Maeve O'Mahony is a theatrical performer and member of the Malaprop Theatre company, an award-winning collective.
Maeve is currently appearing as Dora in An Octoroon by American playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, which completes its run at the Abbey Theatre this Saturday (14th).
Home is...
I live in Stoneybatter in Dublin 7, with my boyfriend Michael and our dog Harley.
I'm from Waterford but I moved to Dublin when I was 19. I've been in Stoneybatter for almost six years and I absolutely love it. It's changed a lot in the few years that I've lived there.
I get along really well with all my neighbours, we've got a really lovely community on my street. It's so close to the city, but it also feels like a village sometimes, which I love.
How I get around the city:
I'm obsessed with walking, I pretty much walk everywhere. I love blasting some Mitski or listening to a podcast. At the moment, I'm obsessed with Maintenance Phase - it debunks health and wellness culture, it's really fascinating.
If I'm in a rush I'll get the bus or the Luas, but I if I can at all, I walk.
My favourite pub in the city:
Oh, that's easy. Walsh's in Stoneybatter. That's hands down the best pub in Ireland. Everyone that works there is so kind, and you really get the feeling when you walk in that you are somewhere where everyone knows you.
Everyone is so friendly, the service is amazing and there's always such a good atmosphere there. And there's live music on a Monday, it's brilliant.
They also did pint deliveries over the pandemic, so it felt like you still had a relationship with them, because they'd come to your door with pints.
My favourite restaurant in Dublin:
The most delicious meal I had recently was at a place in Stoneybatter called Hakkahan. It's a Chinese restaurant on Manor Street.
Aside from that, I'm a big fan of Ristorante Romano on Capel Street. It's really reasonably priced, tasty Italian food, and they will take giant bookings, so it's often where me and my friends go if we need a table for 12. I've got loads of really lovely memories from that restaurant.
My go-to café or coffee shop:
I'm really close to a place called The Little Cactus, which is gorgeous - really nice coffee, and they also sell plants and different bits. I'm also really close to Love Supreme and Proper Order - I'm completely spoiled for delicious coffee.
Where I get my exercise:
Towards the end of last year, I started bouldering - it's like rock climbing but without ropes, it's not as high. I do that at Gravity Climbing Centre in Inchicore.
That's been really great because it's social. I'm not a very sporty person, but I do find working out a bit lonely sometimes and that's been really great to get into.
It is amazing for your upper body strength, and you have to use your legs a lot more than I thought in the beginning, which I'm working on now. It's very technique-based as well, which is good, and it really makes your brain think about solving problems.
My favourite shops:
Clothes-wise, my favourite shop is probably Finders Keepers in Bray. It's amazing second-hand vintage clothes, and the owner is so lovely. It's a brilliant place to get bits. Aside from that, I do try to avoid buying new stuff, so I go online to Spice Vintage or Rêverie.
Bookshops are probably my favourite shops, and Books Upstairs is my favourite. They usually have an interesting selection, and what I like about it and all bookshops is that you just get to browse and usually no one gives you any hassle. I think it's the place where you can spend the most time unbothered.
My favourite place for a haircut or a pampering session:
I almost never get my hair cut. If I have to get my nails done or anything I go to Top To Toe beauty in Stoneybatter - they're lovely. But especially now that I climb, I don't really get them done anymore.
As a treat, I'm more likely to go away for a couple nights than get anything done in the city.
My favourite place in Dublin to get away from it all:
The War Memorial Gardens. I only went there for the first time in 2020 - I was looking for places where me and some friends who are from D8 could meet up.
We did the thing where you put both the addresses into the browser and then it shows you where the overlap is. So we started to go to the War Memorial Gardens to hang out and chat.
I've had some lovely times there. I just think it's so beautiful, that rose garden is magnificent and walking by the river is so lovely.
My favourite place to let my hair down:
I love going to events, and I think one of my favourites in the last few months has been the Queer Cabaret. It's in Bow Lane and anytime Avoca Reaction is onstage, I will let my hair down. They're an absolutely incredible performer.
The last live event I went to:
The last event I went to was in the Abbey - I went to see Portia Coughlan, a show that was on earlier on in the year.
It's a Marina Carr play and it was it was spectacular. The acting was sublime. Denise Gough was just incredible to watch on stage, and it was great to go there and see the play and know that I would be on the stage in a few months. That was a really beautiful experience.
Every seat was taken and I think it was the first time I'd had that experience in a long time. It was completely electrifying.
My favourite time of the year in Dublin:
My favourite time in Dublin is September, because it's when Dublin Fringe is on.
That's my favourite arts festival, and it's where my theatre company will usually put on productions, so that's the time of the year that I'm always most excited about.
