My Weekend: 'I went to my first Choral festival when I was 5 years old'

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your work.

Born in Cork. My Mum was from Dublin, she met my father and moved to Cork. I have one brother, Tony. I am married to my soulmate, Ted. We live in Glanmire. I am the CEO/principal of Cada Performing Arts and heavily involved in theatre in Cork. I have directed the panto at the Everyman for the last 29 years.

I am a director, actress, entertainer, and teacher. I have been involved in Cork theatre since I was very young. I am on the executive board of the Cork International Choral Festival. My parents had been very involved since its inception 70 years ago, and brought me to the festival from when I was five years old.

What is your ideal way to spend a Friday night?

Sometimes working, sometimes relaxing, but generally exhausted from the week’s work.

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

Up with the lark.

Does work creep into your weekend at all?

Yes, all the time.

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

London to take in a few shows and I would bring my staff, my close friends, and the staff of the choral festival with me as they all deserve a break.

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

St Declan’s Well, Clashmore, where I can meditate and get in touch with my inner self. A place I would recommend to anyone to hear the music within themselves and the music of nature.

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

Certainly if time permits. Friendships are very important to me.

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

Yes. The gym daily, I go to KetoGym, Glanmire. Reading, visits to the theatre, and concerts. Particularly any concerts with choral music, I love church music.

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

I like to entertain. My signature dish would be beef goulash or any vegetarian dish.

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

Tara’s Tearooms, MacCurtain St; The Clarion, where I will be living over the week of the choral festival, and the Barn.

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

Preparing for the week ahead, planning, plotting, and making sure that I am mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually ready for the week ahead.

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

6am.

Anything else you are up to right now?

The Cork international Choral Festival, which continues until Sunday, May 4, in which I am deeply involved. The festival will feature giant works of choral repertoire and concerts. I would highly recommend the festival to hear the most wonderful music, to experience what our voices can do. Music is a communicator and it’s wonderful to be part of the 70th anniversary of this wonderful, magical festival.

Meeting choirs from so many places and, this year, we have choirs from Germany, Canada, Latvia, Norway, Australia, Spain, Finland, Luxemburg, Switzerland, the UK, Wales, Denmark but, most importantly, our own Irish and Cork choirs, particularly our primary and secondary school choirs. We can be so proud of them. Don’t miss out on this wonderful festival. It’s a must for our mental health — and my advice, let us keep music alive.

• See www.corkchoral.ie for more information and ticket bookings.