My Weekend: There is a buzz on a Friday evening that is palpable

Tell us a little bit about yourself:

I am a Cork native and, more importantly, co-owner of Foxglove Cocktails, a cocktail and mobile bar business in Cork city which I launched with my brother Rory in June 2020. You’ll normally hear me before you see me (or so I have been told) and I love all things food, entertaining, the outdoors and just having fun.

What is your ideal way to spend a Friday night?

I always say that ‘5pm on Friday evening is my favourite time of the week’ because you are faced with the endless possibilities of the coming weekend. Even working in the service and hospitality industry, there is a buzz on a Friday evening that is palpable. 

That being said, we are often working with Foxglove on a Friday night, with a cocktail class or private event, so you are an essential part of the evening for your guests and clients.

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

With Foxglove, we are so lucky to be busy nearly every weekend with events, so Up With The Lark is my official start time on the weekends! Last weekend and this weekend, Foxglove is at the Ballymaloe Craft Fair, so that will be an early start for each morning to get prepped, vans loaded and set up on time in Ballymaloe.

Does work creep into your weekend at all?

Unfortunately with the hospitality and service industry, you work when everyone else is typically off, so yes, work always creeps into my weekend, sometimes with a vengeance! I have worked in bars and restaurants since I was 15, not only am I used to it, I have learned to love it — it never bothers me to work on the weekends. If anything, the real joy is having a lie-in on a Tuesday morning, when you know others are busy working!

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

New York. I was born there, and I lived there as an adult for over six years (only moving back here at the start of Covid) so I have so many friends and family there that I miss dearly. It truly is the greatest city in the world. 

Two of my best friends have had babies in the last few weeks so I would love to go and see them as parents and treat them and their partners to a night in — or out — depending on their mood!

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

New York. I was born there, and I lived there as an adult for over six years (only moving back here at the start of Covid) so I have so many friends and family there that I miss dearly. It truly is the greatest city in the world. Two of my best friends have had babies in the last few weeks so I would love to go and see them as parents and treat them and their partners to a night in — or out — depending on their mood!

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

I am so lucky to have strong ties to Baltimore, West Cork and that village is truly my happy place in the world. I was lucky enough to live there during the pandemic and it is my favourite place to relax. A walk up Lough Hyne Hill, and a swim (depending on the weather!), and then a pint and a toastie in Bushes next to the fire, is as good as it gets!

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

I often get my friends and family to come to any public event we are doing, so I can catch up with them while working. This weekend is Ballymaloe Craft Fair and I love when our friends and family pop by for a warm cup of Mulled Wine and a chat — always brightens up the day!

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

Does walking your dogs count as a hobby? If so, it’s my favourite thing to do every morning — some fresh air and clears the head — even on busy days! As well as that, I love to ski and I’m lucky to be able to spend a good bit of time during the winter in Colorado, where there is incredible skiing around the Rocky Mountains.

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

I grew up in a family of entertainers, one of my favourite memories as a child is watching my parents prepare for fun, lavish dinner parties they would host for their friends, with my dad cooking and my mom getting the house ready and setting the most beautiful table with candles, decorations and the ‘good china’. And it has definitely rubbed off on me, I love having friends over for dinner or drinks. 

For me, it’s more about getting people together and catching up — that’s what gives me real joy.

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

I live in town, so I love to go to Brightside Cafe on Washington St, or else Paperboys, in the Triskel Art Centre. Our Foxglove prep kitchen is based outside Ballincollig, so when I am working, I love The Floury Apron in Ballincollig. When I am in West Cork, The Algiers in Baltimore is my favourite for food and margaritas, or else O’Neills & Kalbos in Skibbereen for coffee and lunch options.

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

My extended family are always so busy during the week, but my parents make a real effort on Sundays to have a family dinner together. Even if we are working, there is always a delicious home-cooked meal waiting for us at home! We sit around the table together, enjoy dinner that my Dad has made, and it’s the perfect way to unwind after a busy weekend.

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

If I am lucky, perhaps 10am — as it is my time to finally catch up on sleep after the weekend! Is it bad to say I love Monday mornings?!

Anything else you are up to right now...

Christmas is a fun and busy time for Foxglove, we just launched our full cocktail-inspired Christmas range, all focused on making delicious and easy cocktails at home. We also will be in Ballymaloe Craft Fair again this weekend, serving up our famous Mulled Wine, warm Pineapple Cider and so much more cocktail goodies! Ballymaloe Craft Fair kick-starts our Christmas season and we are so excited to be back there again this year.

I am so lucky to have strong ties to Baltimore, West Cork and that village is truly my happy place in the world. I was lucky enough to live there during the pandemic and it is my favourite place to relax. A walk up Lough Hyne Hill, and a swim (depending on the weather!), and then a pint and a toastie in Bushes next to the fire, is as good as it gets!

See ballymaloegrainstore.com for more on the Ballymaloe Craft Fair.