Person to Person: 'My happy place is the sea, being near it and immersed in it'

Where were you born?

London

Where do you live?

Macroom, Co. Cork.

Family? Husband, Pat and three children; two boys Shane and Derry, and a girl Aoife. I have two granddaughters.

Best friend?

My husband Pat.

Earliest childhood memory?

Being aged two-and-a-half and afraid to approach my great grandmother dressed in black (being a widow) as she was sitting on a striped deckchair in a garden of my grandaunt Molly’s rose garden. She looked formidable to me, even though she was in fact a really lovely person. I think it was a combination of the wrinkles and the austere black clothes on a sunny day when everyone else was wearing bright colours.

Person you most admire?

The journalists worldwide, especially in the war-torn regions who strive and risk life and limb to bring us the truth in a world of fake news and mistruth all around us.

Person who most irritates you?

People who have so much and complain about such little things. Don’t they realise how privileged they are?

Where was your most memorable holiday?

Lapland. The light in March was incredible, though of very short duration. The hush and silence of deeply snow-covered forests remains with me and I often revisit it in my mind if I am surrounded by too much noise, stress, and chaos.

Favourite TV programme?

Outlander.

Favourite radio show?

Arena arts show on RTÉ Radio 1.

Your signature dish if cooking?

A simple korma dish, which does not take a huge amount of preparation, and lucky for me, the whole family loves it and it gathers them all around the table.

Favourite restaurant?

Cliff House Hotel in Ardmore.

Last book you read?

There Are Rivers In The Sky, by Elif Shafak. It stays with you long after you turn the last page. Very powerful storytelling. I now want to read everything she wrote.

Best book you read?

Wild Swans by Jung Chang. I was blessed to meet the author years ago at the Listowel Literary festival where she signed my beloved copy of her book.

Last album/CD/download you bought?

David Grey, Dear Life.

Favourite song?

Happy, by Bruce Springsteen. It is as if he wrote it for me as it is such a snapshot of my life.

One person you would like to see in concert?

This won’t be possible, but I really wish I had seen Leonard Cohen in concert.

So, alive, I guess it would be Sean Rowe, USA singer/songwriter.

Do you have a pet?

Not presently as we are still grieving the premature death of our two-year-old American Akita Ozzy in September, 2024.

Morning person or night owl?

Definitely night owl. I don’t wake up properly till about 11am after a strong coffee.

Your proudest moment?

Welcoming people to the opening of my recent solo art exhibition at the Ionad Cultúrtha in Ballyvourney, Co. Cork.

Spendthrift or saver?

Definitely a saver. Usually saving for my next travel adventure.

Name one thing you would improve in your area in which you live?

Our tap water. We are on a boiled water notice for [parts of] the last 10 years.

What makes you happy?

Family gatherings, especially when it includes our wonderful extended family. My happy place is the sea, being near it and immersed in it. I try to sea swim over the winter as I find it is incredible for my mental health.

How would you like to be remembered?

I would like to be remembered as a peace maker. I hate conflict of any kind whether it is personal, family, local or global and I will go to the nth degree to resolve it. When we have a choice to live in harmony and peace with one another, why would we choose anything else.

What else are you up to at the moment?

I have been winding up my solo exhibition in Ballyvourney.

I am preparing and working on new art work which will be featured on the window of Art on Main Street in Macroom in April. The owner Micheal is a wonderful supporter of local artists and promotes artists given any opportunity.

• See mariahealyartist.com