logo
Smear tests, magic knickers and having a laugh – Being an older, bolder, wiser version of Vogue Williams is comedy gold

Smear tests, magic knickers and having a laugh – Being an older, bolder, wiser version of Vogue Williams is comedy gold

Anyway, I was 'working' in the home, minding the kids, and running the house and very conscious of the increasing pressure on my self-employed husband who was trying to earn enough to keep our little boat afloat. Our kids were 23, 12 and 10 and the oldest was about to emigrate. It was time for me to go back to paid work. We were broke.
Before being a 'housewife' I had worked for a national charity as their PRO and fundraising manager. I had skills. I had experience. I knew that the recession might mean it would take a bit longer to gain employment, but I never doubted that I would get a job. Boy, was I wrong.
I hadn't bargained for the fact that my approaching 50th birthday, coupled with the 10-year gap on my CV where my career used to live, rendered me not one bit attractive to an employer. Oh yes, sexism with ageism is a lethal cocktail.
It took me until early 2012, as I turned 50, to finally realise that my chances of getting a job were remote. We desperately needed the money and so I needed to do something. In the end I decided to focus on what I loved most – writing and talking and see if I could paid that way.
So began a long apprenticeship, learning to write opinion pieces for the papers and contributing to radio – both local and national. It was not lucrative but it was enjoyable, and I felt that it might lead to other opportunities. But had you told me, at any time, during the last 13 years, that in 2025 I would be touring my own one woman show, I would have laughed in your face in disbelief.
Now let's be clear. I am not playing the 3 Arena or even Vicar Street (yet), but I am delivering my show, called Older, Bolder, Wiser in what promoters would call 'intimate venues' around the country and I am delighted that that includes playing the Wexford Arts Centre this Friday, May 23.
Older Bolder Wiser is sort of a follow-up to a book that I wrote during Covid, which was published in 2022 called Wise Up. I had always wanted to write a book and as I cruised towards my late 50s I realised that life post menopause was not at all what I was expecting it to be. It was far better. I wondered why no one told women about the freedoms and the fun of these later decades.
After the book came out, I was invited to various places to give talks on what could loosely be called 'positive ageing' and I realised that I was a woman on a mission. And that mission is to tell women (of all ages) not to buy into the consumerist messaging around anti ageing and other nonsense. Because yes, your looks do change as you age but if you become obsessed with that fact, you miss out on what getting older is actually about.
Once you are through menopause, life is full of delicious freedoms. We are living longer and healthier and so our 60s and 70s provide the opportunity for all kinds of mischief, boldness, reinvention, experimentation or just the chance to have some fun. It is then that I believe women step into their true matriarchal power.
Through Wise Up I met two women who were organising the first Funny Women comedy show since the pandemic and they rather 'assertively' encouraged me to take part. I was very unconvinced that I could do comedy, but in an effort to practice what I preach (the gospel of 'sure why not try') I thought I would give it a shot. And I got bitten by the stand-up comedy bug.
I discovered that making people laugh is the most wonderful privilege. I have also realised that as older people, we have so many stories, so much experience, and much of it is comedy gold. So, I am mining my own life for the pure hilarity; tales about smear tests and so-called magic knickers, about navigating the world as a 6-foot-tall woman and the absurdities of getting older. There is so much to guffaw about.
But the best thing about doing this show is that it is giving me the opportunity to meet so many women all over the country, giddy women with their own stories. Oh yes, we can all be Vogue Williams and Joanne McNally….. only we are older, bolder, wiser!!
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Wednesday showrunner reveals Ireland was always the plan for hit series
Wednesday showrunner reveals Ireland was always the plan for hit series

