Changing Seasons
Broadcaster and weather woman Nuala Carey chats to Rachel Spillane about her busy summer, adjusting to life after Covid and looking forward to autumn.
“It was a new adventure for me,” Nuala Carey enthuses, talking about The Summer Show, a four-part series on RTÉ which aired in July. “It was about the outdoors, nature and biodiversity. Anyone who knows me, knows I love walking and I’ve always loved the fresh air. So I was delighted when I got it because it was the perfect match.”
Nuala was joined also by co-presenter Derek Mooney as they embarked on a unique road trip around the country retracing the footsteps of pilgrims, and showcasing Ireland’s natural beauty and heritage. Celebrities, poets and historians joined the presenting duo on the show with the aim of inspiring audiences to take a trip off the beaten track and reconnect with nature. Something we should all embrace when looking ahead to the change in season. “It’s finished up now but you can still watch The Summer Show on the RTÉ Player,” says Nuala reveals, before adding jokingly, “shameless plug!”
While Nuala is no stranger to being on-screen, presenting the weather, Telly Bingo and Lotto draws on RTÉ, having a co-host stand alongside her was both new and refreshing. “When I’m presenting the weather or the lotto, I’m on screen a lot on my own. But actually, I love having someone with me.”
“I had known Derek before,” Nuala explains. “I used to contribute to his radio show years ago and I really like him.”
The pair seem to get along famously. Nuala describes Derek as “lovely, chatty and bright” and their on-screen chemistry and banter are really engaging to audiences. “He’s also very funny. We got on great.”
Nuala was sorry to see the filming of The Summer Show come to an end but claims to be really thankful for the experience. “It was a small team, and we would all eat breakfast together in the hotel. There was great camaraderie.”
“When it was all over, I missed it,” she admits. “I got to see beautiful parts of Ireland as well. I hadn’t been to Dingle in years and it has always been on my mind to go back.”
There are no talks of a second season of The Summer Show just yet but if there were, Nuala would be front and centre, raring to go. “I would be the first one out in my walking boots,” she laughs. “I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I know the audience enjoyed it as well. I would be absolutely delighted if we could give it another go.”
Nuala, who previously worked on AA Roadwatch presenting traffic reports on the radio and also presented and produced a number of shows on Dublin City FM, joined RTÉ in March 1999. “This is where I’ve kind of grown up,” she says jokingly. “I really like the people who work here, which is always a huge thing in a job.”
Another thing Nuala loves about working for RTÉ is the varied work, there’s something new each day to keep her on her toes. “It’s the Weather today, Telly Bingo tomorrow. It’ll be the lotto in September every Wednesday and Saturday evening. And I was just down the country for a few days at a time with The Summer Show,” she summarises. “It keeps you sharp.”
Life after Covid
For many of us, the Covid pandemic feels like a lifetime ago but in reality, it’s been a mere few months since restrictions were lifted completely. But how is Nuala adjusting to life after Covid?
“I worked all through Covid and actually worked in RTÉ, so it wasn’t as stark of a contrast for me as it may have been for other people. You know, those who would have gone to work five days a week on public transport or battling traffic and then were suddenly at home.” Nuala explains. “That’s a huge adjustment.”
The biggest adjustment Nuala’s had to face is getting used to “normal things” again and getting back out there - not an easy feat when we became so used to limited social contact, primarily through laptops and phones. “I was at a wedding recently - the first wedding I’ve been at since before Covid - and I appreciated it more than ever. It was just so lovely to be back seeing people I hadn’t seen in a while.”
“Even when I was watching the news over summer, I saw the Dublin Horse Show and The Rose of Tralee were back, as well as The Ploughing Championships this month.” Nuala shares.
“I suppose it sends a signal to our brains that, while Covid hasn’t completely gone away, we’re getting used to living in this world. I really like seeing [it all] come back.”
MOTYA
Of all the hats Nuala wears, the judge’s hat is our favourite. That’s right, Nuala Carey is the longest reigning judge for the Woman’s Way and Beko Mum of the Year Awards. “I’ve been told that!” She says, delighted, before adding: “It’s ironic because when I was first approached, I actually said ‘are you sure? I don’t have any children’ and they said ‘no, but you have a mother’.”
A common theme the awards celebrate is how the true heroes of our society are the mums who hold family and community together, who care for their loved ones, old and young. And it’s because of this that Nuala takes her title so seriously. “I’ve always loved being a judge and it’s extremely hard because each woman is exceptional in her own right. It’s like splitting hairs.”
“All of the judges who have been involved over the years, myself included, take it very seriously.” Nuala stresses. “While one woman might win the main accolade
[Overall Mum of the Year], they are all brilliant.”
One of the things Nuala loves most about the awards is finally getting to meet all of the mums she hears so much about on the judging panel, which for the last couple of years has been held over Zoom because of Covid. “I remember sitting beside a winner one year, but she didn’t know she had won, and my mum was on the other side of me saying ‘she’s so lovely. I hope she wins something’ but I couldn’t say a word!”
“Some of the women haven’t had an easy life and I admire how they’ve been able to pick themselves up and support their families while looking after themselves too.”
The Awards luncheon is not only an exciting day out for Nuala but for her mum, Ann, who equally enjoys it. “Mum really enjoys the day. I wouldn’t dream of not bringing her with me. And if we had any other plans, we’d end up cancelling them because we enjoy the day so much.”
“There is something very special about the day. While all of the women have never met each other before, you see it in the room on the day that they get on really well. I see them exchanging stories and phone numbers by the end of it. It’s a lovely event in so many ways.”
Changing seasons
Not everyone likes to say goodbye to summer, but Nuala says heading into autumn doesn’t bother her. “I try and look at the positives with every change in season,” she explains. “I really love the month of September. And the weather can be fairly good. In fact, I find I sleep better in September because the temperatures start to drop.”
Ireland is beautiful all year round, as Nuala says “there’s something lovely about each season”, but September holds something special with sunshine peaking through the dreariness of autumn and parks littered with gold, red and green leaves crunching underneath our feet. “I love seeing the change in parks and the colour of the leaves,” she enthuses. “The only time of year I’m not mad on is when the clocks go back at the end of October and the dark evenings. I still try and embrace the cosiness of winter because then you have Christmas to look forward to.”
Weather on the back-burner, there’s one event in September that Nuala is really looking forward to, and that is the Ploughing Championships in Carlow. “It’s the return of the Ploughing Championships as we know it,” she says excitedly.
“For the last two years, some competitions took place but it wasn’t open to the public. I’m really looking forward to it because we’re going back to the way it’s always been.”
The social aspect of the Ploughing Championships is not something Nuala will take for granted this year either. “There were people that I met every year, and I would even know what county they’re from, and they would come over and we would have a chat. So I’m looking forward to meeting those people again, who I haven’t met in two years.”
For the month of September, Nuala also presents the lotto every Wednesday and Saturday night. “I’m also involved in judging the National Lottery Good Causes Awards,” she adds. The awards celebrate and honour the inspirational work carried out by volunteers, coaches, caregivers and other individuals across Ireland, and the organisations they represent.
What begins to sound like a season of all work and no play is quickly amended when Nuala tells Woman’s Way she’s heading off on her holidays in October. “I haven’t left the country since August 2019,” she laughs. “I’ve nothing booked but I want to go to the sun. A week or 10 days off to put my feet up and read magazines by the pool.” Sounds like bliss.