With her 70th birthday around the corner, Mary Kennedy is taking some time to reflect back on her life.
However, despite reaching such a milestone age, and officially retiring from RTÉ five years ago, the broadcaster is busier than ever.
Opening up to the RTÉ Guide, Mary has shared that getting older is “different” and “difficult” as she approaches her milestone birthday in October.
“I have a much deeper sense of mortality,” the broadcaster admits.
“Maybe that’s because I have grandchildren now. My first grandchild was born when I was 65 and my fifth arrived some seven weeks ago and I’m thinking, will I be here for Hazel Rose’s 21st birthday?
“I never thought about such things before but since the beginning of the year, it has become very real. At times, I have struggled.”
Five years after retiring from RTÉ, you could say that Mary is as busy as ever.
In fact, later this month, she will make her first appearance at at the Electric Picnic for a public interview with her fellow Allenwood Conversations podcaster, Mary McAleese.
While a new season of Moving West is also due on TG4 this autumn.
Another project, Mary found herself working on was a show called Fad Saoil which navigated such issues as loneliness, health and ageing for women.
When asked if loneliness was a problem she had experienced, she said: “It was a transitory thing, an adjustment from going to a house full of kids to the empty nest.
“When I wasn’t feeling great at the beginning of the year, I didn’t call my friends until later. They asked, ‘Why didn’t you lift the phone?’ but the thing is that when you’re in that moment you just can’t lift the phone. It’s only later, when you’re emerging from the sadness, that you find the energy to call people.”
