How do you unwind at the weekend?
People might find this strange but I really enjoy running and am in training for the Belfast Marathon. I did one in 2019 pre-lockdown. It was the one they made too long, adding half a mile, which is a long way to go round after 26 of them. When I run, it's my head space, and I love it. I’m in east Belfast and train by going to Shaw's Bridge and past Titanic. I also play music.
What do you recall most about growing up?
Every Saturday was cream bun day and my mum would buy them from a bakery called The Brown Leaf on the Cregagh Road which no longer exists. My older brother, Neil, and I played the favourite game, eating the cream bun without licking your lips. My grandma spent weekends with us. We would have gone to St Bernard’s Church and have Sunday lunch at one o’clock. On a nice day we went for a walk in the Ards Peninsula. As a teenager, I didn’t rebel but was a bit of a goody two-shoes.
Is there a must-listen weekend radio programme or podcast?
I like podcasts while running and RunPod has interviews with celebrity runners and tips. Also Table Manners, with a mother and daughter who ask people what they ate growing up. James Nesbitt was on and mentioned Northern Irish specialities - for me, champ sums up here.
Is there a must-watch TV programme or Netflix?
Like a lot of people, I love Derry Girls. We’ve just finished Peaky Blinders which was left quite open.
Is Sunday still special?
Yes. Easter is more special in the Christian calendar although people focus on Christmas. I’ll be playing for a church group in Helen’s Bay on Easter Sunday and attending a church service at 6.15am in Belvoir Park where you can see the sun rise, weather permitting.
Do you have a favourite eatery or is it a takeaway?
I’m not a massive foodie. A Margherita pizza from one of our local pizzerias is good.
How do you feel on Sunday night about Monday morning?
In the past, Monday morning would have been teaching. Now I organise the day to day running of NI Opera and have honestly found happiness in the workplace. I support our inspirational artistic director Cameron Menzies who is very good at representing Northern Ireland’s only opera company. We’ve got the 12th Glenarm Festival of Voice at the end of August and are putting on La Traviata at the Grand Opera House in September.
