My Weekend: Friday is my rest day..I like to spend it catching up with friends

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your work:

My name is Lucy Holmes, and I’m 24 years old. I am from Dungarvan in County Waterford, but lived in Cork for the five years of my college degree.

I studied Biomedical Science which is a joint degree offered by both UCC and MTU. I began my degree in September 2020 during covid (after not sitting a Leaving Cert). The first year and a half of my course was completely online, which was very difficult as I couldn’t get to know any of my classmates.

Thankfully, from the second semester of the second year, things began to return to normal and we were back on campus. I graduated in 2025, and since September 2025, I have been living in Dublin.

After graduating, I worked in the laboratories of the Mercy University Hospital for three months of summer 2025 before moving to Dublin.

I am now concentrating on my athletics career (for the time being). I am really really enjoying being able to give my running my full attention now and see how I can progress. I recently won my first national senior title in the 1500m at the Indoor Championships, so I hope I can build on this for the summer.

What is your ideal way to spend a Friday night?

My ideal Friday night is definitely a chill evening at home. Friday is my rest day from training every week so I like to spend it catching up with friends for coffee, going for a nice walk or going for a wander around town. Then back home in the evening for dinner and a movie.

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

I am definitely not a morning person, but I get up each morning between 8.30am and 9am. My training sessions are usually afternoon or evening.

Does work creep into your weekend at all?

My ‘work’ at the moment is my training, so that still happens on the weekends, but I love it. Saturday morning track sessions and Sunday long runs.

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

My bucket list destination is Japan, but I don’t think a weekend would be enough...so for a weekend city break I would love to visit Switzerland or Austria. It would probably be a girls trip.

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

At home, a walk along the greenway is always lovely or Clonea beach. While being here in Dublin, I’ve enjoyed going to the sauna and ice bath with my housemate as part of our recovery.

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

Yes, I love catching up with family and friends on the weekend. Whether that be here in Dublin or back home. I don’t get home too often so when I do, I try to catch up with as many of my friends as I can, and of course spend time with my family too.

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

I’m really, really lucky at the moment that my hobby is my ‘work’. I love watching athletics on TV too.

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

I would probably choose to be entertained, as I love tasting other people’s cooking. I love cooking too and I make a nice Thai green curry.

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

I definitely miss some of my favourite coffee spots and restaurants in Cork. My go to coffee spots are Bright Side (yummy matcha and unreal loaded banana bread.), Dulce Bun House (unbelievable cakes and pastries too) and Alchemy (love their Mochas). For brunch/lunch my favourite is Spitjack. I also love Liberty Grill or Lea’s at the Glucksman. You also can’t beat heading to the Marina Market, I absolutely love Poulet Vous (loaded fries of bao buns are amazing). For dinner or a special meal I have to go with Market Lane.

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

Sunday night is usually spent recovering from my long run

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

I’m always up at 8.30/9am.