Well known Irish faces write letters to their mums for Mother's Day

Mother’s Day is this Sunday, so we asked designers, models, fitness coaches, and broadcasters to pen letters to their mum, reports Ciara McDonnell

For those of us lucky to have one, a good mother shapes who we become, while allowing us to make those important mistakes that end up informing our life choices in the best possible way.

My mum is my best friend.

She has taught me how to navigate the terrifying waters of adulthood with the fiery protectiveness of a mother lion, and now watches from the sidelines as I do the same for my children.

She has loved me and encouraged me and then given me my wings to fly free and experience it all without her stabilisers.

I know how lucky I am to have a mum like her, and I am hugely aware that she is a big part of why I chased my dreams from a young age without fear and with extreme self-belief.

With that in mind, this Mother’s Day I asked some of Ireland’s most high-profile women to write a letter to their own mums; here’s what they said.

Yvonne Connolly

One of Ireland’s most loved models and an experienced multi-tasker, Yvonne Connolly is a mother to her three children Jack, Missy and Ali, a domestic engineer, TV broadcaster, cook and columnist. Yvonne says that the support of her mother over the years gave her the strength to chase her dreams.

Mum, As Mother’s Day quickly approaches I find myself wondering what gift to get you this year. There will definitely be dinner and flowers. Although I’m confident I will have come up with the ideal present when the time comes, as I put pen to paper it occurs to me, this might be it. I tell you “I love you” all the time and now, with tears in my eyes I want you to know why...

You provided an idyllic, happy, carefree childhood in a peaceful and loving home. I was quite frankly spoilt both physically and mentally. You instilled strength and confidence in me and explained during my teens how important it would become to respect myself. You talked to me like an adult at a young age and told me how important it was to be loyal and faithful to loved ones. You let me make my own decisions even if they were the wrong ones. I’ll never forget you telling me I was responsible enough to choose whether I wanted to keep smoking or not after you caught me. I was 13. Thank you for teaching me reverse psychology!

Thank you too for showing me how to be a lady, even though it didn’t work. There’s just too much tomboy in me! As a child you were my teacher, nurse, cook, chauffeur, counsellor and my go-to expert in everything.

By the end of my teens with my independence in sight you started your own business. It is a huge inspiration, at this time in my life, to see you still running a successful shop nearly 30 years later. This would never have happened if not for your bravery initially, followed up with copious amount of strength and determination, not to mention your people skills for which you are well known. It’s nice to know that I have the potential somewhere in my genetics to possibly be as successful as you one day.

This letter is also an opportunity to apologise for the times I took your love for granted. Forgive me for being too busy and too distracted by my modelling career and hectic social life in my late teens and early 20s. For the times I didn’t pick up the phone enough and let months go by without spending quality time with you. You graciously bit your lip until I finally got to spend a much-anticipated Christmas week with you. I shamefully slept through most of it. In time, my own kids and a good dose of karma will probably upset me just as I did you.

We’ve seen each other through difficult times and ups and downs. During dark times you were my rock and my compass and we have become closer than we ever were.

Although many of your earlier duties as a mother have become redundant the most important one, my counsellor, has been added to. You have become my best friend.

Love, Yvonne

MAIA DUNPHY

Writer and broadcaster Maia Dunphy appreciates her mother Helen in a whole new way since the arrival of her baby Tom last year.

Mum, You know I usually try and turn most things into a joke but here’s some sincerity for once! Thank you. Not just for all the help over this last couple of years, but for everything over the last 40. I always rolled my eyes at the “you won’t understand until you’re a mother” trope, but I get it now.

The only reason I can be any sort of a mum is because I had such a great role model. Thank you for all the care and love, for every time you got up in the middle of the night. For the packed lunches and the ironed school uniforms, the homemade pizzas and the spinach tuna pasta that I still can’t make the way you did!

Thank you for the show-stopping birthday cakes and all the lifts to a million places and more.