Extra.ie​

time7 hours ago

  • Extra.ie​

Wednesday showrunner reveals Ireland was always the plan for hit series

Ahead of the release of season two on Netflix this week, more fun facts are emerging about the making of the hit series Wednesday. The second season moved production to Ireland, after season one was shot in Romania, and it turns out, Ireland was always on the cards. When visiting the Wednesday set in Ashford Studios, Geek Ireland got to speak to Showrunner Alfred Gough about finally getting the series to Ireland, where he and his co-showrunner, Miles Millar, shot their previous show. Geek Ireland's Olivia Fahy on the set of Wednesday in Ashford Studios Pic: Netflix He then revealed that this was where they had planned to shoot season one, but they hit a few too many bumps in the road to get it here from the off. He shared: 'We shot our last series here, so we've been to Ireland before and we love it. So it's been fantastic to get back here and that's one of the reasons why Ireland was on the list for Wednesday. 'We tried to get here in season one, and it was right after the pandemic when everything was starting to, at least the film world, was opening up again. Geek Ireland's Olivia Fahy on the set of Wednesday in Ashford Studios Pic: Netflix 'And literally between Brexit and the rush of other productions, we couldn't [set up here]. There were no stages [available] here. 'Even the areas for our last show, Into the Badlands, like old warehouses that we had shot in, I think had become COVID test centres or like package depots because of Brexit, so there was literally nothing to do. 'So we ended up in Romania for season one, which, you know, worked out great. It gave us all the space that we needed, but it wasn't really conducive for a long term television show So when we had the opportunity to come to Ireland, we all jumped on it.' Emma Myers as Enid Sinclair, Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams in Wednesday Pic: Vlad Cioplea/Netflix Production designer Philip Murphy even went as far as to say that he believed the series was even written with Ireland in mind as the shooting location, proving just how much of a grá Gough and Millar have for our shores. He elaborated: 'They [Gough and Millar] had the idea for the show while they were in Ireland and actually they had Ireland in mind [for the shoot] with a lot of the locations in Wicklow. 'Unfortunately, when it came time to produce it, there wasn't capacity in Ireland to take the show and, whilst I know they had a wonderful time in Romania, I think a little part of them always wanted to be here.' Joonas Suotamo as Lurch, Catherine Zeta-Jones as Morticia Addams, Jenna Ortega as Wednesday, Isaac Ordonez aș Pugsley Addams, Thing and Luis Guzmán as Gomez Addams. Pic: Helen Sloan/Netflix So with so many sets and teams already established here in Ireland, should we assume we're going to be the filming location for the recently announce third season? Philip added at the time of our set visit: 'It's been great fun working on the show, and we're all hoping that it comes back for a season three. That's the big wish.' Fingers crossed that's still the plan!

‘Harry & Meg's rings will stay on but separation is coming,' says ‘Living Nostradamus' as he makes explosive prediction
‘Harry & Meg's rings will stay on but separation is coming,' says ‘Living Nostradamus' as he makes explosive prediction

The Irish Sun

time12 hours ago

  • The Irish Sun

‘Harry & Meg's rings will stay on but separation is coming,' says ‘Living Nostradamus' as he makes explosive prediction

