Health scan lifestyle Q&A

Naoise Ó Muirí, Lord Mayor of Dublin

Do you think you have a healthy lifestyle?

I’d say reasonably healthy. My diet is fairly good. Exercise levels go up and down. At the moment, the work side of things are intense so that doesn’t help.

How often do you exercise?

Before I got elected Lord Mayor in June, I exercised three to four times a week, including a five-a-side soccer game. And I [ran] regularly. Since I got elected, I’d say I’ve exercised five times in total. We’ve moved into the Mansion House and I know Stephen’s Green is only at the top of the road but you don’t have the same freedom in town.

Do you get your five a day?

I’d have a glass of juice and an orange at breakfast. At lunch I wouldn’t get fruit or veg, unless it’s lettuce on a sandwich. When it comes to the evening, I probably get one and a half. I’m not a huge fan of vegetables.

Do you worry?

I’m not really a worrier. A lot of the stuff you worry about you can do nothing about. Mayoralty at the moment is intense but I don’t worry.

What do you do to relax?

Before getting elected, I exercised to relax; that football game on a Thursday was great for relaxing. At the moment, unless I can get away for a day out of the city . . . there’s not a whole lot of relaxing going on. For holidays, I wouldn’t be a fan of heading to Torremolinos to lie on the beach. In the past, we’ve gone to the ski resort Zell am See in Austria – a mountain resort in summer with great air and hiking.

What is your unhealthiest habit?

It’s probably lack of sleep. I don’t like going to bed early. If I’m at a city council meeting, my head is spinning when I come out of it and it takes me a few hours to wind down so I don’t tend to get to bed early, and then I’m up early.

Or if there is a bit of disturbance outside on Dawson Street at the weekend . . . if I get six or seven hours’ sleep, I’m doing really well.

In conversation with JOANNE HUNT