For putting up with me when I stopped being cute and became a ghastly teenager. For getting up early to tie my hateful hair in rollers and for drying my tears when I cried over boys and bullies.

For buying that dreadful cottage cheese when I was on a permanent diet and for not staying cross every time I stumbled in at 4am.

For waving me off with a smile when I went away, even though I know you cried once I was out of view, and for not letting me cut my trip short even when you were so sick.

For your eternal patience, even when I snap, and for coming to mind us in July 2015 when we needed you so much again. I am so thankful for everything you have done, and so happy that baby Tom has you for a granny.

Maia X

ALISON CANAVAN.

Alison Canavan is an influential health and wellness coach, motivational speaker and the award winning author of wellness book “Minding Mum”. Her mother has supported her through dark times, and helped Alison to find her own brand of bliss.

Dear Mum,

In such a chaotic world it’s rare we really get a chance to express our true feelings.

I left so young to go and explore the world and little did I know I would be back in my early thirties and need my mum more than ever before.

You watched me suffer with depression and drink and stuck with me all the way.

You watched your own baby give birth to a baby. I was alone and scared and you held my hand.

It’s true when they say a mother’s love knows no bounds and I distinctly remember apologising to you after James was born for all the years of worry and pain. When I told you I didn’t want to be here anymore you got me the help I needed and stayed by my side and cared for James so I could heal and grow into the person I am today.

You are our whole world and James simply adores you. I would never have been able to get back on my feet and study so hard had you not always been by my side.

You are my never-ending pillar of strength and at this time in your life you continue to give everything to your children so they can live out their hopes and dreams.

So this letter is for all those times I forgot to thank you, the times I seem ungrateful, it’s for all the things you do big and small each day that get overlooked but most of all it is just to thank you for being you.

So Happy Mother’s Day, I love you,

Alison xxx

JANE SWARBRIGG

Jane Swarbrigg founded Inglot Ireland with her mother Geraldine in 2009, and Jane puts her business nous down to her upbringing and the unfailing support of her mother.

Dear Mum,

Over the years I’ve come to realise what a huge influence you are in my life. You are not just my mum, but also the glue that holds our family together: my best friend, my business partner and soon-to-be co-wedding planner!

When it comes to business you are a force of nature, smart and savvy and a huge risk taker yet full of heart.

You taught me everything I know about retail. I am so lucky to have learnt from the best in the business.

Together, you and Dad raised us to be kind and thoughtful, yet determined grafters who never give up, enabling us with the qualities and confidence needed to run the incredible team we have at Inglot today. You let Peter and I take all the credit for Inglot when you were the brains behind it all. You never boast about past triumphs, bringing Vero Moda and Aldo Shoes to Irish shores while raising a family.

As I prepare to get married and start a family of my own, I must admit, one of my biggest challenges and fears is balancing my work and personal life, but I know it will be ok because I have you by my side every step of the way.

So I want to wish you Happy Mother’s Day and a giant thank you for inspiring me and showing all the women and working mothers out there that it can be done!

Love always,

Your best bud Jane xxx

CHUPI SWEETMAN

Chupi Sweetman is a multi-award winning jewellery designer, and founder of her eponymous brand and celebrity favourite, Chupi. She says that her mother gave her the freedom to be who she was meant to be.

Dearest Mum,

I remember driving to school one morning after I had been rather unwell and you decided en route that instead we should drive to Cork to stay with our favourite people in the world, our cousins. I remember our joy, Luke and I bouncing around the car with pleasure at escaping school. It sounds reckless when I read it back, in fact so many things we did were unusual, but that was the point.

You taught me that doing what you are told; rigidly following education and confirming not necessarily the only path to success but above all happiness.

I know Granny worried so much that with our unconventional upbringing we would end up homeless!

But instead we are happy and whole, certain of who we are. We have both taken unusual paths and have creative careers and that belief is down to you.

You have taught us to be brave, to be kind, to work hard and above all to believe in ourselves. It’s the greatest gift you could have given us and I am so incredibly grateful.

I love you, Chupi