Finding Joy in Everyday Moments: Dearbhla Mescal's Inspiring Journey
On Christmas Eve 2025, Dearbhla Mescal posted a heartfelt photo on Instagram featuring a pile of shoes—trainers, boots, and loafers—belonging to her husband and three children. In the caption, she expressed a wish for everyone to experience the simple happiness of seeing family shoes stacked by the front door. This post is part of a longstanding practice Mescal began in 2011, where she actively seeks out and shares small joys online, amassing 13,000 followers with images of homemade lemon curd, birdhouses, and beach stones.
The Genesis of a Joyful Practice
The idea sparked during a football match where Mescal, chatting with another mother overwhelmed by work and parenting, realized the need to find joy amidst life's challenges. She committed to a 28-day challenge to document daily happiness, a habit she has maintained ever since. Now, at 57, Mescal is publishing her first book, Finding Joy, a collection of poetic ramblings celebrating joy in everyday life.
Life Changes and Family Success
Since that initial conversation, Mescal's life has transformed significantly. She retired from a 30-year career with Ireland's police force, the Garda, and faced a diagnosis of multiple myeloma, undergoing chemotherapy and entering remission. Concurrently, two of her children achieved fame: Nell as a singer with EPs and performances at venues like the Royal Albert Hall, and Paul as an actor nominated for an Oscar, Golden Globe, and multiple Baftas. Mescal reflects, "I'm really lucky. My children are happy. They are healthy. As a mum, you can't ask for more."
From Greystones to Global Recognition
Born in Greystones near Dublin, Mescal joined the Garda after school, a career that contrasts with her current joyful walks in Hyde Park. She met her husband, Paul, during a local theatre production, and they married 32 years ago, settling in Maynooth where they raised their children. Mescal cherished motherhood, recalling drives with her kids singing Katy Perry songs, finding joy in being the "silent passenger" in their lives.
Navigating Fame and Family Roots
With Paul's rise to fame post-Normal People, the family adjusted to public scrutiny, including watching intimate scenes. Mescal admits reading false rumours about her son is challenging, but she emphasizes the strength of family roots, likening them to a sturdy tree in the park. Her children, all living in London, remain close, with gatherings and frequent calls, including daily chats with Nell.
Cancer, Resilience, and Everyday Joys
Mescal's cancer battle made her more present and vulnerable, with her husband and children providing unwavering support. She attended the 2023 Oscars during treatment, a surreal experience followed by a stem cell transplant. Now in remission, she finds joy in simple activities like walks, which were impossible a year ago. Mescal and her husband, retired and living in Maynooth, focus on travel and cherish memories over material things.
The Message of Finding Joy
Mescal believes practising joy daily enhances life, a message central to her book. Despite fears about releasing it, she is motivated by its potential impact. She concludes, "Those big moments are great. But they're once in a blue moon. You can't be living on them!" Instead, she advocates for appreciating small joys, from a jar of lemon curd to a pile of shoes, as a path to a better life.
