My Weekend: 'I wish I was a morning person..but I love a lie-in'

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your work:

My name is Heidi Mackin, and I’m from Carrigaline. My parents were raised in Carrigaline, and the majority of my aunts and cousins are still living here, so it’s nice to have them so close.

I played a lot of sport growing up; camogie, football and soccer, all with Carrigaline. At 15, I joined Cork City FC, and I’m now 20 and still playing with them. I was lucky enough to play for Ireland at U17 level, and I hope to play for my country again someday.

I’m currently studying PE and Irish secondary school teaching in UCC, and I’m really enjoying my time there. I don’t have time for a job during the year with soccer and college keeping me busy, but I coach quite often. I live at home with my parents, Jason and Lorraine, and my brother Mike lives at home too, but he lives abroad for the most part with his apprenticeship.

What is your ideal way to spend a Friday night?

With it being the night before a match, I usually go to the cinema with my friends Eimear and Aoife to switch off, or else we would go to each other’s houses and watch either Love Island or The Traitors.

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

I wish I was a morning person but I have to admit, I love a lie in.

Does work creep into your weekend at all?

No, unless we’ve an away game, I’m fortunate enough to have a lot of time to myself at the weekend.

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

I would definitely jet off to Lisbon for a few days, or else I’d like to go on a holiday to La Manga in Spain with my family because we used to go there a lot growing up to visit my grandmother, and we have wanted to go back there for a while to enjoy some sun.

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

I’m really lucky that I’m close to the beach so I go to Fountainstown sometimes. Or else I bring my dogs on a walk; there’s a nice spot by the Owenabue River I like to go to, and if I’ve got a lot of time I bring them on a walk in Haulbowline.

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

I love going for a walk and coffee with friends to catch up, and I like to go out for food with my parents and brother when we get the chance. I meet my aunty Anne for breakfast a lot, and we sit for hours chatting. I’ve a godson, Sammy, and a lot of my cousins have young kids of their own, and I love playing with them, although I should probably see them more often. I love spending time with them and watching them grow up.

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

I love GAA, I haven’t played in a while, but I like watching the big games on the TV and I’ve a lot of friends playing ladies football with Carrigaline, so I try to get to their matches as much as possible. I also love listening to music. Very random, but I love a good sudoku as well.

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

My parents love to host and cook; I stick to the cleaning and stay away from the cooking, otherwise the guests would go home with food poisoning.

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

I love the Lodge out in Myrtleville in the summertime, and I love the Italians in town, but Scoozis or Roosters are where I go the most. I’m a regular in Three Fools and Bean and Leaf for my coffee.

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

We usually play on Saturdays, so Sunday is my lazy day. We have a roast religiously, and I relax after my dinner by walking the dogs or watching back the game from the day before.

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

The latest time possible before I have to leave for college, I love my sleep.

Anything else you are up to right now...

Currently spending a lot of the time with family and friends and enjoying the sun, when it’s here. We’re in the middle of the season right now, so it’s quite a busy time with a lot of games.