George McMahon is better known to many as Mondo in Fair City, having played the character for 15 years. But some Irish Country Living readers will also remember him as the winner of RTÉ’s Celebrity Farm in 2003.

One of Ireland’s first dabblings in reality TV, Celebrity Farm was presented by Mairead McGuinness and did exactly what it said on the tin, with celebrities fighting it out to see who had the best agricultural aptitude. In the end, it was Dubliner George who took the crown of the only ever season. As he says himself: “I was excellent at milking the cows.”

Despite showing a flair for making a living off the land, nowadays farming doesn’t feature too much in George’s agenda. He’s too busy minding his six-month-old baby daughter Frankie, planning a wedding with his fiancée Rachel Smyth, acting in Fair City and preparing for a pantomime.

Panto passion

For George, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without an appearance in a panto. One way or another he’s been involved in panto every year of his adult life. And, even though the actor has numerous years of experience behind him, 2018 presents a new challenge.

He will be taking part in a touring production of Sleeping Beauty, starring alongside Aoibheen McCaul and Clara Murray, which will show at the National Opera House in Wexford from 27-30 December and the INEC Killarney from 3-5 January.

“It’s my first time to do something like this with a touring panto. It’s really cool and it will be nice to see the difference between the two audiences because every new audience brings a new energy to a performance. Panto has just become part of our Christmas celebration,” says George.

“I’ll be playing the Unlikely Prince, he doesn’t know that he’s a prince. Obviously they thought I wasn’t handsome enough to be a prince from the start,” laughs George.

This year George is also expecting a special visitor to Sleeping Beauty, Frankie. “She might be a little bit young, she mightn’t know what the hell is going on and what is Dad dressed like that for? But I hope Rachel will sneak her in at the back.”

Famous Family

Sleeping Beauty will not be Frankie’s first foray in theatre however. In fact, showing she’s most definitely her father’s daughter, Frankie has already starred in a show herself. This summer she played baby Georgina in the stage adaptation of The Snapper in The Gaiety.

“She was gigging all though the summer, so she’s having a break now. She’s between jobs and is discussing her options with her agent as to what’s next for her,” jokes her father.

“Rachel’s cousin Hilda Fay was in the play and she knew that Rachel was due in and around the time they would need a baby. We just said yeah, because we got a good buzz out of seeing her on stage.”

Interestingly also, George did the voice-over for the TV documentary The Rotunda shortly after Frankie was born, so he’s well and truly in full baby mode now. But, in all seriousness, it is very clear that being a father sits well with him.

“It’s the best thing we ever did,” says George. “We are just mad about her and we can’t believe it every single day when she wakes up with a big smile on her face, that this is the baby we made. We are absolutely over the moon.”

When George speaks with Irish Country Living he is actually in Spain with Rachel and Frankie, visiting his mother where she lives in Nerja. There is another reason for their trip: the couple will get married there next summer and are putting some preparations in place.

Carrigstown

George will always be synonymous with Mondo, people regularly call him such when they see him on the street. But, that sits okay with him, he’s grown fond of Mondo over the years. “He can be a bit of a bold boy or an eejit, but as well as that he does have a heart of gold,” explains George.

“I came into Fair City for five years, had an absolute ball. Then I went away for five years and I’ve been back in it for five years again. So I suppose it’s 10 full years.

“It’s amazing over the years how the attitude has changed towards Fair City. People are very supportive of it. In the early days it got a tough time. In the last 10 years, further back than that even, since the Billy Meehan storyline, people have just really invested in the show. It’s really nice to be a part of that.”

When asked will he stay in Carrigstown? Well, George says he’s around as long as they want him.

“I have to take it as it comes, I love the job, I love being part of that family. As long as there are storylines, I’ll be making myself available.” CL

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