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Irish Examiner
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Doireann Healy on Bowie and Begley, going viral, Kenmare life, and her latest venture
'She used to say, 'you can be anything'.' Doireann Healy is talking about her late mother, Joan, who was, she says, 'my greatest inspiration'. Just like her daughter, Joan — who died in March — was a go-getter who embraced opportunity and life to the full. Having completed her final year of schooling in Dublin's Loreto on the Green, Joan took the advice of a teacher and applied to be PA for 'a new guy after arriving from the BBC who is launching a show called The Late Late'. That guy was, of course, Gay Byrne and Joan worked as his PA for 10 years before leaving to study her twin passions of English and history at UCD. 'Gay was family to her,' Healy says. 'Gay and Kathleen took this Kerry girl and had her out at their house all the time. They bought her first typewriter and her first bottle of perfume.' Years later, Joan would watch The Late Late Show's credits roll and comment on senior staff who in her day had been in charge of menial tasks, using the example to show her children that, with determination and graft, you can be anything. 'It inspired me to believe that you can,' says Healy, who has been taking her mother's sage advice and running with it ever since. The industrious Kenmare woman is possibly best known for her Begley & Bowie-brand vibrant slogan sweatshirts, but she's also an interior designer, teacher, illustrator, screen printer, shop owner, and can now add event planner to her many hats (and she's mulling over a podcast.). Her latest venture, which she's been thinking about doing 'for years,' is A Colourful Life. Doireann Healy: 'I launched my store in Kenmare on the Tuesday and I launched in Brown Thomas on the Wednesday. It was a crazy time. At that stage, a lot of companies were reaching out to me to design for them as well.' Picture Dan Linehan 'The idea is creative conversations in beautiful locations,' Healy says of the upcoming series of talks which will take place at the gorgeous Park Hotel in Kenmare, the owners of which were 'so helpful and encouraging', when she put the idea to them, as have been the women to whom Healy will be chatting. Helen Steele, Shelly Corkery, Peigín Crowley, Joanne Hynes, Geri O'Toole — all are pioneering creatives in their respective fields, and just like Healy, all are strong women who have trailblazed their own paths to success. Healy herself is hugely successful. She started her career in interior design before becoming a teacher — 'my mom always said 'get a degree'. So I went and I did teaching' — but the pull of illustration and fashion was always there. So in 2019, having taken a career break, she launched art and fashion brand Begley & Bowie (her beloved childhood dogs were named for Séamus Begley and David Bowie) with her now famous placename sweatshirts going viral from their launch (think 'New York Paris Dingle London Milan' arranged in a neon listicle). ''We were inundated with people asking me would I do [sweatshirts] for their places. It went crazy and overnight Begley & Bowie just took off.' And it didn't let up. 'I realised this is becoming too big,' she recalls thinking in 2020. 'There was an awful lot of media interest. Brown Thomas reached out' — for its annual influential Irish design showcase CREATE. 'I launched my store in Kenmare on the Tuesday and I launched in Brown Thomas on the Wednesday. It was a crazy time. At that stage, a lot of companies were reaching out to me to design for them as well.' SUSTAINABILITY The interior of Bowie & Begley in Kenmare. Picture Dan Linehan Healy was committed to sustainability from the start and sourced organic, ring-spun cotton from Belgium for her sweatshirts. 'One of the first things I wanted was high-end, good-quality merch. Good-quality designs. I remember Amy Huberman came to one of my first pop-ups in Dublin. She was purchasing clothing and she just went 'the quality of these'.' Healy, based as she is on one of the tourist hotspots on the Ring of Kerry, felt 'what people would buy is what tourists would buy'. Quality fashion that represented a modern Ireland would, she thought, have appeal for both customer bases. Her instincts were spot on, and high-end hotels such as Adare Manor and Dromoland Castle began to reach out with commissions. Healy set up a design studio, 'and I've designed for 25 brands so far… everything from an orchestra to bars. It's been crazy.' Healy's success is not accidental. Rather, it is the result of years of hard graft and a hunger to always keep learning. Doireann Healy: 'My nana, the first thought she always had was, 'how would I do it?' She taught me that. I always query, 'why are we getting someone, can we try it ourselves?'' Picture Dan Linehan She grew up absorbing the influence of strong, entrepreneurial women who recognised the value of independence and a pioneering spirit. She spent the first five years of her life in Kenmare, then moved to the heart of the Cork Gaeltacht, where she was educated through Irish. Her paternal grandmother, Nóní Twomey — 'a really strong character' — was a formative influence. The native Irish speaker ran a shop in Cúil Aodha, and was also a Bean a Tí, keeping 30 students every summer. 'She was a real businesswoman,' Healy recalls. 'She built on an extension when no one did, so that she'd have dormitories for 30.' Cúil Aodha is, of course, famous for the musical legacy of composer Seán Ó Riada, and as such 'we had musicians from all over Ireland who sent their children to learn music. My siblings and I always say we saw the coolest teenagers. I was absorbing that and their fashion. It was incredible back then.' Healy renovated her Kenmare store this year, and installed a café, naming it Nóní's in honour of her late grandmother, with whom she shares an innate optimism, drive and can-do attitude. 