Plus, a return to the Royal Family fold, but not as you'd imagine ALL SEEING 'Harry & Meg's rings will stay on but separation is coming,' says 'Living Nostradamus' as he makes explosive prediction AWAY from the cameras, far from the glamour and the monarchy, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are said to be preparing for a new chapter. And it may be their most explosive yet, according to the unprecedented predictions of Athos Salomé, 38, aka the 'Living Nostradamus'. 4 Harry and Meghan 'will move towards a symbolic separation by the end of 2026' Credit: Reuters He points to a "symbolic separation", business transformations, and a surprising attempt at reconciliation with the Crown by the end of 2026. Silent separation According to Brazilian Salomé - who claims to have predicted the pandemic and the death of The Queen in 2022 - there will be no formal divorce. Instead, he believes the media-savvy pair's physical and professional distance will be evident with separate residences, increasingly incompatible schedules, and carefully orchestrated communication. He claims: 'It's a divorce in image, not on paper. The world will see Meghan and Harry more distant, each following their own script, but the ring will still be there.' Return to Royal Family 4 Harry could partially return to the Royal Family with work commitments Credit: AP Against all expectations, Harry may make a partial return to the Crown in 2026, Salomé suggests, through events related to war veterans and projects with young people. However, he believes this is not an official return to the heart of the Royal Family. Salomé says: 'It will be a peripheral, almost diplomatic position, to maintain bridges and reduce institutional tensions.' Only recently, secret meetings between Harry's advisers and representatives of Buckingham Palace were revealed to have taken place, which the medium claims are 'behind-the-scenes peace talks'. Meghan's goodbye to royalty & hello to wellness From Duchess to lifestyle executive - Salomé suggests Megan could abandon any narrative ties to the monarchy and take full control of her As Ever brand. 4 Meghan's brand As Ever has been a big success so far Credit: INSTAGRAM/ASEVER Her new female empire will focus on artisanal products, healthy beverages, and digital content on wellness. Salomé also suggests Meghan will diversify even further 'with partnerships in mental health technologies, including apps integrated into self-care routines'. Who is the 'Living Nostradamus'? Athos Salomé, 37, from Brazil, claims to have previously predicted the Covid pandemic, invasion of Ukraine and the death of The Queen. He has been likened to Nostradamus, the famous 16th-century seer who has had plenty of his cryptic prophecies come somewhat true over the centuries since his death. The mystic astrologer wrote 6,338 prophecies, including when, where and how our world will dramatically end. Salomé, like the seer, has devout followers with whom he shares his predictions for the future. Salomé clarified that the events he predicts are not necessarily set in stone, and that he does not intend to cause panic with them. And not all of them are correct or true; in 2022 he claimed that the world would see the arrivals of zombies, and he also predicted that a satanic figure from the Bible would present itself at some point in 2023. From Netflix to where? With their Netflix contract coming to an end, the couple could be looking to negotiate a new 'first-look deal' with platforms such as Paramount+ or Max. But unlike in the past, Salomé believes the new projects could have more flexible clauses, without the pressure of "autobiographical content", and he suggests that Meghan will work behind the scenes as an executive producer — away from the cameras this time. Salomé predicts a 50% chance of signing a new contract by 2026, focusing on themed series, documentaries and content aimed at millennial female audiences. 4 'Living Nostradamus' Athos Salomé Credit: @athos_salome/Instagram Back to basics Columnist Caroline Bullock recently revealed why she thinks this new chapter for Harry and Meghan is the start of the end. Following Netflix pulling the plug on its £100m deal with the Sussexes, the question left on everyone's lips is; where do they go from here? The 18-bed Montecito mansion luxe lifestyle doesn't come cheap, and Caroline believes "the pair [have] run out of interesting things to say - family mud-slinging and royal revelations aside". Caroline believes now is a perfect opportunity for Harry to "get back to basics and be true to himself, which means a shift away from celebrity and tacky commercial work to charity work and projects with more substance". "Prince Harry's official visit to Angola last week – retracing his mother Princess Diana's 1997 landmine walk may have attracted some criticism for copying," Caroline states. "But it is in fact a reminder of where his focus should be and true value lies."

Meet the designer creating knitwear based on Irish transport
Meet the designer creating knitwear based on Irish transport

