Couple’s love proves to be unforgettable
Paul O’Loughlin Kennedy lost his memory after contracting meningitis a month after he started dating wife Alva, writes Andrea Smith
THEY first met back in 1989 when they were involved in a production of The Pyjama Girl for St Michael’s Past Pupils Dramatic Society, but Paul and Alva O’Loughlin Kennedy were initially intimidated by each other. Alva, then 19, wasn’t a past pupil but had been drafted into the production by a college friend, Joanne. She told her to pass on greetings to “Little Locky”, as Paul, then 21, was known.
Paul was stage manager and arrived at rehearsals fit and tanned and fresh off the plane from 10 weeks in Australia. He was all action as the set-building was way behind schedule, and Alva was overawed by his dynamism. He, in turn, couldn’t believe “this gorgeous looking bird” with the “sensational voice” was coming over to speak to him. Happily, there were a few nights out and they got together during the run and managed to deflect the teasing from the rest about their “showmance”.
“We were going out about two weeks when we realised that this was it, which was crazy, scary and exciting all at the same time,” says Alva, now 48. “Paul is very kind and generous and I was attracted to his ambition and ability to get things done. He can manage and drive people in a very fair and nice way.”
They were dating only a month when Paul contracted meningococcal meningitis. He was critically ill and spent five days in a coma. Alva sat by the ICU bed the whole time, but when Paul came round, he had lost the last two years of his memory. “He had no idea who I was,” says Alva, “but he kept holding my hand and didn’t want me to leave. The doctor explained that facts and figures disappear when you have amnesia but emotions stay with you, and we had a very deep bond. He was covered in tubes but after a few days, he asked me if I’d go to the cinema when he was better.”
When Paul was discharged, he was confined to home for six months and Alva hung out there the whole time. He was very lucky as while doctors didn’t expect him to survive, he only lost partial hearing in one ear and suffered headaches and tinnitus. Alva and Paul were married after four years, and they have two children, Sophie (20) who is studying agricultural science at UCD and Leaving Cert student Alice (18). The girls are talented dancers and have always been involved in performing and stage schools. Alva chaperoned them a lot and taught singing herself.
Alva had harboured ambitions of studying theatre studies at Trinity but couldn’t attend the audition due to being in a car crash. She ended up studying marketing and Spanish and performed at wedding ceremonies and with various musical societies. “Alva is a phenomenal performer and great fun,” says Paul, proudly. She also had an interesting childhood, as when she was seven, her family, including mum Betty and sisters Lisa and Shona, moved to Hong Kong for seven years as her dad, the late John MacAnaney, got a PR job there.
‘He had no idea who I was but he kept holding my hand’
Paul (52) has an interesting background too, as his parents, John, former CEO of An Taisce, and the late Kay O’Loughlin Kennedy, founded anti-hunger and poverty charity Concern in 1968 in their flat in Northumberland Road. They were inspired to do so because Paul’s uncle was a Holy Ghost priest caught up in the Nigerian-Biafran war and famine. Paul grew up in Blackrock and studied computer science at UCD, and his colourful career path took him into the pre-press printing world for the newspaper industry, corporate entertainment and overseas property. He then worked with SDL Exhibitions, who produce trade shows, and was exhibition director for the Sunday Independent Investment Property Exhibition in the mid-noughties. Then, at a time before apps were a thing, he began a company with his dad providing location-based mobile tracking software for the taxi industry called WINI.
Feeling that there was a gap for an expo around the performing arts here, Alva and Paul came up with the idea for PERFORM, which will bring together performers for a three-day festival at the RDS this month aimed at musicians, choirs, musical theatre groups, dancers, gymnasts, acrobats, singers, actors and bands. Featuring stars from stage and screen, including Kimberly Wyatt (Pussycat Dolls), Adam Garcia (Got To Dance UK), singer and impressionist Christina Bianco, the MC is the inimitable RuPaul Ryder. There will be 170 workshops, masterclasses and seminars with local and international experts, including choreographers, vocal coaches, actors, musicians and make up artists. There will also be opportunities to talk to Irish and UK performing arts colleges and associations about courses, as well as opportunities to audition with entertainment agencies and be scouted.
There will be 150 groups performing on the main stage over the weekend and Paul has used his expo experience to make sure that the sound will be optimised and contained. Even for those who don’t perform themselves, it sounds like the entertainment will be great.
Laudably, the surplus made will go into bursaries and scholarships to help performers.
While it is stressful putting it all together with so many elements involved, Paul and Alva try to remember to take time out to date each other. “We’re best friends,” says Paul,” and we love working together too.”