How would I describe myself?

Well, let‘s just say I‘m a woman who likes to keep busy. When others write about me they normally mention that i’m a former Miss Ireland/model/journalist/TV presenter/party girl/best – selling author and mum of two.It‘s been a colourful journey to reach this point in my life, but at 35 years – old I only feel I‘m starting to get my grove on.
While my children and family are my life , my writing is my passion which continues to give me such joy – even when I end up working late into the night because the kids kept me up past 10 p m ! I love being able to make people laugh and distract them from the real world and their own problems for a time.

Although I left school at 16 years old without any formal qualifications instead I tell people I’ve “A” grades from the school of life. I went onto win the Miss Ireland competition aged 17 and that‘s where my career as I know it began.

As a chick who was never quite sure when to keep her mouth shut, I got myself into all sorts of trouble in the Irish media down through the years and even though I‘ve been bitten on the bum many times, I still struggle to reign in my tongue from time-time.

Though my days of slandering Bishops and mentioning anal – bleaching on breakfast TV are well behind me – let’s hope.Because the great man himself Bono was a neighbour of mine, I was introduced to the world of celebrity from a very young age. I remember as a child cursing the noise my brother Edward and Bono used to make on their guitars. I don’t think they were EVER in tune.

Now since my brother has passed away, I would give anything to hear that noise again. Of course, Bono’s musical skills have improved greatly, and I continue to be very proud of all his achievements and of the fact that I can call him a friend.

Although my wild or lost years weren’t in fact as wild as other people thought, I will admit that I had the best fun. Yes, I would be the first and last woman dancing on the furniture in Renards (my favourite VIP nightclub in Dublin.) Yes, I drank many men under the table (I am Irish after all), and yes, I met some of the most fascinating characters along the way. But no, there is nothing, not a second of my life that I would change. I don’t believe in regrets… and without being too deep, I believe it got me to where I am today.

 

---

---

 

While winning the Miss Ireland in 1991 (yes, I do feel old when I say that) helped me build my name in Ireland, it was really when I became a journalist with Ireland’s biggest selling newspaper The Sunday World (check my links) that my career took direction. At first a social columnist, and then later as a celebrity interviewer, I met some of the biggest names in showbiz along with many wannabes, and everytime the stars proved their worth.

Since 2000 they have nurtured and supported me through everything I have done and for that I am entirely grateful.

Although I can technically call myself a TV presenter thanks to The Dinner Part and The Podge & Rodge Show, it‘s been guesting on other peoples TV shows that I’ve taken part in. Whether I‘ve been running a radio station on Inside Charity 252, shattering people‘s eardrums while singing on Charity You’re A Star, or murdering a jig on Celebrity Jigs & Reels, I‘d like to think I’ve kept a shred of dignity through out ha! Maybe not.

But it’s probably been the TV appearances with my mother Betty that I‘ve enjoyed the most. Like the good penny she has turned up with me when I’ve been reporting from the Caribbean for No Frontiers – TWICE ! Made the documentary Mother Knows Best with me, and ended up proving the title right & has also followed me onto shows such as the legendary Late Late Show & Seoige with
very little encouragement from me!

 

But of course my proudest achievement to date is becoming a mommy. Indeed I did come across some flack for posing for the front covers of Capital and VIP magazines with this image of me doing a Demi….

 

But I was very excited to be pregnant first time round and was more than happy to show the world. I didn‘t bother recreating it second time round, but instead took off another famous image of the classic American Beauty pose with Mena Suvari, but with a slightly more Oirish slant thanks to four stone of spuds. I was of course publicising my newly Slender figure, after loosing four stone in weight thanks to the Slender X cellerate tablets I had been taking.