In my life

Anne Cassin, Presenter, RTÉ

Where did you go to school? Loreto Convent, Balbriggan, Co Dublin.

What was your best subject? French.

What was your worst subject? Physics.

If you were choosing subjects for the Leaving Certiicate today, what would you choose?

I took a lot of science subjects on the advice of various adults, but I wasn't very good at them. I was good at languages and if I had the chance to do the Leaving Cert again, I'd take as many modern languages as I could.

Who was your favourite teacher and why? Sister Marion. She pushed me through the science syllabus and actually made it interesting.

Who was your childhood idol? David Cassidy - a fatal admission.

Who was your best friend? Maggie O'Kane - then known as Margaret. We're still great friends.

What is she doing now? She works for the Guardian and making documentary films - she has worked in both The Irish Times and RTÉ

What TV programme/film most reminds you of your school days? Thanks to an east coast upbringing I watched a lot of very English telly - Blue Peter and Jackanory in particular. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang also brings me back.

What song most reminds you of your school days? Roxanne by The Police. That's the only cool thing I've said so far.

What food most reminds you of your school days? Soggy tomato sandwiches. What a potent memory.

What was your school uniform like? Bottle Green.

What's the boldest thing you ever did in school? In my Leaving Cert year a bunch of us mitched off and got a train to Malahide. It was exhilarating. We all owned up afterwards. The maths teacher was very relaxed about it.

Who did you bring to your debs? I'm not going to name him, but I met him last week for the first time in 25 years.

What was your most memorable holiday? A week in a cottage with my family in Ballyvaughan, Co Clare, when I was about eight. I think it's the only time we all went away together.

What's the last book you read? David McWilliams - The Pope's Children.

Would you send your own children to the same school that you went to?

Funnily enough, my daughter is in a Loreto school.

What was the best thing about your education?

The music. The nuns at Balbriggan were big on music. They said it would stay with us forever and it definitely has.

What was the worst thing about your education? Training to conform. Back then you were not encouraged to question too much.