What a difference a day makes: My mum’s intervention from the other side made me get bariatric surgery

CADA Performing Arts founder Catherine Mahon-Buckley tells Helen O’Callaghan how a momentous medical decision has transformed her health and how she sees herself. 

Artistic director of the Cork Academy of Dramatic Arts Catherine Mahon-Buckley: "Stress is related to asthma – at this time of year, doing Panto, I’d be starting to choke and on my inhaler ‘til March." Picture: David Creedon.

When I was younger I was really thin. I was thin getting married. I started taking the pill and I blew out – I ended up having a blub that was under my bust. Some people call it a spare tyre. It was horrible. You name it, I tried every diet – I was permanently on diets and going nowhere.

I’d always had chest problems. I spent my first four years in and out of hospital for TB so I had a weakness in my chest – asthma kicked in when I was in my early 30s. Stress is related to asthma – at this time of year, doing Panto, I’d be starting to choke and on my inhaler ‘til March.