My Weekend: What time is my alarm? Ask my 2-year-old

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your work

My name is David O’Mahony and I’m a director, writer and actor in film, theatre and audio. I’ve starred in West End shows like Mamma Mia, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, and The Bodyguard. My wife (actress Ali Bastian) and I moved over to Cork last May with our two girls and ageing cavapoo Molly.  My Grandad was from just outside Union Hall and so I’ve been coming to West Cork all my life, but if you ask our five-year-old old it was all her idea to move to Ireland.

What is your ideal way to spend a Friday night? Is it too boring to say an early night?! Two young kids tend to leave me exhausted - But if they’ve taken it easy on me, then probably a date night with Ali, at one of our favourite pubs looking out over the Atlantic and enjoying the sunset. I’d love to see more theatre at The Opera House and The Everyman. I also love going to the cinema - we’ve had a quiet year with Ali having treatment for breast cancer, so we’re looking forward to getting out more now she’s getting stronger again.

Lie ins or up with the lark.. which is it for you? I mean, if I’ve had a good night’s sleep, I like getting up early, but that hasn’t happened for a few years now!

Does work creep into your weekend at all? 100% - when you’re a freelancer, you work when you need to, unfortunately. The key is to identify other times to rest - maybe the ‘weekend’ is a lazy Tuesday, not doing anything or just pottering around the house.

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

If money was no object and we could get there in time, I’d love to see my big brother in New Zealand - but with the flight taking 26 hours, I think I might struggle. I’ve never had a moment in the last year of regretting the move over to Ireland, but I do miss aspects of London - my friends and theatre land. I think if Ali and I flew back to London for the weekend, saw 3 or 4 shows that my friends are in and went to all our old bars and restaurants in Soho. That would be fun.

Closer to home, is there some place you like to head to recharge the batteries?  I’ve always loved the beaches in Cork - not necessarily the sea, but I love the views - Warren Strand, Long Strand, Barley Cove (though I haven’t been for years). I have to say though, our house has the best view in the world for me - I just adore it - we are so lucky to be able to sit in the garden or look out of the window and see everything from the sea to the hills. The blue skies and the starry skies. It’s magic.

Do you like to catch up with family/friends at the weekend?  Absolutely. I can’t wait to break the BBQ out and have our friends over through the summer. We’ve got a lot of catching up to do.

Do you get to indulge any hobbies? Even as a spectator? I’ve made a life out of turning my hobbies into my career so sometimes I try and mix it up - we had a pottery session recently which I loved; and I love painting with the kids. I’m also enjoying having a garden and cultivating things - it’s just so lovely to see the things I planted last year bloom into life.

 Entertain or be entertained? If it's the latter do you have a signature dish?  I cook a good roast - lamb or chicken, and am pretty handy in the kitchen - but sometimes it’s such a relief for someone else to take care of the food… I spend my weeks cooking meals for girls, so sometimes having someone cook for me is just so lovely.

 We have so many places to eat out in Cork - where are your go to spots for coffee/ lunch/ special meal?  I would say, in no particular order: The Glandore Inn; The Dock Wall in Union Hall; The Church Cafe in Skibb; Brew in Skibb; The Coffee Cup at Reen Pier; and the Fish Basket on The Long Strand… and Milano’s in Cork City - our eldest has severe food allergies and they take such good care of her - she feels really safe there.

Sunday night comes around too fast.. how  do you normally spend it?  Panicking about the week ahead like everyone else!? No, Sunday is like the lull and receding of the wave before the next one washes in, so Sunday might be a roast, or some relaxing in front of the fire, out in the garden, or maybe in front of the TV.

What time does your alarm clock go off on Monday morning?  You’d have to ask the two-year-old!!

 Anything else you are up to right now... I have a film optioned by an Irish production company so we’re beginning the funding process; there are various writing and pitching meetings going on; then I direct and produce Dr Who audio dramas and I’m in the edit process for some of those; then I’m having some really exciting meetings with Irish production companies about collaborating on some of my ideas; I’m teaching private singing and acting lessons over in Union Hall; I’m writing other scripts; and  I’m trying to paint our house.