I was born and raised in Letterkenny and educated there in the local schools. I come from a family of 10 children, five boys and five girls. My parents are from the Convoy area of the County. My father is from Kiltol in Convoy and my mother hails from Glenmaquinn between Letterkenny and Convoy. I am married with four children aged from 25 years old to 9 years old.

I left school at the age of fifteen, like everyone in those days the only work available was to work in the local factories. There was no incentive to go to college, as there was no work for those who were educated unless you decided to leave home and work in Dublin. I worked locally in the central bar in Letterkenny as a bar tender and waitress with the Blaney family for many years.