I was in hospital having a hysterectomy when Princess Diana’s funeral was on. I had fibroids, benign growths – if I didn’t deal with them they’d grow, eventually cause blockages and damage.
I remember waking up on the Sunday, news of her death on the radio and it shocking the world. And sitting up in bed later that week, her funeral on the telly – patients and nurses all glued to it.
September 1997, I had two young children under four – Kedie Blaise and Kerri Ellen – they’re grown women now. I was a stay-at-home-mum then, my husband was in the navy and away a lot.When you’re at home being a mother, it’s very fulfilling and busy, but I certainly wanted something fulfilling outside the home too, and for the longest time, since I was a teenager, martial arts was that for me.
It had been like a journey, going through all the different coloured belts to get to the stage where I was at – I had two black belts. To go from second to third black belt, you have to train for three years, which I had done … but sadly I never got to take those grades because I’d become sick in the meantime.
I had to go on medication to shrink the fibroids and that all took a toll on my system,which is why I couldn’t continue with the training.
So that time of the hysterectomy was like a funeral for me. Because I did go back training after the procedure but I’d never have been able to get back to the standard I had been. I could continue as a hobby, and I did for a while, which was OK but I just wanted to achieve in it.
It took me a while to realise. Trying to find the fulfillment that had been there all along, but not really finding it, eventually I knew it was a done deal.
I remember folding up all the white suits, the belts, tracksuits, the padding, and gum-shields – folding them all up and placing them at the back of the hot-press, and knowing I wouldn’t be taking them out again.
When you’re at home being a mother, it’s very fulfilling and busy, but I certainly wanted something fulfilling outside the home too. Picture: Chani Anderson
Fionula Linehan: Embracing Prospect and the Magic of Theatre
Fionula Linehan, Ireland’s only female panto dame, is currently enchanting audiences as she stars in Cinderella at The Everyman theatre in Cork, running untill January 11th. https://everymancork.com/events/the-everyman-panto-cinderella/ Directed by Catherine Mahon-Buckley and presented in association with CADA Performing Arts, the production marks another highlight in a career built on embracing unexpected turns and a deep love for performance.
Linehan reflects on her journey, describing a feeling of finding her true calling. “did you ever just know you landed in your place? I landed in my place. I was good at it, I was confident in it – I had this opportunity to play, almost like a child but in an adult form.”
Initially pursuing an academic path, she became a drama teacher while simultaneously nurturing her passion for acting. She emphasizes the transformative power of acting, noting how it allows performers to inhabit different worlds and cultivate empathy. “What I love about acting: depending on the gig,you could be in any world you wouldn’t otherwise experience.Living someone else’s life, albeit on stage, and researching the character gives you a lot more empathy for somebody you might meet in real life who’s in that situation.”
Linehan’s path wasn’t always linear. she acknowledges the importance of being open to change, stating, “One door closing and another opening – that’s been my experience. I firmly believe life gives opportunities at all different times – if you’re brave enough to step out and explore you don’t know what you’ll find.”
Interestingly, a period of illness led her to re-evaluate her earlier focus on martial arts, a discipline she had dedicated herself to. While she acknowledges the physicality of martial arts is often best suited to youth, she believes her path ultimately led her to where she was meant to be.
Looking back, Linehan expresses gratitude for the opportunities she’s been given. “When I was younger I’d gone to theatre, watched it, loved it. I never thought ‘that’s where I’ll be’. I feel so blessed and glad it turned out as it did.” She underscores the vital role of those who take a chance on talent,stating,”It’s grand to have talent,but if somebody isn’t prepared to take a chance on you,give you opportunity,what good is it?”
Worth a look