My Weekend: I've too many hobbies... I'm worryingly addicted to crafts

Tell us a little bit about yourself:

I live in Blackrock, just around the corner from the vibrant village and I have one very glamorous sister, one great boyfriend, two wonderful parents, three exuberant dogs and innumerable fantastic friends and colleagues.

I am the Digital Marketing Manager with Trigon Hotels, developing our online presence and digital campaigns for three hotels, our restaurants and our Trigon events. It’s a very challenging and dynamic role. This past year our department launched four new websites and were shortlisted for 10 digital marketing awards. 

This month I’m working on our new Hotel At Home online entertainment hubs on the Cork International Hotel and The Metropole Hotel Cork websites to keep people entertained from home. Having worked in tourism, events and arts and culture for a few years, I enjoy collaborating with the Cork community on creative projects to drive our city forward. I’m lucky to work with so many leaders in the hospitality and business industry and I am always learning and developing my skillsets. I also volunteer as a coach with Togher AC Little Athletics.

What is your ideal way to spend a Friday night?

I love theatre and live shows, so a trip to the Opera House or a night in City Limits Comedy Club would be ideal, followed by cocktails in The MET.

Lie ins or up with the lark.. which is it for you?

I’m a sucker for a lie-in. I’m usually in the office early Monday to Friday so the extra hours at the weekend are always nice.

Does work creep into your weekend at all?

Occasionally, as anyone in digital marketing will understand, but then it is usually for an exciting event we are hosting, such as the Cork Baking and Chocolate Weekend, Cork Oyster & Seafood Festival or the Cork Jazz Festival Club so I don’t mind too much.

I spend a lot of time at the weekend in our restaurants, Olivo, The New Yorker and The MET, but that’s simply because I absolutely love the food! Overall I have a great work-life balance at Trigon Hotels.

If money was no object where would you head to on a weekend city break? And who would you bring with you?

I love Lisbon and it’s easy to get to from Cork Airport, but I have yet to visit Rome so I’d have to tick that off the bucket list. If money is no object, I’ll bring the whole family along!

Closer to home, is there some place you like to head to recharge the batteries? 

The Marina is right on my doorstep, so a walk followed by coffee in our local bakery with my parents, or a nice cuppa and the chats with my grandfather Janeboy. You can’t beat a day out in Fota Wildlife Park and for some soul searching and adventuring I recommend Gougane Barra or Lough Hyne hillwalks and the Torc Mountain Climb.

Do you like to catch up with family/friends at the weekend?

Luckily my friends are all culture, food and fitness fanatics and there’s always something exciting happening in Cork so we try to squeeze in as many new restaurants, workshops, roadtrips and events as we can. Just this week I compiled a list of 101 things to do and see in Cork. It’s available to read on the Hotel at Home Hub on CorkInternationalHotel.com if anyone, like me, is enjoying this time at home planning what to do when we can travel again.

Do you get to indulge any hobbies? Even as a spectator?

I have too many hobbies and not enough focus. I’m worryingly addicted to crafts, always planning a new project or attending the Vibes & Scribes workshops, though admittedly I have more supplies than finished projects (Instagram: @pardy_me). I’m an avid reader and part of a monthly book club and Cork Sugarcraft Association. I also love patchwork quilting, blogging, fitness workouts and have an exhaustive number of Pinterest boards with hobby ideas I want to try.

Entertain or be entertained? If it's the latter do you have a signature dish?

Absolutely be entertained! I love event planning, but I can’t cook to save my life. I can do a bit of sugarcraft (cake decoration) but I leave all the baking to my sister who is far more talented in that department.

We have so many places to eat out in Cork - where are your go to spots for coffee/ lunch/ special meal?

Cork is such an amazing city for food, it’s so tough to choose. For dinner, I’ll head to the Victorian Quarter, for the best selection of bars and restaurants in the city. For coffee, My sister Jodi works in Basil, a lovely family owned café in Ballintemple and their coffee and cake is to die for. I also love Sonny’s Deli and Koto.

Sunday night comes around too fast.. how do you normally spend it?

After a Sunday spin I usually finish the day at home with my boyfriend Jamie catching up on First Dates Ireland. However, with the current stay home measures, there’ll be no Sunday spin and you can find me in the garden doing yoga under the stars.

What time does your alarm clock go off on Monday morning?

6.30 sharp! Then 6.35…then 6.40… 

HOTEL AT HOME 

Is an initiative run by Cork International Hotel and The Metropole Hotel Cork to provide online entertainment to past and future guests via an online hub on their websites during lockdown. The Hotel at Home hubs are updated daily with brand new content from the hotel’s team members, offering advice from experts, recipes, mindfulness activities, stories, happy news, challenges, competitions and more. The teams hope that the Hotel At Home Hubs will serve as a welcome distraction, for people to enjoy at home.

Catch it all on: themetropolehotel.ie/hotel-at-home-hub/ and corkinternationalairporthotel.com/hotel-at-home-hub/