My Weekend: 'I love a walk around the Tank Field...you'll always meet someone'

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your work:

I am Laura O’Mahony from Upper Glanmire in Cork. I am a stand-up comedian and host of the Red Raw Podcast with Olympian Rob Heffernan. I am mother to three beautiful babies, Polly, who is 10, Alfie, who is seven, and little Freddie, who is nearly two. I am also wife to one! Shane is my husband and we live in Tivoli, having briefly lived in Ballycotton. I thought I was a country girl but turns out I am a city girl in my soul so we moved back to our beloved Cork city.

What is your ideal way to spend a Friday night?

On a Friday night I love nothing more than cosying in with my family. We usually get a takeaway or Shane will cook something nice. The kids are at a great age now where they can watch what I call event television so we usually have something like The Traitors or Gladiators recorded so we can all cosy in and watch it together.

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

Up with the lark. I like to attack the day as much as possible. But also, there are three hungry mouths to feed in this house, and all of them are early risers.

Does work creep into your weekend at all?

Because of the nature of my work it inevitably creeps into my weekend. Rob and I record the podcast on a Friday morning which is actually the high point of my week. If I am rehearsing a show it will often be at the weekend and again if I am gigging, doing stand-up, its usually a Friday or Saturday night. However I refuse to miss anything that my kids are doing so I always prioritise them.

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

I would head to London and I would bring my best friend Laura. Laura and I do the Improv Panto and the Improv Murder Mystery together and we could spend hours together without ever getting bored. We’d pop to London, eat something fancy, go see a show, and then pop home again, replenished after 24 hours together.

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

Believe it or not, I love a walk around the Tank Field in Mayfield. I stick on my headphones, listen to a podcast and get my steps in. You will always meet someone you know up there, and it’s nice and close to home!

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

We always meet my Mam and Dad at the weekend. We usually pop to their house and the kids play in the garden while we drink tea. It’s so lovely. We are so lucky to still have my parents, and my children are obsessed with them.

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

I am not a big hobby person. I love to read big murdery books and I love to watch good plays, less so the bad ones. I get to pop out every once in a while but I am happiest when surrounded by good people and just relaxing.

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

Oh, I like to be entertained. I am a woeful cook. But Shane is fantastic. He does all the cooking for any guests, and I tell all the jokes!

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

For a casual coffee, I love the Marina Market, and then for lunch, I think the Black Market. For a special event, it’s always Jacobs on the Mall for me

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

Sunday does not have that Glenroe feeling for me as I am freelance. So often, I am excited to get the kids back into school for the week. Sunday evening is usually spent cuddled up on the couch watching reality tv with a nice dinner and maybe a glass of wine.

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

The school run beckons, so it’s up at 7.30, a mad dash to get everyone, including the baby, out the door.

Anything else you are up to right now...

This August the cast of the Improv Panto are bringing an new show to the Cork Arts Theatre called Getaway Outta That from August 26 to 30. It’s a brand new improv show and I can’t wait to get stuck into it with a great cast and loads of craic expected. And of course Red Raw is out every single Monday!