Posting this today because it is my Dad’s anniversary & The Way Up has always been a little love letter to him, particularly the last episode & particularly this last scene. It’s always an odd little day, the more years pass, you outlive someone’s age & it ends up being a day for reflecting & taking pause. And I rarely pause if you’ve ever heard me speak. There’s always a link in my bio to an article about his suicide for anyone who finds the need for it. The last few days have been so sad with the loss of Sinéad O’Connor for so many people, because of her amazingness, but maybe because her passing has made us reflect on ourselves, or loved ones who were amazing, but not always well. All that lost opportunity. I’d just say that for a long time before he passed away my father must have been struggling more than we knew or could see, but didn’t have the words to get going to get help. If you’re struggling, please start today to try & get some words out slowly but surely. It’s like bleeding a radiator to let the pressure out (not a metaphor everyone will get, sure). Even if it’s just onto paper for a bit & to no one else.
Alongside
@samaritans & @grassroots there’s also lots of mental health, ADHD, soulful & philosophy accounts I follow on here which if you’ve a gander might be good to follow for little moments of lift.
Also the last song in this clip is by US family group @infinitysong who are incredible.
We’re bringing more than flowers to RHS Chelsea Flower Show this year...we’re planting the seeds for a future where no one needs to turn to a food bank to survive. 🌱
Our Together Garden reflects the power of community - from food banks supporting people today, to all of us ending hunger forever.
Created by @robhardygardens and made possible by @project.giving.back , it won’t just last the week - it will move to Strabane Foodbank to be enjoyed for years to come.
Right now, ending hunger in the UK couldn’t be more important. We’re so proud to open our garden, welcome visitors, and start the conversations that can drive real change.
Thank you to @weemissbea , @lollyadefope , @rachel.dufffy , @stephenlibby , @josierones , @deborahmeaden , @levirootsmusic for joining us.
#RHSChelsea #ChelseaFlowerShow #GardensForGoodCauses
“I’m shite at everything…” 🙄
That one coworker who always puts themselves down.
Maaaasive thanks to @weemissbea for being part of this!
Full episode on YTube!
#DarknessIntoLight - very honoured to lead the London walk with my sister & (confused) baby at 4.15am on Saturday morning.
The work @pieta.house does & has done for suicide prevention & awareness is sometimes hard to quantify. But I feel it. It’s a long old road we have yet to walk with the subject & people feeling able to talk about their own dark thoughts or about those we have lost.
But I can see how much has changed. We lost our dad to suicide when we were very young & even as young adults, it was at times unfathomable to say his name & suicide in the same sentence. And now, often with all the work amazing charities like Pieta do, I can talk about it into a microphone in the middle of a park in London to people who understand the nuance & history & difficulties of it, all without judgement or taboo.
Thank you to everyone who gets up each year for the walk, when it’s difficult & easier to stay in bed. It helps so many people & families. And sending love to everyone who is struggling to get up & get out of bed assuming that the day will get any lighter. The walk out the door can be the hardest part. Xxx
OLDER THAN JESUS TOUR IS DONE*** 🙏🏻❤️😫😩😍
I’m so proud of my baby (this show) & couldn’t have asked for a better, more mad fuggin show than Sunday @vicar_st - thanks to the brilliant audience, I truly had such a laugh.
***of course I’ll add more dates later in the year but for now the other baby (the baby) needs to know who I am.
Thanks to all the audiences, especially ma friends & loved ones who came to the show & @jackoby.freeman & @clareemily89 my show directors & @annie.corrigan the best tour manager. And to all my pals who opened for me including @shanedanbyrne on Sunday who did the best work with the SEAT DRAMA.
Belfast and Cork. An Tuaisceart agus an Deisceart. Diddlleee done. ONE SHOW LEFT TONIGHT IN DUBBERZ!
Thanks to @shanedanbyrne (who did catch his train) @serenaterry for the pep talk & @siobhni & @martinangolocomedy for getting me corked.
SATURDAY MAY 9th! I will be walking in memory of my Dad, Brían who we lost to suicide & I know there are many other families & friends who feel the power of this walk each year. Please come with me to @darknessintolightclapham Clapham at 3.50am to walk out of the darkness and into the light for @pieta.house - the incredible suicide prevention charity.
On Saturday 9th May, people across Ireland and in London and beyond will come together to help stop suicide, I am honoured to be leading the London walk. It leaves from the Clapham bandstand with some words beforehand. PLEASE register if you plan to come.
“People walk for many different reasons.
With family.
With friends.
Or quietly, carrying their own.
Darkness Into Light is Pieta’s biggest fundraiser.
By registering and fundraising, people help keep Pieta’s doors open - making sure suicide prevention services are there for anyone who needs them, free of charge.
Behind every walk is an answered call, an open door, and someone being met with care.
Register now:
👉 https://www.darknessintolight.ie/CA6184 or at link in bio.”
#DIL2026 #DarknessIntoLight2026
OLDER THAN JESUS- UK LEG DONE!** 😫😫😫 and I’ve just left my suitcase on a train but LISTEN!
Thank you so much to everyone who has parted with their cash to buy tickets & laugh & talk to me as I’ve roamed the audiences & found all my gems.
Also thank you to anyone who reaches out after a show or messages, us clowns have a wild ride with self esteem, so it is ALWAYS appreciated. ❤️
Thanks to my tour manager @annie.corrigan - best in the biz, my Mam & fella for minding the baby, the lovely technicians at all the venues who agreed to light all the fancy venues like comedy clubs & my amazing pals who supported me- @theamyannette@dominicmcgovern & @joelycett & my BSL interpreter @paulbelmontesli & to @clareemily89 & @jackoby.freeman for directing & @chambers.mgt for organising.
*yes I’ll add more dates, maybe the end of the summer/autumn but for now my last leg is in Ireland this week and then this old show pony is having some hay.
** my jumper is a vintage Stella McCartney I got second hand on Vestiaire but I saw some on Vinted too. For the huns who ask.
Older Than Jesus in Scotland🏴: dundid Dundee, then had the Faulty Towers show of Aberdeen before the night of my life last night in Glasgow.
Thank you to @humzayousaf for presenting me with this @tunnocks bar, which I see very much as the freedom of the city.
Thanks also to the STUNNING @vadundee museum for the new Scottish World Cup scarf & for the hugely moving Palestinian exhibition exploring Palestine through its rich history of embroidery and design. Please go see this exhibition if you can. I hope it comes to London.
And big up to all the GREAT craic audiences, to @dominicmcgovern for the support & @annie.corrigan the best tour manager.
And mainly thank you to the soft, Scottish water, holy shit my hair has not been this clean and shiny in a decade.
Sprang has sprang.
Thank you in particular to @thefrankieshop for loaning me my gorgeous “inappropriate librarian” outfit for @thejonathanrossshowofficial - I am obsessed. Also my BIG OLE BRA which you can see underneath is from @stripeandstare - a British female, sustainable. B-Corp certified company who make THE BEST KNICKERS AND UNDERWEAR the feel so nice. I am not paid to say that I just believe that your ass will thank me if you buy their pants.
And also thank you to Kildare County Council for the SPIRIT OF KILDARE award back in February before I started my tour. It makes a difference to the types of spirits I normally have while home, so I appreciate it so much. It was a gorgeous evening celebrating KILDARE. @kildarecountycouncil 🐎
