CELEBRITIES SHARE THEIR POST-LOCKDOWN DREAMS
WITH summer upon us and lockdown, with any luck, becoming a thing of the past, as quick as we can get the Guinness kegs hooked to the taps again, we’re turning our attention to life after the restrictions are lifted.
Some of our favourite famous faces told FIONNUALA MORAN what they’re most looking forward to after lockdown.
Mairéad Ronan
Ireland’s Fittest Family host Mairéad Ronan has her heart set on pleasures closer to home.
‘The only thing I’m looking forward to, mine is really sad, it’s actually chicken wings and cocktails in The Baths in Clontarf. Myself and Louis walk down there — it’s really close to the house — and walk home. It’s one of those places we can get a babysitter for easily because my sister lives around the corner. When you’re going on a big, big night out it’s a bit more [hassle], you’re getting all dolled up and going out to 2 o’clock in the morning. I don’t even want one of those nights, I just want the chicken wings and cocktails in The Baths in Clontarf.’
Dáithí Ó Sé
The Rose of Tralee might have been cancelled but Kerryman Dáthí Ó Sé still has plenty to look forward to in the coming weeks and months.
‘It’s on two levels I suppose. On the national world scale level, that kind of level of tension that’s there at the moment that has us all just a small bit on edge. I want that just to go away. That’s what I’m looking forward to. And I suppose, just doing the normal things like going out for a bit of dinner, meeting the lads for a pint, playing a game of cards, meeting up with the family.’
In the meantime he’s asking us to enjoy hosting a Virtual Tea Day on May 7 to raise money for the Alzheimer Society of Ireland and added: ‘It’s the simple things I think that most people will go back to, I think that we’re looking forward to. But I suppose to get that normality we just have to be very very diligent these days.’
Tara Stewart
2FM DJ Tara Stewart is looking forward to returning to one of Dublin’s most beloved pubs. She’ll be making a beeline to South William Street after lockdown. ‘I cannot wait to go to Grogan’s. I’m going to get a ham and cheese toastie with a rake of mustard, and I’d love to sound cool and say a pint of Guinness but I’m probably going to get a prosecco because it’s my little secret that prosecco is really cheap in Grogan’s so I’ll get a bottle of prosecco as well.’
Tommy Martin
With sports fixtures falling off the calendar, Annagry native Tommy Martin has been redeployed to entertain us on Ireland AM during lockdown. When it’s lifted, he’s counting the minutes until he can head to the north-west of the country. ‘I can’t wait to go to Donegal and just walk on Carrickfin beach and jump in the Atlantic for a swim. Really missing that sort of feeling of the wild Atlantic when you’re stuck in Dublin many miles away... What I wouldn’t give to be there now.’
Mark Moriarty
Beyond the Menu’s Mark Moriarty is back on our screens from Wednesday, May 6 fronting RTÉ One’s new series CookIn. The chef is looking forward to simple pleasures post-lockdown. ‘I can’t wait to just sit outside a pub somewhere and just have a pint of Guinness. I’m a simple man. I’m hoping God knows when pubs and restaurants might open that there’ll be a bit of fine weather because I’m down here in Kerry and it’s splitting the stones and it’s like, “Ugh, another walk!” I’ve never done so much walking in all my life. That’s actually the good part because I’m usually so busy inside in the kitchen, so as bad as it is at the moment, it’s been nice to be able to spend a bit more time in the fresh air and get up and have breakfast in the morning, simple things like that.’
Anna Geary
Affection is one of the main things Anna Geary is going to enjoy when she gets her freedom back.
‘I’m a big hugger so I find it really hard to not hug people. I sometimes hug people I meet for the first time even inappropriately if it should be a handshake, I hug them. Now I can’t do that so that’s really hard.
‘Hugging my mam and my friends for a little bit longer than is probably comfortable, just to make them feel it, is what I’m really looking forward to,’ the Corkonian said.
‘To sit and have a breakfast — it’s my favourite meal of the day, I love going out for breakfast — and a cup of coffee with my mam and my friends, people-watching in a public place with the hustle and bustle and background noise.
‘It’s a really simple thing that you take for granted.’
As for the spot she’s most excited to do that in, the Today FM presenter stated: ‘I actually love going for blueberry pancakes in Avoca in Dunboyne. They are the best pancakes and then my mam gets to wander around and pick up the few bits in the garden centre. So she’s happy out.’