A proud Cobh native, Sinéad Shepperd first came to public attention in the RTÉ One television series Popstars in 2001, during which she was selected as a member of the pop group Six. She has been a Fine Gael councillor since 2009, and also runs Sinéad Shepperd’s School of Performing Arts.
Sinéad is married to Eamonn O’Caoimh, and they have three boys – Charlie (12), Bobby (10) and Oscar (7). Sinéad and Eamonn met at school at Coláiste an Phiarsaigh, Glanmire, and began dating in fourth year. They have been together ever since.
Here she shares what she does with her time at weekends.
Friday night
All of the boys are sports mad, so we’re a big soccer and GAA house. I’m usually on the sidelines of about three or four matches every weekend, and Eamonn coaches the boys in all of their age groups at Cobh GAA, so that’s usually where you’ll find us at the weekends.
I work on a Friday teaching dance in Youghal, so my husband’s usually at home with the boys. One has soccer training from 4.30-5.30pm with Springfield Ramblers, and the other from 5.30-6.30pm. I’m home for about 8pm so we usually chill out at home together and do a movie night. If there is a big match on for Cobh Ramblers, you’ll find us up there supporting the lads.
Saturday morning
It is all-go on Saturday mornings. We always have a U13 soccer match with Charlie early in the morning, and then Oscar has soccer training or a match at lunchtime. Before the matches start, we always go down to The Wholey Ground coffee shop. I’m a big coffee drinker, and they probably have the best coffee in East Cork. It’s super so we go there on Sunday mornings as well.
On Saturday evenings, Eamonn, the boys and I love to go out for pizza to the amazing Rush Pizza, which serves New York-style pizza. It’s just across the road from our house, so we just have to walk there and it’s kind of like our thing to do.
Myself and Eamonn both work, so we’re very busy during the week. It’s nice to step outside the home and have some down time and to sit and have a meal together at weekends.
Sunday
On Sunday mornings, we do the Cobh Junior Park Run, which is a 2km free run and is really lovely. Then there’s an U11 match with Bobby. We’d often pop in for brunch in Seasalt Café and Deli or Ellen’s Kitchen. We love both of those, and frequent them most weekends for pancakes or mini breakfasts.
Sometimes we go to the Titanic Bar & Grill for Sunday lunch, and it’s great to have the time to chat together. So I suppose that’s why we make a big effort and are lucky enough to be able to go out for a meal on weekends.
Family is the most important thing to me, and I’m aware that I’m in the thick of it now with three young boys, and that this won’t last forever. So even though it sounds crazy that we’re standing on the sidelines all the time, I love being at the matches and supporting my boys. When I don’t have any more sidelines to stand on or a car full of soccer boots, hurleys and helmets, I think that’ll absolutely break my heart. So I am just soaking up the busyness of every weekend now and am so grateful to have it.
Quick Fire Round
Where do you consider to be a hidden gem?
On Sunday afternoon, if we have no GAA or soccer matches, we would often head up to The Workshop up past Cork Airport, which is the quirkiest little café. It’s absolutely gorgeous. My eldest boy loves vinyl records and they play old-school jazz there, and do lovely tea and nice little sandwiches and little tapas lunch plates.
Best walk?
I’m living in Cobh, and we have lots of beautiful walks here. We’d often take our beagle, Buddy, for a walk in Fota Gardens, which is on our doorstep. Or we’d take him to Marlogue Woods here in Cobh – the boys love it there.
Cork person you admire?
I’d have to pick our very own Olympic gold medalist, Sonia O’Sullivan. She’s such a role model for kids, and even though she’s so busy and has had such an amazing career, she is constantly popping home to her local town and contributing to sports hugely here. She’d often visit Cobh Junior Park Run to encourage the children, and there’s also the Sonia O’ Sullivan 10km road race. So even though she has had the most glittering career, I love that she still finds time for her community and for the people in it. She gives back so much, and to me, that’s so inspiring.
Favourite town or village?
It has to be my hometown, Cobh. I absolutely love it and would never live anywhere else. We have the most beautiful harbour, and it’s just a real gem. There’s so much you can do here, including rowing and sailing. I remember back in my days in the band Six, whenever we had a day off, I didn’t go to any of the parties we were invited to. I’d always be the first to want to go home for a night or two.
Favourite bar?
Meade’s because I adore wine, but mostly because it feels so authentic. It is always lit by candlelight and has a great atmosphere.
Favourite Cork saying?
“That’s mockyeah,” which means it’s pretend, not real.
Follow Sinéad Shepperd’s School of Performing Arts on Instagram here.
