January 3rd 2010
Anna Nolan first came to prominence as a contestant on the first ever "Big Brother" reality TV show on Channel 4 televison. In recent years she has worked as broadcaster on BBC and RTE televison. Her mother Eileen Regan raised seven children at her home in Rialto and went on to complete a degree in Classical Greek and English in her 50s.
During this very frank and open interview Anna discusses her upbringing in Rialto and her decision at 17 to become a nun. Eileen describes how she developed a drinking problem during Anna's early teens and how she dealt with it, eventually seeking treatment. She also talks openly about her decision to seperate from her husband and how in her 50s at Anna's instigation she went back to education to do a degree and later a Masters - having left school at 14. Anna also describes how her mother guessed that she was gay shortly after she herself had come to terms with her own sexuality after leaving convent life.
Anna's latest TV documentary for RTE "O Sister Where Art Thou" revisits her time as a nun and she contacts trainee priests and nuns who she met during her time in convent life. It is broadcast on RTE 1 on Sunday 10th January at 10.30pm.