Health scan lifestyle Q&A

Paul Harrington, former Eurovision winner.

Do you think you have a healthy lifestyle?

I think I have a relatively balanced lifestyle. I’m healthier now than I was when I was younger. I probably picked it up much later in my life – when we did gym stuff at school, I’d do my level best to get out of it. I’ve discovered I’m much more of an outdoors person than I thought I was.

How often do you exercise?

The intention is three times a week, but it’s probably between two and three times. I walk my dog in St Anne’s Park, Raheny, every day. On the days I’m going to the gym, I drop him back to the house and then I’ll cycle to the gym where I do some weights with my trainer Pat Byrne for about an hour.

Do you get your five a day?

I eat oranges, and tomatoes would be a big part of my diet whether it’s fresh or in sauces. Breakfast is always porridge and in summer, I buy some

blueberries, strawberries and pineapple and have them with yogurt – I got turned onto that when I was touring with Michael Flatley and I’ve just kept it up.

Do you worry?

Yes, about all the usual things. I find if I’m not busy and I’m not working as much as I’d like to, I start to get more anxious, but these things are always cyclical.

That’s really where the gym comes in for me; I always come out of there feeling calmer.

What do you do to relax?

I find exercising just great, or if I’m working on the piano during the day, I might open a bottle of wine in the evening.

What’s your unhealthiest habit?

I don’t smoke, thank God. I have a condition called haemochromatosis that I have to watch. Three or four years ago I gave up chocolate. I do like a drink – a pint or wine and there’s probably a lot of sugar in that, so I balance it out by not having the chocolate, sweets or biscuits.

In conversation with Joanne Hunt