It’s easy to see why everyone loves Lucy Kennedy. Ireland’s premiere ‘girl next door’ is fun, bubbly and outgoing, and, more importantly, she doesn’t take herself too seriously. Her career has gone from strength to strength since first appearing on RTÉ as the face of Livin’ With Lucy, The Ex-Files and The Podge And Rodge Show. Now, her work life is more rounded as a TV presenter with Virgin Media, a breakfast radio star on Classic Hits and a best-selling author. While her work life is busy, family always comes first for the mother-of-three. Her eldest child, Jack, is 15 and her youngest Jess is nearly eight, and middle child, Holly, who joins us here on our exclusive photoshoot, is 12. Lucy tells RSVP, “When they’re little, you can put them in your arms to keep them safe. When they get older, you see them as still little but you can’t pick them up anymore.You’ve to let them navigate life themselves.” Lucy has been loved up with her husband Richie Governey for 25 years after they met at his sister’s wedding, and Lucy admits it was love at first sight for the pair. She says, “He’s the calm to my storm. He’s very placid and he’s firm, yet fair. Dare I say he’s the perfect guy, well he’s the perfect guy for me. We’re different enough to still find each other amusing.” Here, in a frank and uplifting interview, Lucy chats about the ups and downs of balancing work and family life and what keeps her awake at night. She also reveals what makes her marriage to Richie work so well and how she’s always honest and open with her kids.
Read more: Lucy Kennedy explains why she never returned to The Six O’Clock Show after welcoming daughter Jess
Read more: Lucy Kennedy overcoming hard times, life at home and marriage, Ryan Tubridy and online bullying
Karen Koster stepped away from The Six O’Clock Show this time last year. You also left it following the birth of Jess. Did you feel empathy for her and her honesty about putting family first?
Totally and utterly. Since Jess came along eight years ago I’ve definitely planned my work around my family life. I haven’t planned my family around my work. I think that’s really important. It completely resonated with me when Karen said that because the kids are only little for so long. These are jobs that we can always go back to when our children are older. The Six O’Clock Show is a big-time commitment and that’s why I stepped away. And I also like my own hours. The style of filming I have now means I can work around my children.
With a decision like that does come uncertainty. Did you worry about what was ahead?
I had Living With Lucy and that show has been a big rater from day one. To be honest, I knew I would be OK. I also had my children’s books coming up, so I had a plan. I was never worried. You can’t put a good thing down and if you love your job and you’re a good person, there will always be work for you. I’m a grafter, if everything fell down around me, I would take a job in a shop. I wouldn’t think twice about it. I’ve a good enough work ethic to trust myself and know that I’ll always be OK.
Are mothers quicker to turn down work to focus on their family?
Yes, definitely. This isn’t in any way sexist and I’m not saying I’m a better parent than Richie, I’m not, we work 50/50 at home. But I do think that a woman would put her career on hold quicker than a man. I don’t know where that comes from, it must be a maternal instinct that men don’t have. I’ve the utmost respect for a multi-tasking mother. I find it so relatable because most of us are running around and dropping off children. We’re part-time nurses, taxi drivers and storytellers alongside our day
jobs. Any parent that can do that juggle is a hero in my eyes. It’s so full on and it can be very overwhelming at times.
Do you feel overwhelmed?
I adore everything I do and I adore my children, but there are days where I sit down completely frazzled and think that it’s all too much and I can’t think straight.
Does it ever get easier?
September to Christmas is always completely bonkers for me because I’ve a TV show on Virgin Media, we’re big in the festive season on Classic Hits and there’s a book coming out. Whereas, in January, I could leave Classic Hits peacefully and walk the pier in Dún Laoghaire before the school collection. I don’t have a balance, but I like that. I work very hard and then I play very hard – that’s my whole work ethic. When I’m on it’s completely
busy and when I’m off, I stay off.
Have you matured as a mum as your children have grown up?
They’re always teaching me. Jack is nearly 15 and I’m still learning he’s not three-years-old and he doesn’t want to sit on my knee anymore. Jack has been the guinea pig as the eldest and he was always going to be where I made my most mistakes. I’m getting better with Holly and I’ll be perfect by Jess [laughs].
What’s the difference between parenting boys and girls?
It’s true what they say, boys cause physical chaos and girls cause mental chaos. Once Jack is fed and he has a football, you don’t have to worry about him. The girls are more emotional and they’re more in tune with their feelings. Jack, Holly and Jess have completely different needs. With Jack it’s very simple and very easy. Holly and Jess need me more emotionally and that can be equally tiring in a different way.
What’s it like watching their sibling relationship develop together?
