Hope Street's Niall Wright: I'm marrying the girl of my dreams

If I'm not working, I get up and take the dog out for a walk in our local park each morning. That routine clears my head and sets me up nicely for the day ahead.

Breakfast? Breakfast usually consists of some sort of cereal or maybe porridge with a bit of banana and some honey, followed by toast and cupán tae – all consumed while watching Sky Sports News.

Lunch would probably be a sandwich and a coffee if I'm on 'the go', but if I'm up at home, I whack up the eggs, beans, avocado and spinach – and keep it lean.

For dinner, it is whatever my amazing personal chef - my fiancée – cooks up.

Yes, nutrition is important to me. As I've got older, I've become more aware of what I'm putting into my body. After exercising and going to the gym, I would be conscious of getting the right amount of protein in my body so I would take a protein shake and eat the correct type of food to allow my body to recover properly.

I have not been on a diet. I did try to go 'veggie' once - it lasted two weeks and I would consider that a 'diet' because I always felt hungry. I was unsure about how to replace certain foods, so I would need to do some reading up before trying that again.

A takeaway - usually a Chinese meal or pizza.

I like to exercise - I grew up playing a lot of sport. I usually go the gym two or three times a week and I also play soccer for a team called London Hibernian FC. Keeping myself active allows me to stay physically fit and in turn helps with the mental side of things. I think it's important to maintain an overall state of wellbeing.

Consistency is key. Trying to keep up a weekly routine will make it easier in the long run. Setting some goals, too, allows you to work towards them and feel a sense of achievement when you get there.

I was a big fan... I played every sport going in school, from soccer to hurling and from football to tennis. I have a lot of fond memories of my time playing in the school teams. I did lose the P7 sprint race, having won it every other year... so that is a memory that runs deep and one to forget.

Tipple(s)...

Lift.

At the moment, I am reading Brendan O'Leary's Making Sense Of A United Ireland. He explores the issues around a possible reunification and I would highly recommend it. It's a must-read for anyone who thinks seriously about the future of Ireland.

I just finished The Watcher. I don't usually like horror stuff, but this was great. And what makes it more terrifying is the fact it is based on true events.

How much I rely on routine and having a schedule when I'm in and out of work. I also learned how discipline is really important.

I have found myself playing a lot more golf these days. As the footballer dream fades, I enjoy the social aspect of a round of golf. And the pints after...

I like to listen to music or binge on a new TV series. Walking the dog also helps me to get my thoughts together and just relax.

To marry the girl of my dreams - I'm getting married in January, so that will be an amazing way to kick off 2023. Onwards and upwards...

I would usually get to bed around 10.30pm or 11pm. And I do need my eight hours in order to operate, so I make sure I get enough sleep.

Living in London, a big gripe of mine is when people all pile on the tube before you have had a chance to get off. Just have some manners. And, in the words of N-Dubz, 'No Regrets'.

I think the importance of family and friends has been even more highlighted for me. Getting to spend quality time with the people you love should be appreciated and not taken for granted. In a world where instant gratification is the norm and everything is at our fingertips, the virtue of patience seems long lost. So, I'm learning to take a step back at times and understand and enjoy the 'now'.

I don't think it has changed my attitude towards my own mortality, as naive as that might sound for a 30-something-year-old. But it has certainly reminded me that no matter how youthful or fit you are, life can be short and we should do our best to live it.