TWO weeks ago today 67-year-old Pádraig Howley from Kilfenora, Co Clare, started an Instagram account – Sing and step with Pádraig. At time of writing he has 67,000 followers and has appeared on radio, TV shows and in newspapers the length and breadth of this island and beyond.
Pádraig has become the latest lockdown social media sensation. After a spell of bad health, not feeling good, he decided that he wanted to get fitter and healthier. He is attempting to go vegan for 21 days, and has set himself a daily exercise goal of 10,000 steps. This plan was hatched at the kitchen table and his daughter Tara suggested that he should document his 21 days on Instagram.
The result is a heartwarming account of someone getting from one day to the next, trying to change his lifestyle and hoping that he might inspire others along the way. Pádraig’s efforts to eat healthily are endearing. He provides a running commentary on the meals he makes – my favourite was his vegan cottage pie, with coriander drizzle. I’d say it was far from coriander drizzle that Pádraig was reared.
He talks to the camera like a natural, he sings as feeds the cows, as he is cooking, and goes about his business. So far, we have heard Mursheen Durkin, Wild Mountain Thyme, and plenty of lilting. He is just himself, speaks with a broad, thick, Clare accent – nothing put on, no big shows, no pouts, no fancy angles.
He apologises if he has to eat late in the evening and explains that he has had a busy day – it started with helping a neighbour with the new calves.
Now, due to his new-found fame and celebrity, his media schedule is adding to his already busy schedule. Pádraig is taking it all in his stride, and it looks like he’s having the time of his life.
Who would blame him? Food producers from all over are now sending Pádraig hampers of vegan food to try out as he tries to embrace his new diet.
I spoke to Pádraig and his daughter Tara on my radio show this week. Tara and her sister have both been members of the Kilfenora Céilí Band. Tara is a professional musician – she’s a multi-instrumentalist and before the pandemic hit was touring with Riverdance.
She knew that her father had a special quality and has always been extremely proud of him but could never have believed that other people would take to him in this way.
Thanks to Tara’s social media skills, her father has become a national treasure. Pádraig has a week left in his vegan challenge. I’ll continue to follow this charming man, who has endeared himself to thousands.
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TODAY is International Women’s Day – one day set aside in the calendar year since 1910 which focuses on gender inequality and the role of women in society. I had every intention of dedicating today’s column solely to IWD – to challenging the narrative, the celebration of women, a day of female empowerment.
Then I realised that today the media will be preoccupied with the public character assassination of one particular woman – the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle.
By now many will have seen the sit-down interview given by herself and her husband to Oprah Winfrey. I have not taken an interest in this developing story but that might change depending on what is being alleged and against whom.
All families are complicated. I think that it’s an awful pity that this discussion is taking place in public, not in private. Whatever the issues, I think that the British media has made its mind up that they do not like Meghan and that is that. Members of the public who don’t know this woman from Adam will undoubtedly form an opinion, knowing only a fraction of the facts.
I’m not defending anyone, but what if Meghan has been a victim – of racism, of bullying?
Character assassination is the common form of attack against women who are victims. Every attempt is made to discredit and disempower the woman a situation like this.
It is a depressing thought on a day where women should be celebrated, chances are that the character of this one woman will be torn asunder.
