VIRGIN Media star Grainne Seoige has opened up about the challenges she faced after moving away from Ireland.
The presenter and her husband Leon Jordaan moved back to Grainne’s home county Galway in 2021 after living in Africa for a number of years together.
Grainne has now spoken about the challenges she faced when she moved to the other side of the world.
Relocating from Ireland to South Africa was a significant learning experience for the Galway native, enabling her to break free from any preconceived perceptions about her.
In a recent interview with RSVP Live, Grainne said: “Meeting him [Leon] and moving to the other side of the world and living in a different culture was a huge learning experience.
“In Europe, we have up until this point anyway, lived quite a safe life. Our life is sophisticated and we take a lot for granted; we take peace for granted.
“We can shut our doors and be fairly confident we’ll be okay but South Africa taught me a different way of living and it challenged me, away from where there may have been preconceived perceptions of me, to rebuild and reconstruct myself.”
The gaeilgeoir also opened up about the huge impact that these challenges have had on her.
She explained: “It was, but it was also really challenging because I had to find myself and that was hugely impactful. I’m also not as connected now to that old image of me as I might have been before.
“So, I take things now, like doing a stint on The Six O’Clock Show, as fun and as a bit of a gift, but I’m not defining myself by it anymore.”
Grainne revealed that she wouldn’t rule out moving back to South Africa as she doesn’t know where she will be 25 years down the line.
The host said: “I could be living back in South Africa. I could be in Galway, a doting granny with several grandkids. I could still be on TV, Who knows? I might do a podcast like my sister Sile who has taught me so much.”
Grainne recently wrapped up on Ireland AM as she is getting ready to host another season of Gra Ar An Tra.
The presenter was back on air for a final time this season alongside Siomha Ni Ruairc and Martin King.
Grainne took to her Instagram page after the show to share some snaps that she took in the studio.
The Galway beauty decided to wear a stunning pink lace top paired with cream jeans.
She completed her look with some silver jewellery and wore her hair down in loose curls.
In the caption of her post, Grainne revealed that she will be stepping down from the morning show for a while.
ALL GRA
She wrote: “And just like that my last weekend for a while on @irelandamvmtv is done!”
Grainne’s TV career began in 1996, anchoring the 10pm news bulletin on Teilifis na Gaeilge which had just launched.
The presenter has hosted many TV shows, along with Irish dating show, Gra Ar An Tra.
The gaeilgeoir revealed that she is heading back to An Ghaeltacht to record a second season of the hit show.
She said: “@siomhaniruairc and myself are heading off to An Ghaeltacht to make S2 of @gra.ar.an.tra with @jamesalankavanagh.”
The series features Bean and Man Ti, Siomha Ni Ruairc and James Kavanagh who will throw open the doors of their Love Teach.
Meanwhile, Grainne will take on the role of the ‘Cinnire Gra’ – the ‘Captain of Love’ – and she will be keeping a watchful and expert eye on the singletons.