They’re either fighting or hugging each other and because there’s three of them, there’s always one left out. All parents will agree with me, there’s nothing nicer than seeing your children laughing together. They’re always silly fights. But when they laugh together it gives me a lovely, warm, fuzzy feeling as a parent because you realise they do love each other. If they’re in trouble with me, they’ll team up together. Their personalities are so different, it works.
Who is most like you and who is most like Richie?
I think Jack is definitely like Richie. Holly has my cheekiness, and Jess has this great love for people that I have. Jess wants to be a nurse or a vet, she loves looking after people. I can see her doing ‘Living With Jess’, I can see her moving in and adapting with strangers like I do.
She’s the youngest as well, so she learns from her older siblings.
The youngest always seems to be the most chilled. It makes sense really, it’s not that your parents have given up on parenting [laughs] but parents ease with age and experience. When you’re the baby you’ve nothing to prove as you’re not the eldest. You’re also not stuck in the middle, you just sail through life.
Where do you fall in your family?
I’m the middle child. I was the naughty one from day one.
What keeps you awake at night?
My children. Holly started secondary school in September and Jack is doing the Junior Cert this year. Like every parent, it doesn’t get easier, it actually gets harder in some ways as they get older. When they’re little you can put them in your arms to keep them safe. When they get older, you see them as still little but you can’t pick them up anymore. You’ve to let them navigate life themselves.
Swipe across below to see the full gallery of images for yourself
Were you emotional seeing Holly going to secondary school?
I’m an emotional wreck. It was a real milestone seeing her go off and she’s a real pre-teen now. She’s going through the next stage of her life and I’d love to press pause so I can protect them. Jack went to Irish college last summer and I didn’t sleep a wink for two weeks. I really missed him and I was worried I wasn’t there to help him if he needed me. Although he didn’t need me, there’s still that control freak element to me as a mother. He loved it and he ignored me for two weeks! I didn’t think I’d be the same sitting on the stairs until everyone was in bed, I thought I’d be more laid back.
Has your relationship with Richie also evolved over the years?
Your relationship with your spouse changes as your kids grow up because you face different challenges. As the kids get older, they need you more in a different way. We’re at that stage where we’re consumed with every sport
under the sun and we don’t really have weekends to ourselves. One is playing rugby, one is doing acrobats and one wants to hang out in Dundrum Town Centre. Richie and I are really busy in our relationship because we’re like ships passing in the night. We kind of high five each other as we go past in our own house. We’ve a tag team relationship and there is nobody else I could do this with after 25 years together.
Can you remember the first time you saw him?
It was at his sister Jane’s wedding. I thought he was a funny and nice guy, and he hasn’t changed. He’s definitely more calm than me when it comes to parenting. He’ll say, ‘Jack is 15, let him breathe’. He’s more balanced than me.
Did the courtship begin straight away?
It was love at first sight. We were only 23 and look at us now – 25 years together! He’s ageing so well compared to me, it’s insane [laughs].
Lucy, you look great!
I promise you, if you look at us in pictures, he’s getting better and I’m getting worse [laughs].
How long were you together before you got married?
We were together for seven years and I couldn’t have been more obvious about wanting to get engaged. I kept hinting. We bought a house together and I used to leave the Argos catalogue around with the page marked down on the engagement rings. I wanted a princess cut ring. Wherever he was, I would leave the catalogue down beside and eventually he got the idea and popped the question in Castle Leslie. From there, it was engagement, wedding
and babies. It all happened very quickly. I always tell people to enjoy their engagement because everything speeds up when you get married.
What kind of husband is he?
He’s a brilliant husband. He’s very hands-on with the kids. I leave in the mornings and he takes complete control and gets everybody off to school. He’s kind and very funny. He’s clearly extremely patient because I get very overwhelmed when I’m busy. He’s the calm to my storm. He’s very placid and he’s firm, yet fair. Dare I say he’s the perfect guy, well he’s the perfect guy for me. We’re different enough to still find each other amusing.
What kind of wife are you?
Frightening, I’d say [laughs]. I’m an absolute nagging nightmare. I think I’m a cool mum, but it turns out that I’m not! I think I’m a nice wife, I’m always fussing about everyone eating enough. I always have the heating on and I’m very maternal. But if you were to ask Rich, he’d say I never stop nagging. He would also say I make him laugh and that’s the thing that keeps us together.
Your season of Real Life With Lucy was a big hit on Virgin Media One recently. You tackled some big issues in scamming, the transgender community and psychic mediums.
