other things
Some other things about my life and work so far...
I began working outside of school at the age of 15 cleaning pots and pans in a busy Indian restaurant in Sligo in the late 90s before training as a waitress and moving into a career in the hospitality industry for a few years. This was Ireland pre-Celtic Tiger days, and, decades on, I remember a time when there were only 2 people in Sligo who would order a cappuccino!
I worked in a popular Sligo pub at night and managed a small coffee shop 3 days a week at 18 whilst saving for a move to the U.K. where I then managed a busy restaurant/wine bar in the UK for a few years before deciding to return to education.
I went back to college in the mid-2000s to try a career in sports coaching and management, however, my knee had other ideas, so I ended up in a post-graduate diploma course in TV and Radio Production. This was still a time when things were recorded to tape, ingested and timecodes noted diligently before, during, and after an edit.
This means that I am incredibly thankful for the modern lightweight SD cards and cameras, but miss the lovely shoulder supports of the older ENG cameras. I am even more thankful for all the other random progressions in technology that I often now deem to be witchcraft because they seem too good to be true.
I am happy working as a solo shooter, directing, filming, editing on the go, or as part of a full broadcast crew, doing camera, floor managing, runner, director, whatever. I enjoy this line of work a ludicrous amount.
I owe my sense of humour, and many moments of my life to Spike Milligan, Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett. I love the fact that I can carry around hundreds of books on an app on my phone and read whatever I feel like whenever I want. Although it doesn't quite match the smell of a new book, it's still a wonderful thing.
Sligo Rovers have the power to make or break my mood. If you can't get in touch with me, check out their most recent result and that could explain it.
I am a little sister to three amazing big brothers, and one even more amazing big sister, who happens to have Down Syndrome. My siblings, along with my parents, and my three fantastic nieces, have influenced everything from my attitude towards work, towards travel, towards people, towards life. I am incredibly lucky to have been born into the family I was.
This year (2023) has brought us ever closer to the point we knew we'd have to face someday - the inevitable departure of Babs. Yet somehow, despite spending almost 2 months in hospital, the first month barely being able to eat more than 2/3 sponfuls of food a day, with fluid in her now damaged lungs, her kidneys only functioning at 1/3rd of what they should, and being dependent on oxygen 24/7, she's still going. We have no idea how much time we have left with her now but we are grateful for every single hour.
There is a mountain in Sligo called Benbulben, and catching a glimpse of it any time of year is one of the most heart-lifting sights. I have recently returned to Sligo and now see it first thing every morning. It's a wonderful sight to wake up to.
Also, the Atlantic air can rejuvenate my soul in ways that I can not explain.
Also, also whilst it is very pretty sometimes, I do not believe the Irish Sea meandering it's way into Dublin Bay is what constitutes "fresh air at the seaside"
Each day you should try and listen to a new song. Life is complimented by music, and music is complimented by life.
If you're still reading this, you're either very interested in what I have to say, or very bored.
Whether it's the former or the latter, feel free to drop me a line at itacallagy@gmail.com and I can recommend some books and documentaries and podcasts to cure what ails you.
