SIBLINGS: Louise (44) and Caroline Kennedy (40) grew up in Midleton, Co Cork and Thurles, Co Tipperary, where their parents owned the drapery store, JK Maloney's.
Louise is an established fashion designer who in recent years has also branched into homeware with a range of crystal. Caroline runs a successful PR firm and counts her sister among her clients. They live in Dublin.
CAROLINE
There are great advantages to having a fashion designer as a sister. Two-thirds of my wardrobe is Louise Kennedy. One of the first things she made for me was my debs dress, a 1920s flapper design in navy silk with polka dots and a belt. My red wedding dress was designed by her in 15 minutes and I am still getting wear out of it.
I am the youngest of five. When we were much younger, Louise used to mind me at school in Abbeyleix, Co Laois. She was a fourth year when I was in first year, and word went through the school that I wasn't to be messed with because I was Louise's sister and she was the captain of the basketball team.
When we went to college in Dublin - she went to the Grafton Academy, and I went to DCU - we shared a cottage in Ranelagh beside Russell's pub. She went away for a summer to America and came back with all these amazing clothes in bright pinks and blues and greens. I remember an amazing cardie coat she had in purple mohair which she spent all her savings on in Saks Fifth Avenue. She went straight from the Academy to producing her first solo collection. From an early age she was single-minded and knew exactly what she wanted.
We work together now. If she has problems at work, she turns to me and it's the same the other way around. We are best friends and see each other as regularly as any girly pals but there are differences. If we are going on holiday I will be the one in the airport half-an-hour early and she will be the one arriving at the very last second.
My favourite thing about Louise is how calm and cool she is, not in the ice-queen sense, but I love the way she just doesn't get flustered. She always sees the bigger picture and rises above petty things. The best word to describe Louise is serene.
LOUISE
Caroline was my baby sister and I remember as a young girl she was mischievous and curious and charming enough to wind my father around her little finger. Our friendship developed at school. I thought I would be the older sister looking after her but from the first day Caroline hit the ground running, excelling at sports and having a great network of friends.
The closest we came to our friendship falling apart was when she came to Dublin and we lived in Ranelagh. My bedroom was a mini Brown Thomas for Caroline, she had a "what's yours is mine" attitude to my clothes, especially items I had saved for ages to buy but never worn before. I would be in my bedroom and I would hear the front door banging as she left; that would mean there was something on her back that shouldn't have been there.
I figured we would never talk again if it continued, so it only lasted two years. These days she wears a lot of my clothes and I take it as a compliment.
Caroline also changed my mind about weddings. She was an idyllic client. I'd say the dress was designed in less than 15 minutes, and she has worn it a few times since. I had a little wear of it myself at Elton John's White Tie and Tiara Ball, and people said the only thing that was missing from my arm was her husband, Tom McGurk.
When my phone rings and I see Caroline's name coming up, I know it's going to be fun. She has amazing powers of persuasion, often getting me to do things I don't necessarily want to do. Caroline is quirky and fearless and doesn't suffer fools gladly. At the same time I am constantly amazed at her big heart, her warmth, her generosity and her loyalty to friends.
Caroline and Louise Kennedy spoke to Róisín Ingle