Ready To Be Real by Síle Seoige20 Jun 2025

DJ Nikki Hayes : Behind the name

Topics covered : Identity crisis, bullying, self-worth, addiction, alcohol, drugs, money laundering, court case, self-sabotage, Covid, homelessness, taking responsibility, rebuilding her life.

In this episode I sit down with DJ Nikki Hayes — whose real name is Eimear O’Keeffe.

Eimear or Nikki as she’s better known, rose to fame as a hugely popular voice on radio stations like 2FM and Spin 1038 but behind the mic, she was struggling. Her battle with addiction, eventually led her to lose everything — her family, her job, her home, and her sense of self. For three harrowing months, she lived on the streets of Dublin, sleeping rough.

In this raw and moving episode, she talks openly about hitting rock bottom, facing legal battles, taking ownership of her actions and finding the strength to rebuild her life.

Today, she's back doing what she loves, working in radio again on East Coast FM. But most importantly, she’s restoring her life with her daughter Farah who she adores.

If you’ve been affected by this conversation, please know that there is help available…

Urgent help - HSE.ie

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