I did, and I really enjoyed the experience. For years, people said I should live with normal people instead of living with celebrities on Living With Lucy. I didn’t live with them, but I got to spend a lot of time with really nice and genuine people. Even my Richie said, ‘Don’t even try, not interested’ when it came to mediums and fortune telling. I know they divide the room and are Marmite, but I love Marmite [laughs]! Even after interviewing psychologists and cynics, I still believe. We picked subjects that I know little about and hopefully as I become more informed I can pass that information onto viewers. They were so brave, honest and sincere and I was so chuffed that they let me into their lives. It was a real honour that they trusted me with their stories and feelings because it’s a life-changing decision they’re making. I messaged them all as the documentary came out to say how proud I was of them. Like lots of things in life, too many people have opinions on stuff that do not affect them. That includes me. I tried not to give my opinion, even though it’s pretty obvious who I stand with. Who am I to tell people what to do with their life or their body? It’s 2024 and we need to step up and help our transgender friends and stop alienating them.
The ‘far-right’ are very vocal about being against trans rights, did you get any backlash?
I got zero backlash and people know I have zero tolerance when it comes to things like that anyway. Anybody who has that opinion can give it elsewhere, I’m not the person to give it to. Some parents contacted me to thank me for highlighting the subject because they have children who have transitioned or are considering it. I stand by it and I would do it again in the morning.
You also covered scamming, have you ever been scammed before?
Yes, I have. I was on the phone with who I thought was An Post and something inside me, as I’m filling out the form and about to give my address, stopped me from doing it. It always happens when you’re frazzled and you’re expecting a delivery. It’s
a horrible feeling when you start questioning yourself and you feel so silly. Scams are so advanced now and it’s so hard to tell the difference.
An Irish version of The Traitors has been confirmed by RTÉ and your name has already been attached to it, would you like to present it?
I haven’t been approached, but it’s something I’d consider if I was asked.
There was no Living With Lucy this year, will it be back in 2025?
We’re in talks at the moment about whether or not I’m doing it next year. I need to sit down with Adare Productions to work out what to do.
You touch on adult and important topics on TV, do you discuss those issues with your kids at home, or do they ever come to you with questions?
They’ve no interest in watching the shows I do or the books I write. I’m very open with them and you have to be in this day and age because they know more than I know at times. They’ve access to so much information. I’m conscious of them at school so I tell them what I’m doing so nobody says, ‘I saw your mum on the telly’ and they get second-hand information. When
it comes to the trans community or people with addiction, I’m very honest about it because it is real life affecting real people. I never make a big deal about it. They also know who I’m filming with and why I’m filming, so there are no surprises. Saying that,
I’ve hidden my Podge and Rodge tapes, they’re in a vault and they can see them in 20 years.
Would they get many comments at school about you?
I don’t think so. If you were to ask them what I do, they would say I hoover, walk Riley, give out and make food. They very much see me as mum and they’ve zero interest in my career. I said to Jess that she could bring some of my books into school and she said, ‘Ugh, no!’ They see me as an embarrassing mum and when I do book signings they’re shocked to see other children hug me. They forget I’ve a life outside of them. I’m in no way controversial, I’m not cool or trendy.
Do you feel a sense of pride that mum life comes first and that’s what the kids see?
Yes, I really do. I like the fact that they’re not affected by what I do. It’s just a job and I do it to get paid, and I make that very clear to them. They hear me rehearsing, they see me away for the weekend and they know I have meetings. They see my job as work. I like that they see it for what it is, it’s not glamorous, it’s hard work. I wasn’t always in the position I’m in now and I worked so hard to get here. I always remind them of that. I like that they see me as a mum first because that’s my favourite job of all.
You released two more books this year!
Jess Gets Her Wings and The Friendship Fairies Go To Paris are out, my fake nails are hanging off from all the typing. I now have eight books on the market and I’m writing two more as we speak. I think I’ll end my career as this crazy lady living in Sandycove with a load of rescue dogs as a writer. Writing is my therapy and I adore it.
Between radio, TV and writing, is it nice having different strings to your bow?
Yes, because I can’t rely on any one job and I don’t want to do just one job. I love radio as much as telly and I love writing as much as radio. I’m in a lucky position to be able to do them all. I’ve carved out this career for myself. It has taken a long time to find a balance.
Catch up on Real Life with Lucy on Virgin Media Play
Tune into The Colm & Lucy Breakfast Show from 6-10 am on Classic Hits
The Friendship Fairies Go To Paris and The Friendship Fairies - Jess Gets Her Wings, published by Gill Books, are on shelves now
This interview appeared in November issue of RSVP Magazine - on shelves now
English (US) ·