I don't really get to bars or pubs much because of they way the hours fall. I do like to head into Lynch's whenever I can though. The performance side of things tends to fall on Friday and Saturday nights mostly. The hours tend to be a bit varied, but you get used to it. I suppose at this stage I just couldn't do a nine to five!

Managing Friar's Gate
We've been open eleven years this year, and I've been involved myself for six years. We're a small team - there are only four of us here full time - but we got on very well. Beyond that, though, there's a big network of people who work with us. We've a very supportive board and a large group of volunteers. They provide vital support of performance nights. There have been a few highlights for the theatre and myself personally. We had Jack L performing here, we had Tom Crean Atlantic Explorer, and while it was a bit before my time, we had the world premier of Alone It Stands. We're constantly looking to expand, through visual arts and outreach performances. We've no set rules for what kind of artists we have here. We listen to everybody.

Lough Gur
It's a beautiful spot. It's peaceful and scenic and it's only up the road. It's only when I started working in Kilmallock that I realised just how many beautiful attractions there are in East Limerick - that whole area out towards Ballyhoura in particular. It's not very built up, and you see the full natural beauty of it.

Amateur theatre
We receive a lot of volunteer support from the local community. In fairness, we wouldn't be able to do very much without that goodwill. We're a community theatre, and we like to give as much emphasis as we can to amateur drama and in-house production involving local people. The range of performances and shows we host are very varied, but we're lucky that there's such a vibrant performance culture her, and in places like Bruff and Ardpatrick. There are plenty of people anxious to get involved every year.

Local rivalry
I'm from Newtownshandrum, just over the border, which can be interesting when the hurling is on. My connection with Limerick goes back to before I came to Friar's Gate though - my Mum spent most of her working life in Limerick teaching in the CBS in Sexton Street. Funnily enough my brother and sister are now both working in Limerick as well so the county ended up supporting most of the family! In the time I've been with Friar's Gate Cork have had a bit of success. I might put a flag up outside the theatre sometimes, which generates a bit of banter!

Kilmallock
It's a bit off the beaten track, in terms of public transport, but it's a beautiful town. There's a rich medieval heritage here too, which isn't always very well publicised. We're having our third Medieval festival this year. The people are lovely, and make my own job here very easy when it comes to organising events. You find the positive attitude that people have here comes to the fore in events like this.