Behind the scenes: How Vicky Phelan inspired the Read My Lips project

Today’s ‘Read My Lips’ initiative encouraging women to book a cervical screening test started over a long breakfast in a Limerick cafe

On the first anniversary of Vicky Phelan’s death, we honour her legacy with our ‘Read My Lips’ initiative. Picture: Cathal Noonan

I met Vicky Phelan on June 21, 2019 at Hook & Ladder Cafe in Castletroy, Limerick, to discuss future projects. It was a blue-skied summer morning and once I saw Vicky’s huge smile — the one that could light up a stadium — I knew it was one of her good days. We ordered breakfast and the first round of tea, and started talking and talking. She was in terrific form, witty and acerbic.

I was aware of other days when she was laid low by her illness. We had first met six months earlier on a damp January day at her home in Limerick to discuss her guest-edited special edition of Feelgood to be published on International Women’s Day, March 8.