Lead singer of HamsandwicH Niamh Farrell on how she stays healthy

Niamh Farrell, HamsandwicH lead singer, says doing gigs helps towards her physical fitness, she tells Irene Feighan

ROCK stars are now rocking on for decades, but not without making a few allowances for age.

When Niamh Farrell, the lead singer of HamsandwicH, joined the band about 14 years ago, she could jump and headbang with the best of them. Now, aged 35, she still likes to leap around the stage but finds her body aches the next day.

“If I don’t limber up and stretch before a gig, I can be in a lot of pain afterwards, so I try to remember to stretch. I find the back of my neck would get very sore from all the headbanging I would be doing. I certainly need to watch myself a little bit more now,” says the Celbridge-born vocalist.

She also has a son to think about — Oscar, aged 10 — who goes on tour with her during the summer festival season.

His unexpected arrival — she didn’t realise she was pregnant until she went into labour — has changed her. “It definitely gives you a completely different outlook on life — about love. The way you can love this person this child completely unconditionally, that to me is amazing.”

In March, she got engaged to Darren, a sound engineer, and has a precious ring to prove it. She’s thrilled but also a little worried.

“I’m so afraid I’m going to lose it. Everybody is saying that’ll pass.”

HamSandwicH play at Indiependence music festival in Mitchelstown, Co Cork, on August 3.

What shape are you in?

I’m in OK shape. I am very active. I love walking — I walk everywhere. And doing gigs definitely helps towards my physical fitness but whether I’m healthy on the inside with the amount of junk food that I eat, I’m not too sure.

What are your healthiest eating habits?

On a good day, I love fruit — bananas, melon, strawberries — any kind of fruit. In terms of greens, I would love putting a bit of spinach in the dinner and broccoli. If I had a juicer I would probably make juices.

What are your guiltiest pleasures?

I have quite a lot. I snack on savoury stuff — crackers, and smoked cheese — I love cheese. I would just stand and cut slices off a block of cheese. I have a sweet tooth — I love chocolate — but as I am getting older, I’m enjoying savoury snacks more.

What would keep you awake at night?

I have found sleeping difficult in the recent heat. I don’t tend to be kept awake by stress, I’m quite level-headed in terms of getting sleep.

How do you relax?

I enjoy watching movies on DVDs. Also, we have a balcony in our little apartment, so maybe to sit there of an evening — the weather has been so nice. Sometimes we’ll have a walk around the local park — going to see the ducks and things like that. I enjoy going to the cinema — we go for a little treat now and again.

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?

I am loving Dua Lipa and Ariana Grande. I’ve a soft spot for pop music. It’d be nice to pick their brains. And all the Monty Python cast. I grew up absolutely loving Monty Python.

What’s your favourite smell?

Markers. My dad would help out in the local variety group making posters for the pantomime — they had these big markers and they would be using for writing the huge lettering — it’s a really lovely smell.

What would you like to change about your appearance?

If you had asked me that 10 years ago, I would probably have had a list for you — I think when I hit 30 something just clicked in my brain — and I started giving less of a toss about what people thought. I am loving myself that little bit more, accepting that I am who I am and that’s it.

When is the last time you cried?

I cry all the time. I am an extremely emotional person. I think the last time was when I watched a couple of episodes of Queer Eye on Netflix and I bawled my eyes out.

Oscar doesn’t enjoy going to the cinema with me because I cry at every single movie.

What traits do you least like in others?

Rudeness. Also, people who are overly gossipy and mean about it as well.

What traits do you least like about yourself?

I’m an awful procrastinator — I find it hard to get myself motivated sometimes. And I get frustrated with myself when I don’t know how to do something straight away.

Do you pray?

Maybe when I was younger but not any more.

What would cheer up your day?

Every Wednesday I love when The Blindboy Podcast comes out — that really cheers up my day. It’s generally an hour long — I’ll have a listen to it while I do a bit of cleaning. It’s really interesting and entertaining as well.