This much I know: Celia Holman Lee

From the minute I put my foot on my first ramp, I adored modeling.

I certainly never planned to get into fashion modeling. It wasn’t something we knew a lot about in Limerick back when I was growing up. I really and truly loved fashion and clothes, but I also loved Irish dancing and had vaguely hoped I’d be on the stage with it in some way.

But there was never an actual plan until I was spotted walking down Limerick’s O’Connell Street at 15 by Ann Maloney. Her grand-daughter is modeling with me now.

Modeling is a job. Good models sell clothes. The clothes, rather than you, should be the centre of attention. You’re selling what’s on you and the whole idea is that you work it to the best of your ability. It came naturally to me, but I do encourage anyone thinking of becoming a model to do a little acting or dancing, so that they become used to performing.

I’m very driven and focused. When I love something, I want to make a success of it. I follow my own sense of direction. I’ve always been like that.

I’m not great at dividing my work and personal life. We have created the longest running agency in the country. I’m over 60 and I’m at the helm of it all the time. My husband Ger, daughter and daughter-in-law, all work in the business so obviously it’s hard for us to avoid discussing it.

My biggest challenge has been keeping the business going. The previous recession, in the 1980s, was a very difficult time for us. It didn’t floor us completely because we were a lot younger and we fought through it. We kept our heads down through this last recession and it didn’t effect us so badly.

One of my biggest style tips is to give some time to your dress code on a day to day basis. For instance, if you’re at home with children and doing school runs, there is no harm in giving yourself a day when you dress yourself up a little, otherwise, when you have to dress up for a wedding, or a dinner, or a night out, you will find yourself in a rut and you might not be able to do it. If we don’t focus on our own style, we play into the fashion industry’s hands, letting them tell us how we should look.

I’ve accepted the fact that I’m ageing, that’s life, therefore it is not a problem. It only becomes a problem when when you don’t accept it. I spend my entire working life surrounded by beauty and youth. Magnificent hair and skin and faces and figures, but I just look on and admire. I looked like that once.

I’ve never been able to simply float along. I don’t believe you can go through life thinking everything is always going to be rosy. I’m always thinking a little in my head - even when things are going well - I’m thinking, mmm, I’d better keep an eye on things.

My biggest fault is that I can be a little bit controlling in my work place. It is because I want everything to be perfect, I don’t mean to upset anyone by it.

If I could change one thing in Irish society I’d tackle the homelessness and housing situation. Having a roof over your head gives you dignity.

I would love to believe in an after life, but I don’t really know. I leave it all open, it makes me feel better. I’m a Catholic, in that I go to mass, but I’m not the greatest one, however I do try to be a good Christian.

When I was interviewed for the new series, The Couch, by Yvonne Tiernan (Tommy’s wife) I couldn’t believe how good she was for someone who hadn’t done anything like that before. I hadn’t met her before but I felt instantly comfortable, as if I was speaking to a friend.

I’ve been married for 43 years. We grew up in the same area of Limerick and met when we were very young. We’ve gone through our ups and downs as all couples do but this part is really good. What makes it so good is the grandchildren. We have four and as luck would have it, they live within 20 minutes of us. So far life has taught me that family and good friends are the important things.

And, the trick to maintaining any relationship is that you have to share your feelings and be prepared to work at it, even through the arguments. It doesn’t just happen.

Celia Holman Lee is one of the guests on RTÉ Player’s ’The Couch’, a brand new six-part series presented by Yvonne Tiernan, running each Monday until November 16.