‘You learn more about people as a waitress’
Claire Hanna (39) is an SDLP MLA. She lives in Belfast with her husband Donal Lyons and their three children, Eimear (7), Aideen (5) and Niamh (2). She says:
Ihad a paper round when I was about 11 or 12. I delivered newspapers to houses around the Lisburn Road. Between that and electioneering, I’ve probably been around those doors for over 20 years.
My very first ‘proper’ job was as a waitress in Ruby Tuesdays when I was 17. It was 1997 and Belfast was starting to change for the better, getting bits and pieces of nightlife and things like that.
Ruby Tuesdays was certainly one of the first restaurants on the Lisburn Road that would have opened in the evenings and on Sundays. It was a really lively spot.
I lived nearby and I was often in and out with my mates for a cup of tea or ice cream. I got to know the staff that way. They were short-handed one day and asked if I wanted to fill in. It progressed into a job from there.
My parents were very encouraging. We were taught that if we wanted to have a few quid, we had to go work for it. I think I learned more there in that couple of years about people and work than I did anywhere else.
I was waiting tables and taking orders and, on more than one occasion, I helped out in the kitchen when it got busy.
I didn’t mind, though, because I’ve always loved cooking and it definitely helped me increase my skills. When you’re trying to put out breakfast for dozens on a Sunday morning, you have to be able to work fast.
I ended up working there for about five years and I worked my way up to manager after some time.
I loved my job and I’m still friends with some of the people I worked with.
Over the years I pressed a few friends into service — they were short of cash and we were short of hours, so it worked out well.
I thought I knew everything at 18 and I had nothing to lose.
I did eventually go to university a few years later, but at the time I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do long-term.
All I knew was that I wanted to earn some money and get some life experience.
I don’t remember how much I got paid, but I’m sure it wasn’t a fortune. However, I did love having some degree of financial independence.”