My Weekend: 'I'd pay good money to be a morning person'

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your work:

I was born and raised in Sydney to Irish parents, and came over to Cork city with my family when I was a teenager. I’m a bit of an anomaly amongst Irish people in that respect; usually, people are going in the opposite direction. You’d miss the sun alright, but I’ve found a true home here in Cork and I’ll always come back to it. The Irish are my people.

I work in the marketing department at the brilliant Everyman and recently co-founded a DIY digital community radio station called éist. I’m pretty artsy, but I’m in a constant state of “getting back into my practice” when it comes to music, writing, and so on. But I’m learning to enjoy whatever I’m doing in the moment, whether it’s bad or good, with less notions of the artistic outcome, which has been incredibly freeing.

What is your ideal way to spend a Friday night?

Either chilling at home or heading to a show, gig or an event. At the time of writing, there is a club night coming up called Ar Ais Arís, a Galway-based party and label. They provide a safe space for counter-culture in Galway with high quality, diverse and inclusive electronic music events, and I’m stoked to get to go dance in the newly minted Savoy for this Cork edition.

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

Would pay good money to be a morning person, but I am forever sleeping through any morning larks.

Does work creep into your weekend at all?

éist work often happens at the weekend. We meet in our studio above plugd records on Cornmarket St once a month on a Sunday, and then there’s other bits I’m getting up to, like recording my show, The Sky Was Pink, that goes out on éist monthly on a Sunday.

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

If money truly were no object I would take a weekend city break to Paris and just not return. My aunt, who took me for grinds in secondary school, instilled a love of the French language in me, and I studied French in college. I would bring a friend and a French-English dictionary. Either that or to London to see some theatre. Working at The Everyman has awakened a love of theatre in me that had been dormant for some years.

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

I have a fascination with the big houses in the Irish countryside, the ones that historically belonged to the Anglo-Irish landed gentry. Not very patriotic of me probably, but the rolling lawns and old oaks bring me a sense of ease and a kind of bewitching intimacy with history.

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

Sometimes I might go out to visit my wonderful mum or a brother, or go wander to plugd with a friend.

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

At the moment, I’m singing more. It’s a huge joy - learning a new song (eg. folk song Hares on the Mountain) and then facing the fear and singing in front of people. The Thursday Gables session is open and inclusive and great for that craic.

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

I love having people over when I do. Been cooking a mean bean stew topped with halloumi recently.

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

Coffee: Filter on George’s Quay (I think there is still an exhibition of éist show artwork and logo), or plugd. Lunch: Can’t beat the new My Goodness café at the Quay Co-op. Special meal: my family all went to the restaurant at Ballymaloe over Christmas, amazing scenes.

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

Trying to stay off Vinted, of which I am ignominiously addicted, and doing Open Heart Meditation.

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

7.30am. Hopefully early enough to get into work on time with the dreaded 208 bus route.

Anything else you are up to right now...

We’re working away on the marketing for a brand-new musical called The House Must Win by Mick Flannery, starring Tommy Tiernan amongst other brilliant actors, coming to The Everyman this May, amongst the hundreds of other upcoming shows. It’s a busy house!

The Everyman will launch their new season on April 21. See www.everymancork.com.