What a Difference a Day Makes

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES

An ongoing series in which we ask people to share the 24 hours that changed their lives.

<p> Eavanna Breen: "My mother died of breast cancer in 2008 and my aunt too in 1987 — she was only 36. So going through my mind that day was all they had gone through." Picture: Moya Nolan.</p>

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What A Difference A Day Makes: Eavanna Breen on discovering pre-cancerous cells in her breast

Eavanna Breen tells Helen O’Callaghan about discovering she had pre-cancerous cells in her breast, about the impact of this, particularly as her mum had died from breast cancer – and how the whole experience has been a “tap on the shoulder”, reminding her of what’s important in life

<p>Aaron McCormack: "It’s a shock… Your mind goes quickly to… first, his wife, children, parents, siblings. And then you’re asking how, and why, and could anything have been done? Could I have done anything?"</p>

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What A Difference A Day Makes: Aaron McCormack on a call from home while abroad

<p>Pia Zain: "I’ve become very intentional and thoughtful about what gives me joy — sea-swimming, spending time with my goddaughter, being in nature. I live in my body now, in the present." Pictures: Dan Linehan</p>

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What a Difference a Day Makes: I was seven when I realised people were judging my body

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What A Difference A Day Makes: Going instantly blind at age 17 was very traumatic

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Aoife McNamara on landfill in Africa: So many toxins — when we blew our noses you could see the black

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What a Difference a Day Makes with Róisín Maher: I nearly died... but it drove me to find my voice

S What a Difference a Day Makes: Unwanted class on a rainy day brought sunshine into my life

Cellist and Ortús Chamber Music Festival curator Sinéad O'Halloran talks about a rainy day in the North that changed her musical perspective

Fri, 07 Feb, 2025

S What a Difference a Day Makes: How a teacher's question to Theo Dorgan set him up to be a writer

As a boy in fourth class in Cork’s North Monastery school in the 1960s, a teacher posed a question to Theo Dorgan. The poet tells Helen O’Callaghan how that question helped set him on course to be a writer.

Fri, 31 Jan, 2025

S What A Difference A Day Makes: Sandy Kelly on daughter's early health issues

"I was 16 when my mum had her haemorrhage, and I learned then if you show composure and are ‘sensible’, doctors tend to talk to you more. That was the way back then."

Tue, 07 Jan, 2025

S What a Difference a Day Makes: Wife of Cork chef on the day he died on Kilimanjaro

Cork chef James O’Connor died suddenly on his 40th birthday last December while climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Here, his wife Grace tells Helen O’Callaghan about her heartbreak at losing the love of her life and a devoted dad to the couple’s three children.

Sun, 29 Dec, 2024

S What a Difference a Day Makes: Grenfell Tower tragedy crystallised that we are all born the same way

David Tighe was a volunteer with the British Red Cross fire and emergency support service when the Grenfell Tower fire broke out in June 2017. He received the Dunant Award for attending the disaster. He tells Helen O’Callaghan about that day – and how it reinforced for him that all we have in the end is each other.

Tue, 24 Dec, 2024

S What a Difference a Day Makes: Clíona Standún on moving back to Ireland to save the family business

Clíona Standún, third-generation co-owner of Co Galway-based Standún Stores, tells Helen O’Callaghan about the life-altering ultimatum she received from her dad when she was just 25 – return from her beloved life in London to manage the family business in Spiddal, or let it go.

Tue, 10 Dec, 2024

S What A Difference A Day Makes: Marty Whelan on becoming a grandfather

What a Difference a Day Makes: RTÉ’s Marty Whelan talks to Helen O’Callaghan about becoming a grandfather for the first time this year

Sat, 07 Dec, 2024

S What a Difference a Day Makes: Eoin Colfer on learning Disney bought film rights during yard duty

What a Difference a Day Makes: Eoin Colfer tells Helen O’Callaghan when he found out that bidding was about to start for the movie rights to Artemis Fowl — and how what happened that day has impacted his life right to the present

Tue, 26 Nov, 2024

S Author Sarah Bowie on health struggles: ‘It felt like a second chance, the green light to live again’

Sarah Bowie went from being told she had cancer, to then discovering her tumour was benign. She tells Helen O’Callaghan how this experience changed her life for the better.

