Music for thought

SINGER/songwriter Eleanor McEvoy will contribute to an international symposium at UCC next weekend on how the arts can offer us an understanding of what it feels like to be ill.

Eleanor — whose song Only A Woman’s Heart was the title track on A Woman’s Heart, the best-selling Irish album in Irish history — says when anything is frustrating or annoying her she can express it best through music.

Her song, Sophie, has inspired eating disorder sufferers worldwide. The song grew out of Eleanor’s connection with a young woman who suffered from anorexia.

Eleanor, 46, has a daughter, Sarah-Jane, with partner Mick O’Gorman. Originally from Dublin, she now lives in Wexford. She’s looking forward to doing her last gig of the year in Ballycotton, Co Cork, on Dec 1.

* The Experience of Illness: Learning from the Arts will be at UCC on Nov 30 and Dec 1. Entry is free but pre-registration is essential at www.ucc.ie/research/apc/content/experienceofillness/

What shape are you in?

I try to keep fit but it’s hard when I’m on the road. I try to run a mile a day — it’s something you can do when you’re away and you don’t have to be staying in a posh hotel with a gym. If it’s raining, I do the Canadian Air Force exercises, which can easily be done in 12 minutes.

Do you have any health concerns?

I’ve got nothing major. I have intolerances to certain foods, dairy products particularly. If I have too much gluten, I run into trouble with bloating. I don’t cut anything out. I cut down as much as possible.

What are your healthiest eating habits?

I drink tons of water. I’ve recently started a vegetable patch so we had loads of salads over the summer. I don’t eat many takeaways — I tend to cook from scratch.

What’s your guiltiest pleasure?

I’m a terrible woman for cooking with alcohol. I tend to flavour everything with a dollop of sherry. I love a glass of wine and I probably have more than is recommended. I have a soft spot for dark chocolate.

What would keep you awake at night?

I’m lucky that I don’t suffer from insomnia. I’d worry about the logistics of getting to a gig but, unless I’ve had a major row, I sleep really well.

How do you relax?

I love a warm bubble bath with scented candles all over the room. I like going for a long walk down Rosslare Strand with a friend. I love reading or spending a lot of time cooking a meal and turning on the stereo.

What would you change about your appearance?

I’d like to be a bit taller. I’m five foot four.

When did you last cry?

I cried when I heard about the low turnout at the children’s referendum. I thought, do we not care about our children that we can’t get out and vote? What kind of message is that sending?

What trait do you least like in yourself?

I wish I was more assertive. We were brought up to be polite, no matter what.

What would cheer up your day?

The things that have got me down in life have often been the little things. I find it a real luxury indulging in a cup of coffee in a café — it’s heaven on earth.