X-Factor star Mary Byrne opens up about ‘difficult’ decade and says she cherishes the moment she met Gay Byrne

Mary Byrne has opened up about her career saying it has been a “whirlwind of phenomenal excitement” which was filled with “so many” incredible moments.

The Dubliner told Star Chic that throughout the ups and downs of career one moment stands out in particular.

She said: “I’ve met some fantastic people — meeting Tom Jones was one of the highest times of my life; he’d been my hero for such a long time. And standing in front of the Queen of England when she came here.

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“But to meet Gay Byrne, for me — because I grew up with the man on TV and on the radio, meeting him was probably the highest moment of all of them. He turned out to be, to me, such a gentleman and lovely person. He was so kind.

“I can’t even think of half of the things I’ve done. I’ve been in the company of Westlife, Boyzone, Take That — all those stars that have been on the telly and radio for years. And then there’s little ol’ Mary from Ballyfermot, in their company,” she said.

“The whole thing has been a whirlwind of phenomenal excitement. And yes, there’s been downs as well — when the phone stopped ringing after you come out of The X Factor and all that. But over the last 10 years, I’ve picked myself back up; I’ve met the right people and have been putting myself out there.”

Mary told how the last few years of the pandemic have brought some challenges and said that she has learned a lot about herself.

She said: “The one thing I have learned (over the last few years) is that I’m very strong. I didn’t realise how strong a person I am, and how much courage I have to get back up every time I’m knocked down by emotions or mental health, to get back up and out and face it.”

The Dubliner will be taking to the stage next month at the Dunamaise Arts Centre in Portlaoise as part of the show Waiting For Gateaux — and Mary told how excited she was to be back “doing what I was born to do”.

“(The play is) a great way to focus on who I am, how strong I am, how well I can be. I need to focus now, I need to have work. I need to be out there doing what I was born to do — and that’s entertaining and bringing joy to others, as well as myself.”

The stage show, which runs from May 19 to May 21, tells the tale of the Mo-tivators — the worst health and fitness club in the country. The fitness club is run by Maureen, a fifty-something widow, in a small venue in the middle of nowhere — and only ends up drawing in the clientele with nothing else to do. Jackie heads to the Mo-tivators to get away from her cheating husband, and she’s started to bring her younger sister along to try and keep her out of trouble.

Donald, meanwhile, goes because he’s actually in love with Maureen. But having lost 12 stone so far, he may soon disappear if he doesn’t ask her out — and quickly. Their lives get thrown for a loop when Sophie, a researcher for a reality TV programme, comes by to check out the club. And then a snowstorm arrives, bringing along some revelations that will change things forever. Mary will be taking on the role of Jackie — and it sounds like audience members are in for an absolute treat.

She said: “(The show) just becomes hilarious. Jackie throws a pie over (her husband’s) head at one point and tells him, ‘you want a tart? Try this on for size’.

“The show is just really good fun. I’m really looking forward to doing it.”

Mary said she reckons that people “definitely” want to go out for a laugh after the last two years — and that she hopes the play, which also stars Eilish O’Carroll, will give that to them.

She said: “For instance, I did a gig on Mother’s Day for the first time since (restrictions eased) — we were in a place called The Racecourse in Baldoyle. There was nothing but women in the place and the craic was on the stage. It was meant to be a two-hour show, but it ended up being a three-and-a-half hour show.

“We were out, we were free, we were mixing — we were still being careful with each other, but the laugh and the joy that we were bringing to the people and the people were bringing to us was incredible.

“People really want to get out there, they want to laugh. They want to forget the horrors of the last two years.

“People need a laugh and this play, with me and Eilish, will hopefully bring that laughter to them.”

The former X Factor contestant added that she was “really, really looking forward to getting stuck into this play”.

She continued: “I’ve worked with Eilish, on-and-off, every so often. But she’s one of the nicest people that you’ll ever meet. She’s very like me — we’re very alike. We both have the same birth signs, we have the same sense of humour. And when you watch her on television, you can see how well she does what she does. She’s a professional through and through and she’s a great friend.

“I’m really, really, really looking forward to getting stuck into this play with her — I know that not only will the audience be laughing, but me and her are going to be in stitches.”

Being back on stage is something that Mary feels will be an “emotional” experience.

She said: “It’s going to be wonderful, to be standing on the stage with the audience full and everybody so close to you that you can touch them.

“That theatre in Portlaoise is just so beautiful and intimate, so it’s going to be really touching — and emotional, as well.”

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