Una Healy, former member of the pop group The Saturdays, has opened up about the challenges and joys of single motherhood while raising her two children, Aoife, 12, and Tadhg, 10. Despite her demanding role as a single parent, the 43-year-old insists she’s not seeking sympathy and feels content with her life in her hometown of Thurles, Ireland.
“I have lots of friends in the same position. I’m not playing the ‘poor me’ card,” Una shared during an exclusive interview. Reflecting on her 2018 divorce from rugby player Ben Foden, she admitted, “Divorce is a difficult, heartbreaking process whether you’re in the public eye or not. But you move on—there’s no point dwelling on the past.”
Co-parenting with her ex-husband, who resides in the United States with his wife Jackie and their two daughters, Farrah, 4, and Olympia, 1, comes with its challenges. “I get on with Ben as best I can for the sake of the children. I want them to love him and for him to be there as much as he can for them,” Una explained. She expressed hope that Ben, who is considering a move back to the UK, will relocate closer to his children. “It would be better for everyone.”
Life in Ireland has been a grounding experience for Una and her kids. Having returned to her hometown in 2020, she cherishes the quiet and slower-paced lifestyle. “My life is so… normal. I’m living in the house I grew up in. Aoife goes to my old school, and Tadhg goes to the boys’ school in town. They’re proper Irish kids now,” she shared, adding that her son has embraced traditional Irish sports like hurling.
The singer, who recently appeared on the Netflix reality show Celebrity Bear Hunt, noted how her children have adapted to their Irish roots. Although Aoife and Tadhg were born in the UK and arrived in Ireland with English accents, they now speak with strong Irish accents. “They love it here. They’re really happy, and it’s a quiet, slow-paced life. My two don’t even remember The Saturdays. I’m not ‘cool,’ I’m just ‘Mammy’ here,” Una said with a smile.
While her daughter Aoife has started taking an interest in skincare, Una is relieved that she hasn’t rushed into other aspects of growing up. “She says, ‘Mammy, why on earth do people want to put make-up on and meet boys?’ I thought, ‘That’ll change soon!’” Una joked. Neither of her children has shown interest in following in her musical footsteps, but she remains supportive of their passions, including Gaelic football and horse-riding.
As a single mother, Una admits that balancing time for herself and her responsibilities is difficult. “I feel guilty if I’m away for a night,” she said, acknowledging the support she receives from her parents, who are now in their seventies. However, when the children spend time with their father, the separation can be tough. “As a mother, it’s never going to be natural to wake up on Christmas morning and not hear your children’s excited voices,” she shared, reflecting on a recent Christmas when Aoife and Tadhg spent the holidays with Ben’s family in Cheshire.
Currently single after her split from retired jockey Aidan Coleman, Una feels at peace with her independence. “I’m very happy on my own right now,” she confirmed, though she acknowledged that dating as a single mum could be logistically challenging. For now, she’s enjoying the simple pleasures of spending time at home when she’s not working.
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