'My nana, the first thought she always had was, 'how would I do it?' She taught me that. I always query, 'why are we getting someone, can we try it ourselves?'' Healy says. 'I'm really into this belief that you can learn at any age and you can try; if you don't succeed, fail and fail again.' LANGUAGE AND COLOUR Irish designer Doireann Healy outside Begley & Bowie, Kenmare, Co Kerry. Picture Dan Linehan Healy is very aware of how her childhood immersion in the rich cultural landscape of her homeplace — along with the influence of her mum, who brought her children to poetry readings, art shows, fashion shows and instilled in them a love of history and literature — has shaped her appreciation of language, literature, music, and art. 'It's incredible the impact that culture has,' she says. 'When you're surrounded by it, you absorb it. It just opens you up to so much more. I love all types of music and literature. It instils a hunger for creativity and learning.' Healy's intrinsic understanding of language, culture and colour has resulted in an aesthetic that is instantly recognisable as uniquely hers. Her fashion is fresh, vibrant and modern, yet carries with it a sense of place that speaks of today's Ireland; vivid, vibrant and quietly confident, like Healy herself. Not for her the four collections a year treadmill, she works to her own pace. 'No one rushes me,' she says. 'I always know my customer, and any customer who loves fashion, they will wait.' And wait they do. As well as her signature sweatshirts, she has a stunning Irish linen range of separates 'that's made in Dublin by a lady'. Irish designer Doireann Healy at Begley & Bowie, Kenmare, Co Kerry. Picture Dan Linehan She loves her life in Kenmare — 'There's a sense of calm, it's not a manic life here' — and finds her relatively remote location a boon rather than hindrance. Customers seek out her beautiful store, and she loves that she 'has time to talk to people'. Talking is what she'll be doing much more of with A Colourful Life. She knows and has been inspired by all the women who'll feature, and feels that the conversations present an incredible learning opportunity, a sharing of knowledge for those aspiring to be part of the fashion, wellness or interiors worlds. 'It's also to show that you don't have to follow the straight path. Look at me. I'm in a completely different world to what I set out upon. I really think it's an opportunity for anyone of any age, young or old, to come in and see how it's done.' 'A Colourful Life: Doireann Healy In Conversation with Peigín Crowley' will take place at the Park Hotel Kenmare, Co Kerry on July 5. For tickets see
The Irish Sun
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
‘I try to get on with it' – Legendary Irish singer shares health update after heart surgery and relentless infection
IRISH singer Philomena Begley has opened up about her recent health struggles. The Advertisement 2 Philomena has opened up about her health struggles Credit: Getty Images - Getty 2 The country singer underwent heart surgery in 2019 Credit: Getty Images - Getty Philomena was on the road with Mike Denver when she began to feel unwell and was forced to seek medical help. In a recent interview with The 82-year-old had the operation in May that year but it was followed by a relentless infection that lasted for months. The country singer was then diagnosed with a "kind of pneumonia" and she "couldn't get rid of it". Advertisement READ MORE ON PHILOMENA BEGLEY She revealed that a small care team visited her to give her injections over the course of a week. Philomena eventually returned to touring in 2020 just weeks before the She explained: "I got back on the road with Mike the following January and then two months later the pandemic hit. That was another wee break I had from music, but I made use of it." Despite the health scare, the 82-year-old has said: "I've never really had a problem I couldn't overcome. My children will tell you I complain a lot though [laughs]." Advertisement MOST READ IN THE IRISH SUN She also spoke candidly about her outlook on life and admitted she doesn't dwell on her own illness. Philomena said: "I complain every now and again, but when I look around and see people who are genuinely sick I realise what's wrong with me is nothing. Shane MacGowan and Philomena Begle perform Fairytale of New York on The Late Late special "It's just overthinking things you don't need to be concerned about. "Overthinking is the worst, it's worse than anything. I try to get on with it because there are other people who are worse off." Advertisement Philomena recently A past episode saw the biggest names in Irish country music join Philomena Begley, Cliona Hagan, Michael English and Gerry Guthrie all played a game called Wild West Roulette. 'SUPERSTAR' The Co Down presenter pressed the buzzer to spin the wheel and see which artist came up. Advertisement The country stars then had to nominate themselves to sing a song by that artist. When it landed on The 80-year-old shouted: "Yes, it's me! She explained: "I tell you what, I bought an album years and years ago of ABBA and I came across this song - The Way That Old Friends Do. Advertisement "I had it recorded and it did very well for me too. It bubbled in the British charts. That's my claim to fame." The Tyrone native gave a knockout performance and wowed the audience
Irish Examiner
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Elaine Loughlin: Presidential poker — who's bluffing, who's stalling, and who's really in the race?
