A Day in the Life of Author Cathy Kelly

Author Cathy Kelly shares a glimpse into her typical Saturday, balancing creative pursuits, domestic routines, and community engagement in Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland.

Morning Routine

Kelly’s day often begins with a wake-up call from either her alarm or Juno, her vocal Siamese cat, who “howls for breakfast/ love/ a hot radiator.” She enjoys coffee in bed with her partner, PJ, while catching up on news and tackling the New York Times Connections puzzle. Breakfast typically consists of muesli or porridge.

Dog Walks and Local Exploration

Around 10:00 AM, Kelly and PJ walk their two 16-year-old dogs in Bray, a dog-friendly town with numerous “lovely sniffs.” They occasionally visit Catalyst cafe, which offers a treat dispensing machine for canine companions. Bray’s convenient DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit) access allows Kelly to easily travel to Dublin for book shopping at Sostrene & Grene, This is Knit, and the National Gallery. She is a dedicated charity shopper, recently finding a pale blue silky shirt for around €5 at the Irish Cancer Society shop.

Creative Pursuits

Kelly dedicates Saturdays to artistic endeavors. She recently completed a botanical dyeing course at Kilruddery Demesne with Naomi from thewildthings.ie, and previously took a pottery course at Brookwood Pottery. Her lifelong interest in craft began with embroidery lessons at age 10, creating landscapes in her grandmother’s busy kitchen.

Afternoon Chores and Culinary Delights

The afternoon involves practical tasks like grocery shopping, and laundry. Kelly frequents Get Fresh in Bray for produce and deli items, and enjoys coffee at nearby Gusto, run by an Italian couple. She maintains a dedicated laundry bucket for woollens, fiercely protecting it from misuse. While she prefers not to work on weekends, she will dedicate time to writing when finishing a book.

Evening Entertainment and Relaxation

Dinner is prepared by PJ, who has been making sourdough bread for 30 years, or by Kelly, who plans meals meticulously. They enjoy hosting guests, serving meals ranging from slow-cooked beef stew to stuffed chicken. Kelly sometimes bakes her almond flour chocolate cake with crème fraiche and raspberries. They often attend events at The Mermaid in Bray, recently seeing Adam Kay’s This Is Going To Hurt tour. Kelly has a long history of attending concerts, from David Bowie in Slane to Oasis and George Michael.

Wind Down

Kelly’s evenings conclude with crafting – currently wonky bracelets made on a small loom – and reading. She is currently rereading Floor Sample, a memoir by Julia Cameron, author of The Artist’s Way. She expresses a strong aversion to being without a book or craft project.

Cathy Kelly is a writer and Unicef ambassador, residing in Bray, Co Wicklow, with her partner, one of her sons, two dogs, a cat, and a substantial collection of wool. Her latest book, The Island Retreat, is available in all good bookshops.