RTÉ News​

time12 hours ago

  • RTÉ News​

Meet the designer creating knitwear based on Irish transport

Siobhán O'Reilly has tapped into our love of modern Irish symbolism by creating knitted accessories inspired by everything from the DART to the much-missed 46a Dublin Bus. Irish ephemera and symbolism are at an all-time popularity high, with more of us proudly sporting Claddaghs, triskeles and even Sheela na Gigs in our day-to-day looks. This boom has permeated through all manner of design, from jewellery and clothing to even home goods, with many eager to communicate a homegrown lexicon of in-jokes, cultural touchstones and heartfelt winks to our past. Nothing, however, could be as potent a statement about who you are as which Irish mode of transportation you're loyal to. Siobhán O'Reilly of Siobh's Knits has tapped into this by creating knitted accessories inspired by everything from the DART to the much-missed 46a Dublin Bus. Here, she talks about the allure of public transportation, being an online creative and knitting a scarf with Paul Mescal's face on it - the Mescarf. How did you start knitting? When did you take it up and why? I, like many others, wanted to take up a hobby during the first COVID lockdown. I had tried to knit as a child, but I never developed enough of an interest in it to keep it up. I was seeing videos of people making beautiful creations through knitting and crochet, and decided I wanted to give it another try. I picked up one ball of yarn and two needles, and thankfully, this time I fell in love with it. It took some practice to get better at it, but after my first project, I was hooked. Since then, I have made a variety of items, including Aran jumpers, cardigans, socks, sweater vests, and of course, the public transport hats. I have found such a great community through fibre arts, and I cherish the friendships I have made because of it. What is it about Irish ephemera, and especially Irish transport, that inspired you? My inspiration comes mostly from what I am surrounded by and the media I consume. I love bright colours, and I like wearing colourful outfits. I had been knitting hats to use up scrap yarn from other projects, but I was getting a bit tired of the same colour combinations. Seeing the DART pull up one day, I realised it would be quite easy to adapt the blocks of colours to the type of hats I had been making. I made one for a friend who loved trains. I felt inspired by this idea, so I then made a series of hats inspired by different types of public transport. I finished the first hat in May 2023, but it wasn't until March 2025 that people picked up on it after I posted a video on social media. Colourwork is my favourite thing to knit, so I challenged myself to knit Paul Mescal's face onto a scarf. I nicknamed this the Mescarf. It was a fun project, so I decided to make a tapestry of CMAT. There is so much talent in Ireland, and I think it is important to acknowledge that. These are both very talented individuals who I admire, and I am hoping to add to this series with more Irish icons. With the 46a now dearly departed, is there a part of your work that tries to preserve or resurrect parts of our collective past? The reaction to the 46a hat has been unbelievable. It is a testament to the bond people have to their community, their routines, and to public transport in general. Nostalgia is powerful, and I imagine the 46a evokes fond memories for a lot of people; whether they or their family members were bus drivers, they took that bus to work or college, or they used it to meet up with friends. Seeing this connection to this route and others has been lovely to experience. It inspired me to look into the old liveries of different buses, and many have messaged me to talk about buses they used to get. We see buses passing by on roads constantly, especially in cities, so I want to capture the colours that people would associate with the public transport from different times of their lives. You sell your designs in online drops, what has that been like as a creative? I am currently undertaking a PhD in the University of Limerick, so I have found releasing the hats as drops has been a great way to keep a balance. It is also an exciting way of releasing products, and it's been a motivating factor for me. Each hat is handknit by me, so they take a lot of time to complete. I think this makes them feel special as they are not something you can come across in a shop, yet. During the times between drops, I love thinking and researching for new colourways. The people who follow me on social media have been really helpful in letting me know what they want to see, so it feels like a collective effort. Irish symbolism has never been so popular in fashion, with Claddaghs, Triskeles, and other traditional designs becoming a short hand for a certain type of fashion lover. What's behind this, as someone also championing Irish design? I have loved watching Irish designs become so popular in recent years. There are many amazing brands and artists like Aoife Cawley, Pellador, and Beir Bua, to name a few, who are championing Irish design. What I really admire is the ability to take Irish symbolism and ephemera and make it modern and fashionable. I think previously, fashion trends were largely dictated by what high-ranking celebrities were wearing, whereas now it seems that people are opting to support small businesses and homegrown talent. Fast-fashion can pose an environmental issue when the pieces are low quality and break down easily. The pieces I have purchased from various Irish designers have been great quality, so I think that is another important aspect to consider. The talent in the country is amazing and should not be overlooked. You're from Limerick, a part of the country with its own rich visual heritage. Is there anything you'd like to champion from your home county in your designs that you haven't already? I have a lot of love for Limerick. There is nothing I enjoy more than walking through the markets, going to a nice café and visiting any new art exhibitions happening in the city. The first bus hat I made was for the 304, which runs from the University of Limerick and goes through the city. I am looking forward to making a piece inspired by Limerick. I am considering making something centred around the Three Bridges. I feel this is a quintessential part of the city and would make a really nice design. There are so many beautiful parts of the city and county – I wish it was possible to encapsulate it all on a jumper. What's next for you? In the immediate future, I have my third hat drop coming up in September. I would like to be able to get my designs out to more people, but for the moment, I am going to continue focusing on these drops. I really enjoyed making the Buses of Ireland sweater vest, so I am hoping to expand on that series after the drop. I am currently working on making a vest jacket out of moquette, which is the fabric used on bus seats (it is new and clean!) so I am excited to see how it turns out. There are a few other exciting projects coming up in the future, so I am being kept busy!

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store