Maura Derrane told how working less has made her a better mum, revealing she still feels 25 at 50.
Opening up on rearing her seven-year old son Cal, she said: “I believe that women are more naturally childminders than men.
“There is that connection from birth.
“Women can also feel a lot more guilt about their children when they are working.
“I don’t think you should feel that guilt going to work as a mum, but it can be there for many women.
“I believe that when you’re working you should give it everything, just as when you’re at home you should also do the same.
“But I only appreciated what my mother did for me, when I became a mother myself, before that you really don’t get it.”
Cal is in second class and the doting mum, who now presents RTE's Today Show three days a week, said she loves being able to meet him at the school gates.
She said: “I love the fact that now I collect him from school a few days a week.
“We can go and get an ice cream together or whatever. That’s a big deal. And I know that Cal appreciates me being there in the afternoon.”
Feeling more energised by the shorter week, she added: “With my three shows a week, I’m now really excited about going to work.”
Over the past 10 years, the guest who stands out the most for Maura is Ruby Wax.
She explained: “I was always a fan of her TV shows. She was an in- your- face interviewer, but more importantly a trailblazer for women in TV.
“So I was thrilled to meet her.
“And Sam Neill, as I was such a huge fan of Jurassic Park."
As for gaffes on air, speaking to the RTE Guide, she said: “There have been loads, but that’s the fun of live TV.
“There would be days when we would go to a feed and there would be no one there and you’d have to fill that space."
Without naming names, she added: “Then there were the guests that didn’t work out, ‘the too cool for school people’."
Age is just a number to the brunette beauty, who is one of Ireland’s most glamorous stars.
She said: “I don’t believe that people should be defined by their age.
“All you can do is look as well as you can, and anyway I’ve always felt 25, but people will always comment on women in media, whereas men don’t get the same attention.
“I don’t think that will change.”
Maura is full of adoration for her co-host Daithi, who also comes from a Gaeltacht area.
She said: “We are very different but come from similar backgrounds.
“In a way we are both messers and he could say anything to me and I wouldn’t be offended.”
