‘At the moment I feel like I live on the Dublin Limerick road’
New Today FM DJ will struggle to convince her All-Ireland-winning fiancé to move to capital
RADIO presenter Louise Cantillon’s new role with Today FM has led to inter-county living – but her GAA All-Star fiancé Declan Hannon may take some convincing to trade Limerick for life in Dublin.
The fluent gaeilgeoir was recently announced as the newest voice on the national airwaves, stepping into Dec Pierce’s slot on the station.
As Louise, 29, settles into her new presenting gig, her sports star fiancé has his sights firmly fixed on trying to lift a fifth All-Ireland title as Limerick captain.
But she admitted the floodlights at Croke Park are the only bright lights in the capital that hold any interest to the Adare native.
Louise told the Irish Mail on Sunday: ‘My partner is in Limerick and he’s not looking too much to cross the border… yet. I have yet to convince him. But the GAA is keeping him in the county.’
The presenter spends hours commuting up and down the motorway as she settles into her new job.
‘At the moment I feel like I live on the road between Limerick and Dublin,’ she said. ‘I’m blessed to have pals in Whitehall so I’ve a lovely little single bed in a box room for a few days a week.’
Louse got engaged to her childhood sweetheart Declan after a 10year romance. The couple have been inseparable since meeting a decade ago at a teenage disco.
Declan, who works as a healthcare recruitment manager, popped the question last Christmas during a getaway to Slea Head in Kerry.
A former PE and Irish teacher, Louise shares her partner’s competitive spirit.
But she joked: ‘You’ll never outshine the GAA players… they’re like national treasures.
‘We’re both very motivated people which is probably a good thing. I definitely think that’s ultimately a good thing.’
She also says their current bicounty existence further solidifies their romance.
Louise told the MoS: ‘It’s gas, I work seven days a week. And when he trains, he trains all the time. So the truth to a successful relationship is to meet in passing and spend as little time together as possible,’ she said, before adding ‘No, I’m joking. Of course we miss each other, but we make it work.’
Despite their competitive nature, she says there is no competition between them, ‘just total support’.
Louise said her new radio role is something for which she has been preparing her entire life.
‘I was so young when I started teaching. I was teaching the Leaving Cert at 21 so I was only a few years older than the girls in my classes, so we used to have great craic.
‘So, my teaching career was shortlived. I was only teaching for four years and took a career break at 24. I’ve been hustling
‘You’ll never outshine the GAA players’
hard to make a break over the last few years.’
Her first job in radio was with Spin 1038.
‘I started as a Spinny on 103. We got a pink Mini Cooper…’ she said.
‘We miss each other, but we make it work’
‘We got a pair of Adidas high-top runners, so we were so cool.’
She said landing her own show was a ‘pinch-me moment’.
Louise said: ‘I’m totally thrilled. When I started working on air, I was teaching full-time, PE and Irish, and I was working on an Irish show on a Saturday.’
But despite her fiancé’s initial reluctance to move to Dublin, Louise insists a permanent move could eventually be on the cards, with a bit of arm-twisting...
‘I think Dublin could be on the agenda if I can twist the arm of himself,’ she said with a laugh.
‘Working with Today FM, I’d be foolish not to be in the right place.’