Like mother, like daughter

Claire Guiney nominated her mother, Margaret Quirke, for a makeover with Irish Country Living, and we decided both these ladies were deserving of quality time together and some TLC.

The family have had a heartbreaking few years as Margaret’s husband Richard Quirke, a stalwart of North Cork IFA, was diagnosed with cancer, had a stroke and tragically passed away.

Claire is proud of how her mother has looked after her family through this difficult period.

“My mother deserves this makeover for her devotion and care, not only of her husband but also for her children and grandchildren,” Claire says. “Words can’t describe what my mother endured and no one deserves a treat like this more.”

Claire herself is a busy working mum with three children, the youngest of whom, Maeve, was born in January just days before her father passed away.

With so much on their plates, Claire and Margaret rarely get the chance to spend time together so a day of pampering was the perfect opportunity.

Our first stop was Love Cherish, a gorgeous boutique in Charleville town that has long been a go-to destination for fashion fans of north Cork.

Richard was never a fan of black so the ladies opted for lots of colour and owner Maeve helped them select outfits in flattering and warm tones.

Maeve also encouraged the ladies to try styles different to what they would normally wear, and to show off their impressively slim figures.

After we had selected three fabulous outfits, we visited Cutting Edge salon, where Clara gave the ladies blowdries with plenty of volume and shine.

“Hot water is very damaging to the hair and causes frizz, so use lukewarm water instead and a final rinse in cold water,” Clara advises. “This will close the cuticle and give more shine. In the autumn months, it is important to invest in a moisturising shampoo and conditioner, and to use a heat protecting spray if you use heated appliances.”

Then, the ladies headed to the Laser and Beauty Clinic to get their makeup done. Marguerite chose neutral tones to flatter the women’s skin tones, and added subtle definition to the eyes to make them pop.

The ladies then enjoyed their photoshoot at the Charleville Park Hotel, which is coincidentally where Claire had her wedding reception a couple of years previous. Afterwards Claire and Margaret enjoyed a fabulous afternoon tea in the Osprey Lounge.

With thanks to: