Kathleen Watkins With her new children’s book, Happy Christmas, Pigín! on the shelves, Kathleen talks to Donal O’Donoghue about childhood, career and husband, Gay
Watkins’ own most magical days include her daughters’ weddings as well as holding her grandchildren for the rst time. Another wonderful day was her marriage to Gay Byrne in June 1964, some seven years a er they rst met. “Something dreadful happened last year when I accidentally threw out my wedding and engagement rings,” she adds. “I was having a check-up in hospital and put the rings into tissue paper. Later, thinking it was rubbish, I threw it out. at was not a magical day! I now wear this ring which Gay gave me but I’ll have to get another wedding ring.”
A few years back, when asked the secret of a good marriage, Gay Byrne o ered ‘compromise’ as a key factor. He also conceded that he can be a bit quick-tempered but what rapidly defuses any potential powder-keg situation at home is his wife’s laughter. “With Gay’s condition, simple things can take on major importance,” says Kathleen. “Like one time, he lost a zapper and I was telling him ‘Don’t worry Gay, it’s only a piece of plastic’. But with all those ghastly things being poured into him, it changes a person and silly things take on major signi cance.”
Does Gay listen to her? “We will discuss things always and yes, we can have di ering opinions,” she says. “For example, he thinks I spoil the grandchildren. As for him going back to work, well, I’m there every day and I believe that for a man of 84 who is going through what he is going through, I don’t think it would be good to go back right now. Gay loves radio so much and would love to be doing his Sunday thing but while he goes out walking every day, some days he’s exhausted. Of course, people would love him to go back on radio but I’m with the person, the patient, day in, day out and I know what’s best for him.”
Shortly a erwards, the man himself drops by, with walking stick and at cap, having ambled the short distance from the couple’s home. “Oh here is Gay now!” says Kathleen with a wide smile. Was he at the recent unveiling of a Beatles plaque at the old Adelphi cinema in Dublin? “Oh yes, I helped the Lord Mayor pull a string,” he say drolly. And did he not also turn down Paul McCartney’s request to be the Fab Four’s manager? He nods. “Yes, I told him that I didn’t even have a manager myself.” Across the table, his wife smiles at her husband, who for years, when asked about retirement, retorted with the line ‘Keep her going Patsy’. e same could be said of his wife.