It's gearing up to be a last-minute dash for the Áras as all parties, and none, seem caught up in a game where no one wants to make the first move. With Frances Black all but ruling herself out of the race, the grand plan to put forward one consensus candidate of the left could fall apart before it fully materialises. However, many willing to back her still quietly believe the singer, campaigner and senator wasn't fully serious when she declared in recent days that she is "98%" out of the race. "I wouldn't believe that from Frances Black, she is interested in running for the presidency. I think it's just something that people feel they have to say, I'm not sure why," a TD on the left confidently said. "No one is campaigning, but Frances Black was on The Late Late and she was on radio," the source joked. Whether the belief that Black can still be swayed is borne out of solid information or comes from a place of hope remains to be seen. But if the left is sincere in wanting to put forward a strong consensus candidate, a decision will have to be made soon. Independent TD Catherine Connolly. Picture: Collins Photos Galway TD Catherine Connolly is a name that those on the left have cited as another possibility, but her support may not be as widespread. "There is no way on earth that the Labour party could nominate her," one source said stressing that she had "given the party a kicking" in the past — a party that she resigned from back in 2006 after she failed to be selected in the Galway West constituency as running mate of Michael D Higgins. "There is a deep, deep beef between members in Galway and Catherine Connolly. We would have resignations in Galway if we backed her," the source added. Possible candidate: Katriona O'Sullivan Author and academic Katriona O'Sullivan, as well as former WHO executive director Mike Ryan, have been floated as potentials, but have also failed to develop further than that. "We are keen to have a centre left candidate in the race, someone who can build on the legacy of Michael D. I think it's import that people have a good choice in the election, that it's not just one strong candidate and a load of others," said one Social Democrats TD but added that "nothing has crystalised" out of initial talks with other parties. Likewise, time is ticking down for Fianna Fáil, which has yet to identify a strong individual who is not tainted by the party's handling of the recession. Names including Bertie Ahern and Mary Hanafin have been bandied about but largely dismissed within the party. Others in the mix include sitting MEPs Barry Andrews and Cynthia Ní Mhurchú. Senior sources have indicated that the only serious option would be to follow the route taken with Mary McAleese in 1997 by selecting a person with close links to the party who does not have the baggage that might come with a previous role as an elected representative. Mairead McGuinness is expected to get the nod from Fine Gael. Fine Gael is now seen to be furthest along in its election selection with former EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness widely expected to get the nod after a number of other contenders including Frances Fitzgerald, Sean Kelly, and Heather Humphreys, ruled themselves out. But even Simon Harris's party appears in no rush to start a formal campaign, so far avoiding what should be a natural political urge to get out and about canvassing. Knowing that it is likely to become a bruising and highly personal fight, no one wants to get into the presidential election ring too early this time around It was an aspect that Black referenced, in declaring that she is all but certain she doesn't want the presidency before slightly rowing back to Anton Savage by clarifying that "there's a part of me that feels, if I'm the right person — I'm not sure I am — but if I am the right person, then that's the 2%." In stressing the reason why she may not end up running under a unified left banner, she said: "I've seen how other campaigns have been run, and they have been — I could only describe — blood baths. So it's not something that I would want, to be honest with you." Part of the delay from the left also lies with Sinn Féin. Before the likes of Labour, the Social Democrats, and People Before Profit can get behind a combined candidate, they must wait for Mary Lou McDonald's party to make a decision — row in with the others or go it alone. After a disastrous election last time around, which saw Liadh Ní Riada gain just 6.4% of the vote, Sinn Féin has sought direction from the grassroots up. "We got it wrong in 2018, so we're trying to take on more feedback from members this time. It will guide a lot of what our next moves are," a senior party source told Irish Examiner deputy political editor Paul Hosford this week. This process has included emails to all members and online meetings, with the consultation process due to come to a close this weekend. Looking to outsiders, a number of high-profile individuals, including Conor McGregor and Peter Casey, have suggested they will seek a nomination but have yet to lobby local councils in a bid to get the required backing of four local authorities or 20 Oireachtas members. The slow start means we could have a very speedy election campaign when it eventually does get underway.
