Ireland Sunday Tribune FRIENDS FOR LIFE MÉAV and AMY

[Don]

FRIENDS FOR LIFE - MÉAV NÍ MHAOLCHATHA AND AMY ROWAN

CASTING director Amy Rowan and singer Méav Ní Mhaolchatha have been

best friends since they were 15, and although they now lead very different

lives, their friendship has endured through the years.

Amy is from Booterstown, and has four sisters and five brothers. She

studied history at Trinity, and started working in film as a chaperone after

spending a year in New York. Her previous casting projects include the

films, Adam and Paul and Boy Meets Girl, and television programmes, The

Clinic, Pure Mule, Legend and Murphy's Law. Amy lives in Dublin, and is in

a relationship with Michael.

Méav is from Donnybrook, and she completed a degree in law at Trinity

College, while also studying voice, harp and piano. She toured the world

as sole vocalist with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, principal soloist with the

choral group Anúna, and as Erin the Goddess in Lord of the Dance.

She is currently on tour in the US with Celtic Woman, and their new CD

and DVD, Celtic Woman - A New Journey, is out now.

Méav on Amy I first met Amy in second year at Coláiste Íosagáin. She

joined late, and I remember this new girl coming in with a big, bold face

on her. She came in and performed a poem that was my party piece in

front of the whole school, and I remember thinking, "Hang on, this one's

going to be trouble!"

We were in different classes, and we only started to really become friends

at 15. I remember being invited back to Amy's house after the Inter Cert,

and I thought she was really good fun. She always has a twinkle in her

eye, as if there's something going on under the surface.

Amy and I spent a lot of time in college doing things that weren't on the

curriculum, like drama and musicals.

She's very good at keeping in touch with people and getting them

together.

She's really a catalyst for a group staying in touch. It was her idea to start

up our book club, which has lasted for three years now and has eight

members.

When Amy started working in the film industry, I thought it was brilliant,

because she was ideally suited to it. She started off assisting people with

casting, and when she said she was going to go out on her own, I was also

a bit worried for her. It was a big step to take, because it's a very difficult

industry, particularly over here, where the scene is quite small. To create

a niche for yourself, and become established as Amy has is really quite an

achievement. I'm really proud of her.

I love seeing her name when the credits are rolling, and I'm going

"Woohoo", whether it's in the cinema or at home. I never would have

thought of casting as a career path for Amy, but it suits her so well. She

still hasn't cast me in any amazing parts, mind you!

Amy knows how to celebrate life, even in little ways. She has a great

work-life balance, and even if she's working very hard she'll always find

time for a walk on the beach, or will go on a really nice trip when her

project is over. She's quite theatrical in her personality, as are the rest of

her family.

I've had great fun spending time with them over the years. Amy's best

quality is her warmth and generosity of spirit, and she just knows how to

scoop you up into that warmth. She's very hospitable, and visitors to her

house will always be made to feel very welcome.

Amy on Méav I met Méav when I was 14, and I remember being very

impressed by her. She had amazing self-assurance, and there was no

false modesty about her, but she didn't feel the need to impose herself

either. I think that anyone who meets Méav would be slightly awe-struck

at first, because she has such poise, and is so talented. You quickly get

beyond that though, because she has huge warmth as well, and is a very

kind person.

Méav is great fun. She's also wise, generous, straight-talking and strong.

I remember we both wore the same pink top to a céilí, and it looked much

nicer on her! We had a group of friends in school, and were lucky because

a lot of us ended up going to Trinity, and had a lot more time to hang

around together. Some people actually thought I did law as well, because

I spent so much time hanging around with the law crowd. We also spent a

lot of time drinking coffee in Kilkenny Design!

Méav and I hook up once a month with our other friends for our book club,

and it's brilliant because we get to catch up with one another, and

occasionally we even get to read a book!

Our group of friends has all scattered quite a bit over the years, but even

the people who are away have honorary membership and come whenever

they're back. Méav is away quite a bit too, but we're an accommodating

bunch, and try to plan ahead and fit in our dates around one another.

Méav comes from a lovely family, so it is no wonder that she hasn't

changed a bit despite her success. She's still the same Méav we went to

school with.

Méav has a great sense of occasion, and we were all delighted and

honoured when she sang at my sister's wedding last year. She did such a

beautiful job, and added a huge amount of gravitas to the ceremony.

Méav has a beautiful sweet voice, and music has always been a huge part

of her life. Even though she did law, I think music was a much more

obvious path for her, and she has done so well at it. I truly admire her,

because she's always worked incredibly hard to make the most of her

talents, and make things happen. I love seeing her perform, because she

is so at ease doing it, and has an amazing voice. I'm always very proud

when I see her up on stage.

We had the Celtic Woman Christmas CD on at home last Christmas

morning, and my sisters and I were there in aprons peeling spuds, and

singing along with the ladies!


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