Ann Doyle has received an incredible response to her interview with Tommy Tiernan which aired this weekend. The newsreader spoke candidly on the show about her decision not to have children, which really seemed to strike a chord with viewers.
Speaking to host, Tommy she revealed that despite being in a long term relationship with her partner, Dan McGrattan, she never wanted to get married or have children.
“I was reared the youngest of seven. I was fortunate enough to have been given opportunities that neither of my parents had.”
“I certainly would have been reared with the idea that I would earn my own living. It was essential that I earned my own living.”
As a result of these opportunities available to her, she shared that her family did not put pressure on her to follow a more traditional route in life; “I wasn’t reared by a Mrs Bennet it didn’t cross my mind that the best thing I could do was find the best marriage prospect, it just didn’t cross my mind.”
“I was a freer spirit than that and then I suppose like most people I fell in love here and there along the way,” she added.
“I was never unfortunate enough to fall in love with somebody who was a disastrous human being, quite the contrary I was always quite fortunate. But I suppose I never really fell in love with somebody to a point where I felt like upturning my life and becoming a part of a married couple.”
Speaking about having children, she shared with Tommy that by the time she was in her 30’s she wasn’t considering having any; “Then as I got older and I suppose my views were quite broad anyway and quite frankly I didn’t see the point.”
“That makes it sound very clinical and very seriously thought out.”
“I could reverse that way of thinking and say to you that many women particularly have this issue of what’s generally described as the ticking of the biological clock and I say that with respect because it’s a very important consideration for women.”
“I simply didn’t have that so it wasn’t an issue for me. Why? I have no idea.”
“In all respects as far as I’m aware and judging from how my life panned out I never had any reason to question it I am definitely a fairly full-blooded woman.”
This is a subject that she is aware often gets her branded as an ‘ice queen’ and women who don’t have children always seem to be a topic people consider ‘up for discussion.’
Continuing she said; “I am simply throwing in that remark because in a way it might give a rather clinical and cold perception when I say that I just never really particularly wanted to have children.”
“And I’m not alone in that, there are many women who for one reason or another simply don’t chose to have children.”
“They live their lives differently and that brings its own joys and blessings and I suppose it also brings it own sadness and loneliness but everything you do in life will bring the flip coin.”
The interview struck a chord with the public, as many women enjoyed seeing Ann speak about this subject with such honesty and frankness.
The best thing you can be is your own person, Ann Doyle is instinctively her own person. #tommytiernanshow
— aoife moore. (@aoifegracemoore) March 27, 2021
“I wasn’t rared by a Mrs Bennet. It didn’t cross my mind that the best thing I could do was find the most marriageable prospect…I was a freer spirit than that.” AS IF I COULDN’T LOVE ANN DOYLE MORE SHE GOES AND MAKES A P&P reference 😭👑❤️ #tommytiernanshow
— Louise Nealon (@Louise_Nealon) March 28, 2021
“Would you describe yourself as eccentric?” “Well I wouldn’t describe myself as mainstream”. I think I’m in love with Ann Doyle. #tommytiernanshow
— Aisling Hannon (@AislingHannon4) March 27, 2021
When I grow up, I want to be Ann Doyle. #tommytiernanshow
— A s h l e i g h (@asht19) March 27, 2021