Nell Mescal: It's frustrating when people say, ‘You’re here because of your brother' 

She doesn't shy away from the fact that Paul Mescal is her sibling, but singer-songwriter Nell Mescal is happy to show the world she can make it through her own talents  

Nell Mescal's upcoming gigs include Cyprus Ave in Cork. Picture: Jemima Marriott

Three years ago, when she was 16 and still living with her parents in Maynooth, Nell Mescal watched her brother become famous overnight. “It was just the craziest time. It’s a weird experience seeing something like that happen. But not seeing it happen physically [because of the lockdown]. It was very strange. I was at home with mum and dad.” 

Her brother is Paul Mescal – star of Normal People and an Oscar nominee for father-daughter weepy Aftersun. Nell, his junior by eight years, watched his rise from a distance whilst also navigating her own career as a singer-songwriter.