Are you a saver or a spender?
I am a spender, but I also like to have savings. My mother always has savings for "a rainy day", and I guess I am like that also.

Do you shop around for better value?
Yes, I do. I love a genuine bargain. I like to buy quality and quality lasts, so I generally go for the value of something rather than it being the cheapest.

What has been your most extravagant purchase ever and how much did it cost?
When we got married first we used to collect art – small-scale by some people's standards, but before we had any furniture we had lovely art on the walls. So the first painting I ever bought was the most extravagant I've ever been. It was a graphic by Michael O'Farrell and it cost £250. It was a lot of money then – particularly when you had nothing to sit on!

What purchase have you made that you consider the best value for money?
I bought a return ticket to Nice for €59. The following week I took the train to Killarney and the fare was more expensive!

Which way do you prefer to shop – online or local?
Definitely local. I love our little village in Clontarf – it's got the best restaurants and shops. And now that I am in Wexford town for some of the week it has everything you could ever need. The best shoe shops ever!
Has the recession changed your spending habits?
Absolutely. Like so many people we spent too much in the Celtic Tiger days and looking back I feel more than a little guilt. Now it's much more controlled and much more enjoyable. I also try to buy Irish as much as possible now.

Do you invest in shares?
Cyril, my husband, knows more about shares than I do so that's his domain.

Cash or card?
Cash. I am afraid of credit cards. I have one – actually, two – but I really try to be very disciplined.

Have you ever lost money?
I'm a theatre producer, so yes, I have lost money! It's painful, but you just have to get back in the saddle and pick the next show.

Are you a gambler and, if so, have you ever had a big win?
Yes, I'm a gambler. You have to be a risk-taker in this business. Producing theatre or opera is very risky. You have to hold your nerve and believe in what you are doing. It's not gambling as in going to the casino, it's more weighing up the odds and trying to decide what will work and what will entice people come to the theatre.

Is money important to you?
It is very important to me if I need it for a production. Presenting opera is a whole new dimension. You need a lot of capital to stage productions the size and scale of the ones we present in Wexford. So right now raising money is very important to me.

How much money do you have on you?
I have €72.54.

The Wexford Festival Opera runs from
October 23rd to November 3rd.
wexfordopera.com