What is your favourite thing about Reading Friends?

Reading Friends gives the gift of reading to people who perhaps used to enjoy it, and might have lost their ability to read through poor eyesight or age.

Why did you get involved with Reading Friends?

I started volunteering with Compassionate Communities, and my 1:1 sessions were going so well that I wanted to introduce the lady I visit to Reading Friends.

What do you like to read?

I like reading lots of things, including magazines and holiday reads as well as Irish literature. Some of what I read I get from word of mouth recommendations from friends or it might be something I’ve heard about on the radio. Recently, I was listening to the local radio and local author, Kerri Ní Dochartaigh, was talking about a new book she has coming out called Thin Places. I remember my grandfather talking about thin places. They’re all over the place, where you might least expect them, places where you kind of leave this world behind, places that are neither here nor there. He described a place in Fahan (Co. Donegal) where he took my grandmother when they were courting. It was a small lane and he said it was one of the thin places.

If you could try or learn something new, what would it be?

Well, I tried to learn Spanish. The conversation class was OK, like asking for things in a café and that sort of thing. But then it got too hard and the homework was horrendous. I had to give it up.

Where is your favourite place to be?

Lisfannon (Co Donegal). I love the water, the walks, and the Drift Inn nearby! My husband’s family has a house down there and once a year we all get together, all the cousins and in-laws. I have great memories of family holidays there.

If you could get to meet anyone, past or present, who would it be?

Rod Stewart. I’ve loved him since I was a teenager. I first went to see him when I had just met my husband. We went to Glasgow in 1976 to Sauchiehall Street. I’ve seen him in concert many times since then.

If you could be any fictional character, who would it be?

I would have to say Mary Poppins. I took my grandson to see the film recently and he leaned across and said to me ‘Granny, she’s worse than you’.

Get involved

Find out more about Reading Friends in Northern Ireland.