Tue, 19 Nov, 2024

S What A Difference A Day Makes: 'Éilis’s death brought a sadness into all of our lives'

Musician Fiach Moriarty tells Helen O’Callaghan about how a tragic global event 20 years ago brought heartbreak to a Dublin neighbourhood.

Tue, 12 Nov, 2024

S What a Difference a Day Makes: 'I’ll never forget my future wife walking into my sights when I was 14'

Alex Conyngham, Earl of Mount Charles, tells Helen O’Callaghan about the beautiful girl he met when he was 14 – and about meeting her many years later and realising she was the woman he wanted to marry.

Sun, 03 Nov, 2024

S What a Difference a Day Makes: 'I love West Cork and we do want to give back'

US-born, West Cork-based Chris Mason tells Helen O’Callaghan about how a moment when his wife said ‘yes’ set the wheels in motion for a whole new life in another country – and the start of a new sustainable business.

Sun, 27 Oct, 2024

S What A Difference A Day Makes: If I’d lost my singing voice I’d have lost my identity too

Musician Linda Plover tells Helen O’Callaghan about what it was like to lose her voice due to surgery, about the regrets she had – and how its total recovery has made her supremely grateful for a second chance.

Tue, 15 Oct, 2024

S Hugh Wallace: My dyslexia diagnosis gave me the confidence to say I’m gay

What a Difference a Day Makes: Architect and TV personality Hugh Wallace tells Helen O’Callaghan about the transformative effect on him of being diagnosed with dyslexia at 18 – and about the far-reaching impact on his career and self-esteem.

Tue, 24 Sep, 2024

S What a Difference a Day Makes: I’ll never beat feeling of my little girl being born

Musician Alex Petcu-Colan tells Helen O’Callaghan about some of the special moments surrounding the birth of his daughter, and considers how becoming a dad has changed him.

Tue, 17 Sep, 2024

S What a Difference a Day Makes: Conal Creedon on visiting his Uncle Jack in Beara

Cork writer Cónal Creedon tells Helen O’Callaghan about a day when he was seven that began his first extended time away from home – and how being with his Uncle Jack in Beara birthed in him a deep sense of place.

Tue, 10 Sep, 2024

S What a Difference a Day Makes: How losing a contract job made me fight for my comedy

Comedian Ross Browne tells Helen O’Callaghan about the morning floods in Cork city cost him his contract cleaning job – but also led to the launch of a career in comedy.

Tue, 03 Sep, 2024

S What a Difference a Day Makes: A phone call with my mam gave me focus when I needed it

Luke Thomas tells Helen O’Callaghan about a phone call he made to his mum in a moment of crisis and how her words steadied him – keeping him on course in a way that had a far-reaching impact, both personally and professionally.

Tue, 27 Aug, 2024

S What a difference a day makes: On a trip to Berlin I met the love of my life

Aran Island singer-songwriter Padraig Jack tells Helen O’Callaghan about a pivotal trip to Berlin 10 years ago, where he committed fully to music, forged closer bonds with four fellow-musicians – and met the love of his life.

Tue, 20 Aug, 2024

S What a Difference a Day Makes: The moment I knew my husband wasn't going to live

Lorraine Crimmins talks to Helen O’Callaghan about her husband John’s terminal cancer diagnosis – and about a significant moment that happened a month before he passed away.

Tue, 13 Aug, 2024

S What a Difference a Day Makes: I felt reborn when I was diagnosed with ADHD in my 30s

Amy Weidner talks to Helen O’Callaghan about how being diagnosed with ADHD in her 30s has been life-changing for her – both personally and professionally.

