Daithí O Sé is best known for his work as a presenter with Irish language station TG4 but his new found 'sex symbol' reputation is a far cry from his days working as a butcher back in Kerry.

Originally from Dingle in County Kerry, Daithí took a very interesting route to become one of Ireland's best-known television presenters. As a teenager, he worked part-time as a butcher but figured there were "easier ways to make a living" and decided to go to Mary Immaculate College in Limerick to study for an arts degree.

Daithí then went on to work as a teacher, as well as doing a stint as a ringmaster with Duffy's Circus and driving ferries to the Blasket Islands. However, fate was soon to intervene and before long, Daithí was hitting the screens as TG4's new weatherman.

"I had never dreamt of going into television. I would have thought I had as much chance of getting on the telly as going to the moon, but one day when I was working on the Blasket Islands, I was approached and asked to do a screen test. It went well and I started doing a bit of work with them and after a year, I got a full time position."

While Daithí instantly became popular with the TG4 audience, it was years later when he agreed to take part in a 'You're A Star' celebrity special that he came to attention of the wider Irish public. Bringing his personality to many memorable performances including Guns and Roses hit 'Sweet Child of Mine", Daithí made it as far as the semi-final raising funds for the Make A Wish Foundation.

"It all changed with Celebrity You're A Star. People started acting different towards me, even friends I had known for years! It was very strange. I was being invited on to programmes like Podge and Rodge and Tubridy Tonight, who wouldn't have had any interest in me before that!" he says.

Daithí's career has gone from strength to strength ever since. He recently took part in RTE's reality show 'Celebrities Go Wild' as well as making his own series 'Daithi ar Route 66' for TG4. Although the series was a great success, Daithí admits he was very nervous before filming began.

"It was my first time carrying a show and a lot of it was based on my personality. I was just thinking 'if this goes arseways, it's on my head', but luckily, over 100,000 tuned in and we are setting off from New Orleans to the Canadian border to make the second series now in June. America was fantastic, absolutely gorgeous and I really enjoyed it, so I'm looking forward to heading back again this year."

In addition to his duties at TG4, Daithí has a busy few months ahead of him on the social scene, judging the best-dressed competition at the Punchestown National Hunt Festival as well as the Miss Universe competition and the Rose of Tralee. He will also present a number of awards to members of the arts community at the Celtic Media Festival, which takes place in Galway this week.

Daithí's informal style and 'cúpla focal' have proved to be a big hit with the ladies, with the star claiming the title of 'Sexiest Star' for the second year running at the TV Now Awards on Saturday. However, the weatherman plays down any suggestions of being a 'sex symbol' and says he gets tired of going to red carpet events, preferring to visit Galway pubs Freeneys and Ti Coilí.

"I didn't think in a million years that I would win again this year; it's mad. You do get tired of going to these things sometimes, although it mostly depends on the crowd that is going. There is a certain element of snobbery with some of the people who go to these events but the TV Now Awards are great craic. Kathryn Thomas, Mac Burke and the rest of the crew from Celebrity You're A Star are usually there, so we catch up and let the hair down. Other dos like the IFTAs then are a bit more formal.

"I am a big fan of Galway pubs like Freeneys, The Crane and Ti Coilí. They are good country pubs in the middle of the city where you can go and sing a song if you feel like it. You'll always have a good night in Galway!" he says.

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