Having spent 16 years in the advertising world and working as a primary school teacher, Mairin began experiencing migraines and other symptoms such as weight loss, changes in skin colour and eventually all the power on her right hand side. Mairin was forced to take a year off and having spent time going to different consultants, Mairin was finally diagnosed with MoyaMoya, a rare condition that blocks the flow of oxygen to the brain. Having suffered a stroke she was unable to speak, read or write and spent a month in Beaumont hospital before returning home, where she would begin her recovery which took 2 1/2 years.

With the help of Work Equal (formally Dress For Success), Mairin reinvented herself as a stylist with Sonya Lennon and Maia Dunphy and she has been featured in the likes of Image Magazine, The Irish Times and RTE. An accomplished guest speaker, she has given talks to the likes of Google and PWC.

1. What was your background before you got diagnosed with your condition?

Growing up, I was never one of those people who knew what they wanted to do in life. I had lots of varied interests including reading, languages, art, sports and travel. After doing a degree in French and English I moved to Montreal where I worked as a cocktail waitress, as a presenter on a women’s radio show and in a music management company. 

After a couple of years I came back to Dublin and decided to study advertising and marketing and ended up working as a project manager in a design and marketing agency. I then went back to college to study primary school teaching. I worked there for 16 years before being diagnosed.

2. What symptoms began developing and how did this impact your work?

While I was teaching I began to notice symptoms such as chronic migraines, change in the colour of my skin, weight loss, struggling to do everyday tasks, and ultimately I began to lose the power down my right side intermittently. I had two children and tried to continue, but I ended up taking a year off as I was beginning to think that I was losing my mind. I was in and out of doctors and specialist offices but no one could tell me what the problem was.

3. What condition were you given and how did you begin to recover?

A neurologist diagnosed me with Hemiplegic migraines. I took the medication but to no avail. I continued going for scans. Finally, after a phone call from my doctor after one of the scans, I was advised to go to Beaumont hospital immediately. After a brain scan I was diagnosed with MoyaMoya. MoyaMoya is a rare condition that blocks the flow oxygen to the brain. It is degenerative and the only treatment is brain surgery which I underwent and during which I suffered a stroke. I was unable to speak, read or write and I spent a month in Beaumont hospital before returning home and beginning my recovery with the help of my mum, a speech and language and physiotherapist. My recovery took 2 1/2 years.

4. What made you decide to change your career and start MoStyle?

When you have brain surgery it’s like they take your brain, shake it up and give it back to you in different pieces with parts missing. I knew pretty much immediately that this was my opportunity to do something creative, something I had always wanted. I applied to WorkEqual and they took me on as a volunteer stylist. I still work with them but within six months I had began MoStyle which is a personal styling company for men and women.

5. You have done a lot of work with Work Equal, both as a client and a promoter. What help did the organisation give you and how have you supported it since?

WorkEqual gave me an opportunity when I really needed one. They were extremely supportive and Sonia was extremely generous with her guidance. I still volunteer with them today as a stylist and as a speaker, spreading the word on how they help women.

6. What success have you had since you began MoStyle? Who have been some of your most well known clients and speaking opportunities?

I have been lucky enough to have enjoyed many successes with both MoStyle, MoTalk and Mise Collars. I have been on Irish television and radio frequently and have had multiple articles in the likes of Image Magazine and the Irish Times as well as giving talks in Google and Price Waterhouse Cooper.

7. How did the pandemic affect your business? Are there any positives from this time?

The pandemic was an extremely difficult time as it was for many small businesses. I used this opportunity to begin a second business, which was called Mise Collars. I was dealing with a lot of styling clients via a screen and I spotted an opportunity in the market to create hand made collars to add a little bit of style, colour and glamour to the screen. I enjoyed great success with them and again appeared in the Irish Times, Tatler magazine and Evoke.

8. For people with disabilities looking to start their own business, what would be the three main tips you would have for opening a business?

For people with a disability starting their own business or for anyone else, I would highly recommend:

– reaching out to potential contacts. If you don’t ask, you don’t get.

– I would also advise doing one of the local enterprises to start your own business courses

– Of course, I would advise to join a network.

9. Are there any other organisations in the DIversity and Inclusion sector in Ireland that you are a big fan of?

The organisations that are extremely helpful to me are NCBI, they were not an obvious choice for me but when my brain is tired or if I need to read large volumes of text, they use their technology.