Sun, 11 Aug, 2024

S What a Difference a Day Makes: Ger Harkins on the day her son suffered renal failure

Cork mum-of-two Ger Harkins tells Helen O’Callaghan about her utter shock when her fit, sporty 15-year-old suddenly suffered renal failure – and about trying to stay positive in a radically-changed life.

Sun, 04 Aug, 2024

S What a difference a day makes: Gavin James on hearing his song being sung back to him

Singer-songwriter Gavin James tells Helen O’Callaghan how hearing the words of his song sung back to him as a 20-year-old in Temple Bar proved the catalyst for a bigger commitment to his musical career.

Sat, 27 Jul, 2024

S Paracyclist Richael Timothy on how an acquired brain injury changed her life path

Para-cyclist Richael Timothy talks to Helen O’Callaghan about how her acquired brain injury changed her life, but also brought her opportunities she could never have expected – and how motivated she feels by the birth of her daughter.

Tue, 16 Jul, 2024

S What a Difference a Day Makes: The Happy Pear's Stephen Flynn on a detox that changed his life

Stephen Flynn – one half of the Happy Pear – talks to Helen O’Callaghan about how a chance remark in Leaving Cert, a summer of boozing in Europe and a decision to do a marathon combined to create a change that went beyond lifestyle.

Tue, 09 Jul, 2024

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES

What A Difference A Day Makes: Eavanna Breen on discovering pre-cancerous cells in her breast

What A Difference A Day Makes: Aaron McCormack on a call from home while abroad

What a Difference a Day Makes: I was seven when I realised people were judging my body

What A Difference A Day Makes: Going instantly blind at age 17 was very traumatic

Aoife McNamara on landfill in Africa: So many toxins — when we blew our noses you could see the black

What a Difference a Day Makes with Róisín Maher: I nearly died... but it drove me to find my voice

S What a Difference a Day Makes: Unwanted class on a rainy day brought sunshine into my life

S What a Difference a Day Makes: How a teacher's question to Theo Dorgan set him up to be a writer

S What A Difference A Day Makes: Sandy Kelly on daughter's early health issues

S What a Difference a Day Makes: Wife of Cork chef on the day he died on Kilimanjaro

S What a Difference a Day Makes: Grenfell Tower tragedy crystallised that we are all born the same way

S What a Difference a Day Makes: Clíona Standún on moving back to Ireland to save the family business

S What A Difference A Day Makes: Marty Whelan on becoming a grandfather

S What a Difference a Day Makes: Eoin Colfer on learning Disney bought film rights during yard duty

S Author Sarah Bowie on health struggles: ‘It felt like a second chance, the green light to live again’

S What A Difference A Day Makes: 'Éilis’s death brought a sadness into all of our lives'

S What a Difference a Day Makes: 'I’ll never forget my future wife walking into my sights when I was 14'

S What a Difference a Day Makes: 'I love West Cork and we do want to give back'

S What A Difference A Day Makes: If I’d lost my singing voice I’d have lost my identity too

S Hugh Wallace: My dyslexia diagnosis gave me the confidence to say I’m gay

S What a Difference a Day Makes: I’ll never beat feeling of my little girl being born

S What a Difference a Day Makes: Conal Creedon on visiting his Uncle Jack in Beara

S What a Difference a Day Makes: How losing a contract job made me fight for my comedy

S What a Difference a Day Makes: A phone call with my mam gave me focus when I needed it

S What a difference a day makes: On a trip to Berlin I met the love of my life

S What a Difference a Day Makes: The moment I knew my husband wasn't going to live

S What a Difference a Day Makes: I felt reborn when I was diagnosed with ADHD in my 30s

S What a Difference a Day Makes: Ger Harkins on the day her son suffered renal failure

S What a difference a day makes: Gavin James on hearing his song being sung back to him

S Paracyclist Richael Timothy on how an acquired brain injury changed her life path

S What a Difference a Day Makes: The Happy Pear's Stephen Flynn on a detox that changed his life

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