In 1998, at a crossroads in our careers, my husband Jim and I decided it was time for a change. We had our first home in Balbriggan, but we were ready for a new adventure somewhere in the country.
So, in true Jim-and-me fashion, we left it to a toss of a coin: heads for Limerick, tails for Cork. Tails it was!
We sold our home, packed up a truck and set off on our life-changing adventure. By 1999, we had settled in Glanmire, where we began building a new life, making friends and becoming part of our wonderful community.
In 2003, our lives changed again when I became the very proud mammy of twins, Josef and Eva. Both developed a real affinity for science and have gone on to complete their studies: Eva with a master’s in science from UCD and Josef from MTU. Watching them grow, discover their passions and find their own paths has been one of my greatest joys.
Jim, my soulmate, and I married right in the middle of Italia ’90. I often think about those extraordinary days and how Ireland seemed to become something even more special on the world stage. It was also a time when our economy was beginning to open up and change, bringing with it new opportunities and possibilities.
My own career in recruitment began in 1986, when everything was manual. Fax paper faded, so you copied everything as soon as it arrived. A far cry from the world of recruitment today! Over the years, I have had the privilege of working with multinational recruitment firms and have received numerous awards for performance and innovation across recruitment and business.
But for me, it has never simply been about the job. It is about the passion for what I do and, most importantly, the people.
People have always been at the heart of my career and my life.
Outside of work, my greatest happiness comes from spending time with Jim, our children and our little miniature Jack Russell, JoJo (my third child, of course!), along with our close circle of family and friends. The people in my life mean everything to me.
When I’m not working, I love cooking, interiors and getting stuck into an up-cycling project. My home is my happy place, and my table sits right at the centre of it all.
For me, the table represents family, friendship, food, stories, laughter and connection. A warm welcome is always there for anyone who crosses our threshold.
Looking back, that toss of a coin in 1998 changed everything. What began as a decision between Limerick and Cork became the start of a wonderful chapter in Glanmire, a chapter filled with career adventures, family, friendships, love, and a life built around the people who matter most.
