Mothers and daughters: Even friends turn to mum for advice
ANIMAL LOVERS: Linda Breathnach and mum Una
Friday December 11 2009
Ros na Rún actress Linda Breathnach is the second youngest of four girls and lives close to her mum and dad in Co Galway. We spoke to Linda and her mother, Una, about their relationship.
Linda
"The qualities I most admire in my mum are that she's so strong, understanding and wise. She's a great person to go to for advice -- in fact, a lot of my friends would turn to her for advice.
"One of the strongest memories I have of my mum from growing up is when all of us kids really wanted a puppy. We were told we couldn't have one but one day my mum and dad came home with this box and told us we'd have to guess what was in it. It was the best day ever when we found out there was a puppy inside.
"My mum and dad run a little pub and shop and they've always worked very hard. When I was about five or six, mum brought us to America to visit her sister in New York. Dad had to stay behind to look after the pub. It was so exciting as we'd heard so much about New York.
"One of the biggest things that mum has taught me is to let it be. If things are bothering you that are outside your control you have to let go of them and not spend time worrying about them."
Una
"Linda is a very loving person and she treats everyone the same -- there are no airs and graces about her. She's very positive about life and no matter what happens, she doesn't let things get her down.
"She's a real animal lover, and she ends up taking in dogs three or four times each year and finds homes for them. It's actually something that we end up working on together.
"When Linda was a little girl, she would make up poems and songs. I used to be her audience at home. She had her own sense of doing things when she was a little girl and used to like to dress herself.
"We've always been close but it is nice that she lives near to us now. She is busy with acting and with her college course but we do like to meet up a lot for walks. It will be lovely at Christmas to have all the four girls home."
- Lisa Jewell
