Dad’s advice shaped my life

JUST a few words of advice from his father when he was a teenager have shaped Declan O’Callaghan’s life, giving him the confidence and self-belief to fulfil his ambitions.

“When I was 17, I wanted to buy an Alfa Romeo car; everybody thought I was dreaming, but my father told me: ‘You have to have dreams, if you don’t then you have nothing to aim for.’

“That one thing he said to me as a teenager has driven me. It made me believe you can do and achieve anything in life. And yes, I did buy an Alfa Romeo, it was my first car,’’ says Declan.

Now a proud father of two sons, Declan, 43, a sales manager for Sony Ireland, from Leixlip, Co Kildare, is keen to instil that same self-belief into them. He wants Daniel, 11, and Keith, nine, to have the confidence and knowledge that they can achieve any goal they want.

“I honestly believe I would not be where I am in life without that piece of advice from my father. It is amazing how praise to a child can make such a difference in their life. As a father I love to see my boys achieving goals, that they might have struggled with,’’ he says.

His father, Vincent O’Callaghan, 74, a retired accountant from Walkinstown, Dublin, recalls being “extremely excited’’ but also concerned at the prospect of fatherhood. “I was over the moon, but I was worried too - I wanted to do a good job of being a father,’’ says Vincent.

“I think a good father is one that is there for his children, loves them and tries to understand them. That is basically what I tried to do.’’

Declan agrees and also credits his father for encouraging him and his two siblings to save their pocket money. Every Sunday after Mass, Vincent would give his children 2p and told them to ‘spend a little, save a little.’

“To this day, I would be a good saver and I put it down to my father. I bought my first house when I was 22, and my first car at 17 and it’s all thanks to him. He now says it to my own children,’’ explains Declan.

Like his father, Declan was also delighted to become a dad. The night Daniel was born they went to a local pub to celebrate.

“My father told me; ‘This is a great time in your life - you have a son and heir.’ And he was right,’’ recalls Declan. “I have always looked up to my father. He is a pure gentleman.’’

Now a grandfather of 16, Vincent enjoys spending time with his grandchildren, playing games and watching their matches. “It is very exciting, but a totally different role from being a father. You actually have more time to spend with the grandchildren, you can sit down with them. But as a father, I was working, trying to juggle everything, to be with the children,’’ he says.

Daniel and Keith are very close to their father and grandfather. Declan makes time for each son individually; he always goes to Keith’s matches, and then spends time helping Daniel to build a bicycle.

“My sons are completely different, one is into sport the other bikes, but I can spend a lot of time with them. My father had to work two jobs when I was a child, so it was harder for him,’’ says Declan.

The best bit of being a father, Declan believes, is seeing his sons laughing, having fun as a family. “My dad really makes me laugh, and I know he is always there for me,’’ says Keith.

Daniel agrees, before pointing out that their grandfather is “funny too”.