My Saturday with Thalia Heffernan: ‘You’ll find me on the dance floor’

The model, influencer and former Dancing with the Stars contestant talks about her move back to Dublin from New York, her joy at being reunited with her Lurcher babies and why she’s learning to embrace a slower pace of life.

Thalia moved back to Dublin from New York four months ago to embrace a slower pace of life.

08:00 

I try to sleep in a little bit if I can, but when your body clock is set for getting up early during the week, it’s harder. I might stay in bed a bit after I wake up and just reflect on what’s ahead that day. 

I’ll feed my dogs and make myself and my roommate a coffee, and we have breakfast. I might have vegan sausages or whatever I can find in the fridge.

10:00 

I always try to see family on the weekends. Sometimes I’ll meet my dad for a walk with my boys (my dogs) or I’ll meet my mum and sister with the kids. 

I’ve two lurchers called Leonard and Charlie. They are very big but they are also very chill. I love bringing them down Dollymount strand for a run.

12:00 

I try to meet someone for a coffee in Howth with the dogs, or go for some food. I’m very lucky that a lot of my friends live near me as well, so I’ll try and head into town and meet up with a few for shopping on Saturday afternoons.

14:00 

I’m a big true crime fan and I love listening to podcasts. My Favourite Murder is an LA-based crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark and I’ve been listening to them since I lived in London. After that, I need something slightly lighter, so I listen to Camp Counselors. It’s two content creators; a couple in New York, and I actually used to live near them, so I get a lot of the local references. It’s just really good-natured. 

I do miss living in New York, but life there is hectic. I came home to embrace a slower pace of life and to come back to myself a little bit, and I’m loving it. Yes, the cost of living is a bit crazy here, but apart from that, Ireland has a beautiful way of staying pretty similar. Every time I’ve lived away, coming home just feels so special.

Thalia Heffernan with her rescue dogs Leonard and Charlie

18:00 

I try to get myself prepared for the week ahead on a Saturday or Sunday, so I’ll go and do a food shop. Work-wise, I keep an eye on my emails over the weekend and organise my week ahead or go to an event. For the most part, my weekends are usually my own and I cherish them. I’m lucky that even since moving back, I've had a lovely group of regular clients. 

Often when you travel, you have this fear that you’ll come home and all your clients won’t want you back, but I’ve been really blessed to have been straight back with a lot of them which is good. Show season is always brilliant too. I love the energy around them, the music and seeing what’s coming into fashion. I love the creative side of my job too so working on campaigns like CUPRA really feeds into that creative flow.

19:00 

Around this time, I’ll be looking to meet friends in a bar or for dinner on a Saturday night. I haven’t been going mad going out-out, but because I’m only home four months, it’s still exciting to go out in town. I love 777, Yamamori. 

I’d spend a lot of time around that area of Camden Street into Aungier Street in Dublin. 37 on Dawson Street is a great place if you are out a little later on and Lennon’s Yard. It depends on the mood and who I’m with. The food and drink scene in Dublin is really good.

21:00 

I try to take it easy because I love starting my Sunday right. I don’t like having Sunday Scaries if I can avoid them. I love to get up early on a Sunday and do a Pilates class and head out for a nice long walk and then go to a Power Gym for a session which is great. I’ll have a swim and a sauna afterwards and it sets me up for the week. Obviously, there are exceptions if it’s a big night out though. You’ll find me on the dance floor quite regularly. I just love laughing, smiling and having a good time.

23:00 

I’ll always read before I fall asleep. Usually crime books. I’m also taking magnesium every night which is great for sleep. I used to wake up quite a bit at night but it’s helping with my nighttime routine. I like a wind-down before bed. I’ll do my skincare and really try to get my eight hours if I can. I’m so grateful for being able to see my family, my friends and my dogs whenever I want. It’s the people around me who make me who I am, and that makes all the difference. It’s the things you don’t realise you miss until they’re gone.

• Thalia Heffernan is the newest addition to the CUPRA tribe. One of Ireland’s fastest growing car brands, CUPRA prides itself on style and innovation. With its ever-growing collection of petrol, diesel, full-electric and plus-in hybrid vehicles, CUPRA seeks to challenge industry norms.