while more. There was no sense that he was in a hurry to get to the interview. He was kind, patient and welcoming and went out of his way to make sure I was at my ease. By the time we started the interview proper I had forgotten my strange surroundings and we were just having a lovely chat about my mad novel. I was flattered and honored that he had chosen to feature it on his show.
Seán was a wonderful advocate for the arts and a thoroughly decent bloke. I join with the countless others saddened by his passing who have already conveyed their condolences to his colleagues, friends and family.
Kevin Holohan lives with his wife and son in Brooklyn. His most recent novel is “So You Wanna Run a Country?”
