Quotes from Deirdre O'Kane

I was 25 before I joined the world, in my opinion. I was a very late developer, and everything came late.

Yes... I miss that everyone in Ireland tries to knock some humour out of every situation. I don't think I appreciated that. It's unique to Ireland.

When I came on the scene, there was The Nualas, who were doing character comedy, but there weren't any other women doing stand-up because Michelle Read had gone more into theatre.

I have never, ever slept through my child crying unless I have had a sleeping tablet; and I only take a sleeping tablet when I know Steve, my husband, is on duty. We take turns: he does one night, I do the next.

There's a lot I've missed about living in Ireland. You miss family, particularly when you've got kids.

Yves Saint Laurent will never go out of business so long as I'm buying mountains of Touche Eclat.

I was never very good at being an unemployed actor. I always thought that I should have been doing something pro-active. I was never good at doing juvenile leads. I suppose it's because I have this big sarcastic head on me.

I don't like doing things by halves, and I realised you can't do stand-up comedy part-time.

Ultimately, I just decided stand-up comedy is a huge commitment, and if you want to be the best, you have to give it one hundred per cent.

One day I got an invite to help the Christina Noble Foundation, and by this stage, I'd already been talking about her for 10 years. I said 'yes' right away, and that was the first time I met her.

I admire Pat Shortt as a businessman. Such acumen is unusual for an entertainer. He did all his own deals. I learnt a lot from Pat when I was on the road with him for a year.

When you're independent and not attached to a major media organisation, they just look at you as if to say, 'Who are you again?'

Filling a theatre like the Olympia or Vicar Street on your own name is a very rewarding moment.

Work hard, play hard, dream big, love loads, laugh as much as you can, and give back.

The notion that patience is a virtue is something you don't fully appreciate until you're a parent. You need endless patience with little ones.