2 COOL 4 SKOOL

This week 2 COOL 4 SKOOLtalks to broadcaster and world record breaking mountaineer Ian McKeever

Where did you go to school?
For primary, I went to Johnstown Boys' School and for secondary, Clonkeen College in Deansgrage.

Were you cool or were you one of the nerdy kids?
I was neither cool nor nerdy, to be honest.

Give us an extract of a school report . . .
"McKeever is a typical Aquarian. He's a typical dreamer, always hatching some sort of plan - he has a wonderful imagination, if only he could put it to some use."

Who was your favourite teacher in primary school? Why?
Niall O'Neill was my favourite primary school teacher. He had had trials for Liverpool and he instilled a huge love of sport in me.

We did really well in schools' soccer under his stewardship. More than that though, he made learning fun.

How about secondary school? Were there any teachers who you liked or who inspired you?
Brother Kelly was a walking genius and still is. I would never have got into UCD without him because I would have failed maths. He taught everything and he knew everyone by name. Not only that but he knew your brothers and parents by name too.

Did you have a nickname?
Sport Billy.

What was the first music album you bought?
ZZ Top's Eliminator in 1984.

What's on your iPod now?
Lots of Rolling Stones and Fleetwood Mac - '70s and '80s stuff mostly.

What posters did you have on your bedroom wall?
I had one of singer Leslie Dowdall. Years later, I actually got to interview her.

I still fancied her so it was a real thrill!

Who was your first crush?
Stevie Nicks

Who would play you in a movie of your younger days?
Kiefer Sutherland or the bloke who played MacGyver.

What did you study in college?
I studied social science, thinking that it would be a fun version of science. How wrong was I?

Regrets? Have you had a few?
I try not to. You regret the things you don't do more than those you do.

• Ian McKeever's feature-length documentary, Give Me Shelter, details his quest to break the world record for climbing the world's seven highest peaks. It will be launched later this year. is currently preparing to assist his 10-year-old godson Sean, who plans to become the youngest person ever to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.