Stephen and I drive to Maynooth together and get the train from there to Pearse Street. I'm at work at 9.15 a.m and get the 5.50 p.m. back to Maynooth. The 6.40 train from Mullingar only gets into Connolly at 8.30 a.m. - and that doesn't suit me at all. They're doing the line up to Maynooth and it's still bad. We leave the house in the morning at five past seven and get home about ten to eight in the evening. Going home, the train gets into Maynooth at 6.35. From there, the drive takes about an hour - traffic at Enfield is always bad.

Sometimes my boyfriend drives all the way into the city because he is a surveyor and needs the car, but from Lucan there's a tail back. I let him drop me off at Maynooth and get the train in. It's always packed at Maynooth and you have to stand. It's not worth it having to pay and not getting a seat.

I'm looking for a flexible job now because the 5.15 p.m. train would make all the difference. Its nine o'clock by the time we sit down to eat. But we chose to do this. I don't think Mullingar will be a long-term thing. We'll save up and perhaps move closer to town further down the line.

In an interview with Kate McMorrow