First encounters

In conversation with UNA MULLALLY

NIAMH GREENE

is an author who had a number one best seller with Confessions of a Demented Housewife. Her fifth novel, A Message to your Heart, is out now. She lives in The Rower, Co Kilkenny

‘MY FIRST BOOK was published in 2007 and it was nominated for two Irish Book Awards and became a number one best seller. Up to then I was kind of a secret writer. At school I was always the girl who loved writing essays. I studied English and French in UCD so I could keep reading for a few years. I did lots of jobs, tourism, PR, but I didn’t get serious about writing until I had my children. Once they were in preschool and school, I got serious about it. I would have been very shy about my writing and my husband really encouraged me to send it off.

“Myself and Mol first met in primary school when we were about 10 or 11. At school, Molly was extremely artistic and I always really adored that about her.

“She was known as a fabulous painter and she was just really witty and funny and I always really enjoyed her company. I loved my school days. They were really happy days, and there were lots of us who were great friends and still are.

“After the Leaving we all went our separate ways. We always knew what the other was doing, but we lost contact for about 17 or 18 years. She went to France, and I was in London and San Francisco. In 2006, I moved with my family back down to the outskirts of New Ross. We both had children, she had two little girls and I had my boy and my girl.

“I literally bumped into her in the street one day. I was thrilled to see her. She hadn’t changed, and we picked up where we left off. Now we live a couple of fields away. We see each other every day because our kids go to the same school. When we drop the kids off, we go for a walk together every day and are always in and out of each other’s houses.

“It’s a unique kind of situation. I knew the minute I saw her we would become close again. She’s just so warm and lovely. We really have common ground between us again. We often laugh about it because at school I was known as the writer and she was known as the painter and we’ve ended up making careers out of it.

“We’re really lucky I suppose. I think she’s actually one of the funniest people I know. She’d often have me crying with laughter. You don’t meet that type of person every day. But she’s also very kind and loyal and she’s got a real kind of, what would you call it, a joie de vivre. She’s full of energy and life and get up and go.

“One of the things I most admire about her is that she’s such a great mum. I often turn to her for advice and I’d confide a lot in her about stuff.

“I have quite a few of her paintings now, and they would be among my most treasured possessions.”

MOLLY POENCET

is a painter who lives in The Rower, Co Kilkenny. Her latest exhibition is at Greenacres gallery, Wexford until August 4th

‘I’VE BEEN PAINTING full-time since 2001. I always had two passions – art and horses. After school I went to Dún Laoghaire School of Art and Design and ended up working for just over 10 years with show jumpers in Europe. Then I started doing horse portraits and getting a lot of attention for them.

“When I moved back to Ireland in 2001 I decided to give it a shot properly and it just took off. I think I was born with a pencil in my hand. I was a doodler, constantly drawing. I’m very privileged to have my two passions give me a chance for a career.

“My parents moved to New Ross, so I would have met Niamh when I was in 6th class. I came from a very small country school into a school full of girls. I just remember Niamh was very friendly. We actually got closer in secondary school. She was so good in English and used to read out her short stories a lot. She had a very dry wit, a beautiful turn of phrase.

“She had a little quirky side to her that would have stood out. There was always a nice rapport between us.

“We lost personal contact after school, but we have one very good mutual friend, so I would have known she had gone to London and then San Francisco.

“In 2006 I was walking through town and she jumped out in front of my double buggy with a big smile. That afternoon I landed back in her house drinking tea and catching up. Some people you can lose contact with and it’s awkward to get back, but we took to it like ducks to water.

“During the big snow two years ago, we used to walk across the drifts every day and spend the day together. That’s precious time – two weeks of isolation, with our kids playing together. When the thaw happened we went back, but it’s a lovely memory.

“What’s really spectacular about Niamh is that she knows the hard graft behind creative work. We totally understand each other. We know it’s solitary work, so our company is precious. She’ll say ‘I have writer’s block’ or I’ll say ‘I can’t paint today’. Her sense of humour is second to none. She has a fabulous work ethic I really like.

“She has created the most fabulous home, not just bricks and mortar, but a home full of love. It’s a great place to hang out in her kitchen, and you never get thrown out.

“Niamh is very modest and private about her work, so it’s always a treat to get to read it. I have her books on my shelves. People say to me, ‘I’ve read a great book’ and when they say it’s by Niamh Greene, I’m very smug.

“I’d say we’re going to grow old gracefully together, like an old couple.