My mother had many gifts, not least of which was buckets of common sense. She never over-thought anything and if a job had to be done, then you just got on with it. She had a great head for business and was a passionate farmer at a time when very few women were visible in the sector. She also had a knack of summing up any situation with one of her many sayings. When we were growing up, if she didn’t like one of our friends, all she’d say was: “Show me your company and I’ll tell you what you are.” With that one line, we knew exactly what she thought of our new friend.

An empty vessel makes the most noise was another favourite. She rarely used it on us, instead reserving it for politicians and those she termed as “smart alecs” of every description.

By any standards, my mother was a low-maintenance woman. She was a practical woman who wasn’t into frippery, although she had a fondness for a good leather handbag which she replaced about every five years. She had a good coat, a couple of frocks, lots of cardigans, next to no makeup or jewellery and she got her hair done about once every three months. But she always looked well and used say she had the best legs in the family.

I used think we hadn’t much in common but my husband says I’m growing more like her every day. I can certainly hear the echo of her voice as I mete out the same advice to my children as she did to us. If it’s true that daughters are destined to become like their mothers, then that’s one old adage I’ll be happy to accept. Happy Mother’s Day.

We certainly have a big Irish Country Living this week with our annual Horse Breeding Supplement and the Agri Careers Supplement, which is tied into the upcoming Agri Careers Fair. The fair, which is supported by open eir, takes place in the RDS on Friday 30 March and it’s a date to mark in your diary. At the time of going to press, our stand holders have over 1,000 (and counting) live jobs on offer. We know from feedback from last year, which was the first time we organised this event, that employers were very pleased with the calibre of people they met and went on to hire people they met on the day.

So many people think that an event such as this is only about farming and you’d need an agricultural science degree to get in the door. But they couldn’t be more mistaken. The jobs on offer cover every discipline and suit people who have certificates, diplomas, degrees and everything in between. There are jobs that suit people with lots of experience and others that are a perfect starting point for someone who is beginning a career in the agri sector. Or, for that matter, wondering what college course they might apply for.

Most of these jobs are based in rural Ireland, in good progressive companies where there is scope for career progression, so if you know someone looking to return home from abroad or move away from high rents and long commutes to Dublin, then the RDS is where they should be on 30 March. Pass the word – it could be life-changing.