Clodagh McKenna: I never compare myself to anyone…least of all Meghan Markle

Extra.ie​

08-06-2025

Celebrity chef and author Clodagh McKenna is about to launch her first foray into the lifestyle brand arena – but she's quick to rule out any comparisons with Meghan Markle.
'I've never in my life, and it's always been a rule of mine, I never compare myself to others,' she told Extra.ie.
'I think it's really good mentally not to compare because it gives you complete creativity to do exactly what you want to do.'
Speaking about her new range, Honey by Clodagh – – which includes her Lemon Grove line of napkins, matching tablecloth, cushion covers and apron – – the writer and presenter said she wanted to 'create a beautiful space for people to go and get inspiration for entertaining'. Celebrity chef and author Clodagh McKenna is about to launch her first foray into the lifestyle brand arena – but she's quick to rule out any comparisons with Meghan Markle. Pic: Shutterstock
And she insists the inspiration extends beyond her product line.
'So Honey by Clodagh, there's lots up there, you can get recipes as well, there's a whole entertaining section, and we're adding to it bit by bit every week – we're adding cocktail recipes next week,' she said.
'It's a store predominantly, but I also wanted to create a little hub, we're calling it 'the hive' – so we have a Hive newsletter which goes out every week… so we're creating a little hive, a kind of community for entertainment.'
The glamorous Cork woman, who lives with husband Harry Herbert at Broadspear on the Highclere Park estate where Downton Abbey is filmed, has also just launched 'the honey that I make on my farm'.
And as if she doesn't have enough on her plate, McKenna is also about to serve up her ninth and 'most personal' book – – Clodagh's Happy Cooking.
This time around, she says the focus is inspired by her attempts to eat healthier. Clodagh McKenna. Pic: David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock for NTA
'I'm not someone who lives off celery sticks all week long, that's never going to be me. I love my big, gorgeous dinners and a glass of wine at the weekend.
'But then when it comes to Monday, I definitely get into a different frame of mind.
'A few years ago, I just thought I've got to focus on eating really well and learning more about ingredients that are good for me and making sure that I get them into my diet. And I think that, as we all get older, you know, going into your 40s, 50s and 60s and the rest, you start thinking about your body more, like feeding it and how you can get better energy, and when you start eating well also, it affects your happiness.'
Speaking of which, McKenna recently celebrated a landmark milestone with a big blow-out birthday bash to mark her 50th year: 'It was fabulous, yeah, I turned 50.'
She added: 'I'm grateful for feeling confident, I'm grateful for knowing who I am and I'm grateful for my husband and family and friends, I've got such an amazing family, both my own Irish family and my new English family. I'm really lucky, as you get older that becomes more and more important, it becomes the number-one thing in your life.'
She is encouraged by how things are evolving for women over 40 but would love to see people embracing their age more. Harry Herbert and Clodagh McKenna. Pic: Clodagh McKenna/Instagram
'I think it's changed a lot, which is incredible – – even in the last five years, I think for women it's just changed so much.
'Even if you look at all the rock stars that are out there, from J-Lo, 55, to Beyoncé, 43, years ago people would have thought being in your 40s and being such a megastar, you'd have to be in your 30s – it's all changed so much.
'It's amazing because when you're working on your craft, you only get better at it with time.
'And when you really hone your craft and you have all your experience, you're at a point in your life where a lot of women are in their 40s, 50s and 60s, they become confident and they know who they are – that's when they are producing their best work.
'What I would love to see is that we're all striving to be the best for the age that we are, rather than trying to be younger or older, just the best for the age that we are.
'I hate seeing people trying to change what age they are by anything they do to do themselves or feeling pressured to look younger. I think it's really important that we try to look the best or be the best for our own age and for our own moment in life.'
And her motto for living life at 50? 'It's that your dreams start when you wake up in the morning.'