Maurice Boland
Radio station boss, presenter, entrepreneur, charity supporter extraordinaire, family man…Who is the real Maurice Boland?
I don’t even know if I have the answer to that… Above all, I would say the real Maurice Boland is a man who has compassion for those less fortunate than himself and a man who’s hugely proud of his family and passionate about his work.
You have had your own radio station six years now – what have been the best and worst moments?
The best and proudest moment without doubt is when I launched the radio and pushed that button at 8pm on 10th May 2004 and said ‘Good morning and welcome’. The worst is when my evening presenter Craig James and a friend of mine for over 15 years told me he had terminal cancer.
After your love affair with TV, has the radio totally seduced you now?
Well, if I could make a choice, I’d choose both; I love both the mediums for different reasons radio for fantasy and TV for expression…
You have interviewed just about every celebrity alive – who is still left on your hit list?
There are so many… let me see: . Jeremy Paxman, Jeremy Clackson, Simon Cowell, David Letterman, King Juan Carlos of Spain etc, etc…
What does the boss of a radio station do all day?
You mean ALL day and ALL night – a radio station never closes 24 hrs per day – we are like the Windmill Theatre. My day begins at 6am when I have breakfast and head off to the studios. My first job of the day is to make sure everything is working, checking emails and seeing what my diary has for me for the rest of the day.
My own program starts at 11am. I normally have between 4 and 6 guests of variable backgrounds from politicians to famous celebrities and a lot of reading and research has to be done before broadcast.
My show finishes at 1pm and running the radio station begins almost immediately after I come off air. Meetings are set for me whether it be a new client to talk about advertising or staff and production schedules to be sorted out. I usually lunch with a client, then it’s back to the studio or out to see clients.
Most days involve charity work too. I’m Honorary patron of CUDECA, the cancer care hospice and I contribute to many other charities. I’m normally ready to leave the office before 7pm, which gives me enough time to get home and change if I need to attend a charity gala as a host. My ideal evening is to be home with my wife – and family if they pop around, but that is a rarity rather than the norm. I like to be in bed as close to midnight as possible.
Do you ever just wish you could sit around the house with your feet up?
No, never!
What can we learn about “expat life” by listening to Talk Radio Europe..?
Talk Radio Europe is dedicated to the expat communities along the Costa Del Sol and Costa Blanca and we tap into the issues that most concern people living abroad. News,both local, national and international is paramount and is top of our list of importance, we carry news from the British Embassy, Town Halls the Spanish tourist board and the Junta de Andalucia. We have contracts with the BBC and SKY news.
As a talk formatted radio station, debate is an important part of our programming and listeners are invited to contribute to most programmes by telephone. Financial news and updates on markets and currencies are also broadcast throughout out the day. Medical, legal and health and fitness’ news and updates are also included in our programme schedules.
You have been in Marbella since the 80s – would you ever go back to Ireland to live?
I would never say ‘never’!
Do you have a hero?
No!
What would be the best thing that could happen to Marbella?
The recovery of our economy, the Town Hall getting it right, our image abroad improving and restaurant, supermarket, hotels, beaches and banks improving their service – a smile never hurts!! And the sun continues to shine.
Born where?
Dublin, Ireland
Philosophy of life/Motto
Work hard to the best of your ability. Never give up.
Most treasured skill?
Talking (too much I hear you say!!!) and making things work.
Favourite Marbella restaurant?
Passion Café and MC Café for lunch. I would have to say The Polo House for dinner.
A little known fact about you?
I’m a hypochondriac !!!!
What’s your best contribution to Marbella so far?
The community work we do on the radio, hosting business and technology awards for the Junta de Andalucia and now sitting on the Town Hall’s Think Tank working on ideas to help promote Marbella. I love where I live.
What is Your Dream?
To live long enough to see my grandchildren married!!!!