Sybil Mulcahy, Biddy White Lennon and more share their mothers' best advice

Trish Messom

Trish Messom runs The Stuffed Olive cafe and deli in Bantry, Co Cork, with her daughters Sarah (28) and Grace (27) O’Shea.

Trish: My mother May always said: “Your health is your wealth.” She met my father at a crossroads dance. While they raised 14 children on a small farm, they still made time to go dancing two nights a week. Sometimes I don’t know how she managed – she didn’t get a washing machine until she had her seventh child – but she taught me not to worry about the small stuff, especially when my own girls were just babies. To this day, she’s rarely without a smile on her face. She also taught me that the secret to an apple tart is a few cloves.

Sarah: My mother has taught me that nothing is an obstacle. When we were growing up, she always seemed to have three jobs on the go, but whether we wanted to be doctors or clean toilets, she always said: “Just do whatever makes you happy.” You can tell her anything and she will never judge you. We’re very close.

Grace: When I told my mother I wanted to get dreadlocks a few years ago, she just said: “Go ahead.” The same thing happened when I said I wanted to shave my head. That made it very hard to rebel growing up. She always gave us our independence, but I’ve learned to always listen to her – because she’s always right.

Mandy Maher

Catwalk Model Agency (www.catwalkmodels.ie)

My mother, Margaret, was always a super-organised, multi-tasking working mother of four who instilled a work ethic in us from a very young age.

“If you want anything in life, you must work for it,” she would say and, to be honest, that sticks with each of us to this day.

Mum always managed to keep the house spotless, cook the dinners and bake every day, but I think I owe my obsession with cleaning to her. I’m forever going around with a dishcloth in my hand and I’ll puff the cushions when someone sits up on the chair without even realising I am doing it. When mum comes to visit she tells me to sit down and relax, but I keep telling her I didn’t pick all the cleaning up from the wind.

One great tip she gave me is to clean the windows with vinegar and water mixed in an old spray bottle, wiped down with old newspapers. Not one product on the market can compare to this simple, old-fashioned tip.

But more important are all the wonderful chats and laughs we have had together over the years. I count my blessings every day for the wonderful mum I have and cherish every single moment with her.

Biddy White Lennon

Food writer and judge on TV3’s The Great Irish Bake Off

My mother rarely tendered me advice, but she did issue commands.

“Don’t swim when the tide is going out, or until an hour after you have eaten,” the latter a command that probably saved my brother and me from getting a cramp, being swept out to sea, and drowning.

“Remember when you go backstage to meet the performers after a play or concert, say: ‘I really enjoyed your performance.’” So, from about five onwards, I have followed that piece of advice.

My mother, Ursula White (pictured below), taught voice production and drama at the Royal Irish Academy of Music. Daily she “advised” her children and pupils: “Breathe correctly and let your voice out.”

All my life, when speaking in public or a vast theatre or hall, or outside, I breathe deeply and let my voice out. Sometimes, people even listen to me.

Sybil Mulcahy

TV3 presenter

My mum, Joan, had seven children and I’m the baby. For as long as I can remember, her advice to me was: “Work hard and get a good job.”

She always encouraged me to study and, woe betide, if I didn’t leave the house in the morning without having a breakfast. In fact, during the year of my leaving cert she fed me steak for breakfast as much as she could to boost the brain power.

Speaking of food, mum always cooks around four different types of vegetables with every meal (which drives my dad crazy with all the pots) and she has passed this onto me. I’m not half the cook she is, but last Sunday she taught me how to make gravy.

Regarding cleaning, her motto has always been: “Use vinegar on everything.” It loosens grease and dirt and is even good when you’re washing silk scarves – you put the vinegar in the water and it prevents the colour running. Toothpaste is very good for cleaning diamonds and if you wash your face with rain water you will always look well.