My Weekend: ‘We very much love to entertain our friends’

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your work?

I am a native of the beautiful seaside town of Youghal in East Cork and now live in Norwich in the UK. I am the youngest of two siblings and have a niece and nephew, Grace and Thomas, who are my world.

My mother Patricia (Dempsey) McDermott is daughter of the late great Jack and Maura Dempsey and comes from a family of some sporting greats; Thomas Ahearn — Munster rugby team and Aoife Cooke — Olympic athlete, both my cousins, and Sean McDermott, a gifted darts player. No surprise I was the first in my family to enter the performing arts world but I was hugely supported from day one. I recently got married in August in the gorgeous Maryborough Hotel in Douglas and it was the best day of my life to date. The day was filled with love and laughter and was surrounded by all our nearest and dearest. My husband Jonathan is my biggest supporter and is always by my side cheering me on and wanting to see me live out my dreams. Currently, I am working with Ireland’s leading drag house Mockie Ah with the extremely talented Candy Warhol and recently finished Camp Culture — a night of all things queer at The Everyman which received a standing ovation.

What is your ideal way to spend a Friday night?

Depending on the week I’ve just had, that will dictate my plans for the weekend ahead. A typical Friday night will be catching up with my husband, and chilled out on the sofa with a nice movie and a glass of wine. If there is an event on in the theatre, maybe a touring show or production that I would like to see, perhaps my arm could be twisted and a night at the theatre it is.

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

Oh, I am definitely a laying in kinda guy. If I do not have to set an alarm, I could stay in bed until 11.30am. Especially now, having a TV in my room. However, if needed, and I’m working on a gig or a show and I have to be up ‘early early’ then the alarm is set and I’m up at the crack of dawn, whether it is be catching a plane to Ireland or going into the rehearsal room.

Does work creep into your weekend at all?

Where possible I try to keep work out of my personal life. If I have a weekend off, I tend to keep this for me my partner and my friends and a chance for us to unwind and catch up. It can be hard sometimes, especially if you’ve got a script to learn or you’re learning a new number for a show, then you do tend to use some time over the weekend to maybe have a look at this, but I try my best to keep it as free as possible.

Would most definitely have to be Spain. We have just come back from Sitges which is a small village outside Barcelona and it is gorgeous. Stunning beaches, nice restaurants and a busy enough lifestyle to keep you entertained. What I like most about it is that it is a town that wasn’t influenced by tourists and still had that Spanish feel to it without being too commercialised. So yeah, if money was no object, that’s where you’d find me every weekend.

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

Any time I’m home in my beautiful hometown of Youghal, the first place I love to go is the boardwalk out the beach. It is the most stunning walk and location and there is nothing better than the sea air to clear your mind and relax. Youghal has so many wonderful areas to walk and unwind.

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

Being Irish I am a big family man so when I get the chance to spend time with them I do. Unfortunately living in the UK I don’t get to see them as much as I wish, but when I do, we always have a good dinner party. But when in the UK, I like to catch up with friends over coffee or a night out. Some weekends, if I had a busy week, I tend to maybe have a more chilled one at home with the doors closed and catching up on the

housework and recharging my battery.

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

There is nothing better to switch off than a night at the theatre and we are lucky to have a wonderful theatre in Norwich! We get a lot of the big touring shows right on our doorstep. Also, I love to shop — so a trip to London and wander around the gorgeous shops and beautiful buildings is great.

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

Since moving into our new home in Norwich we very much love to entertain and have friends around on the weekends. From games night to dinner parties or the occasional pre-drinks before a night out, we love to host a good old fashion party. Our signature dish would have to be home-cooked Shepherd’s Pie.

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

Whenever I’m in Cork I have two places that I like to go. When I’m doing Panto in The Everyman it’s a must to stop by Tara’s Tea Rooms on MacCurtin Street. I just love their home-cooked food and the warm welcome from the staff. And if it’s a dinner night out with friends you will find me at Market Lane on Oliver Plunket Street, again the food and staff are just top notch and we always get service with a smile.

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

Sunday nights are normally getting everything ready for the week ahead, that may be packing a bag if I’m flying out for a gig or getting a rehearsal bag ready! It is also a night for a nice home-cooked meal!

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

This depends on where I am in the world and what I am working on.

Anything else you are up to right now?

I’m so excited to be taking on the role of Pana the Poodle in this year’s Everyman and CADA Panto Red Riding Hood.

See everymancork.ie.