Love Revolution

Theatre director Ronan Wilmot is in love with Cuba. And, more specifically, with a beautiful Cuban woman 34 years his junior. He tells Nicola Reddy about his wedding to Janet, and why this small Caribbean republic is streets ahead of Ireland. Photos by John Minihan

So this is how I met my wife: I was visiting a good friend, Bernie Dwyer, who has been a journalist with Radio Havana for 15 years. There’s a famous promenade called the Malecón which runs through Havana, with the sea beyond. Everyone walks there at night.

I was sitting having a coffee and Janet was in the same café. I asked her to join me. We spoke for a while and I invited her to a show at the Havana Film Festival that night. We went to see Intermission – my son David [an actor] was up on that big screen. I went back to see her about two months later and we continued our relationship long-distance for a year and a half. Then I asked her to marry me.

Janet is 31 years old and has a 12-year-old child. I’m 65, I was married previously and have three children of my own. In Cuba, the age difference isn’t an issue at all. It’s part of Caribbean life, normal in a way. Her family had no problem with it whatsoever.

The reaction here? Jealousy, mostly. People do react strongly when they see her age and her beauty and her skin colour. But I approach these things the same way as I always have in my career – I saw an opportunity and I went for it.

Our wedding was extraordinary – and it only cost €4,000 for the whole thing! We travelled around Havana in a Cadillac. Honeybear Watson, a boogie woogie musician, played at the reception. Lots of friends made it over, like Allan Williams, the original manager of the Beatles, and six of my old schoolfriends from Blackrock.

I go back to Cuba twice a year. I’ll be heading out there in November for six weeks. The huge contrast with Ireland hits me whenever I arrive back. But I earn my money here, and I have to work. My wife was here for a month earlier this year too. She loves Ireland, except for the weather. 

When I was growing up in Ireland in the 1950s, everyone had nothing. My father worked at a university so he earned a decent wage. But we were all still at the same level.

People from down the road would come to have a bath in our house. We lent them coal and turf. Cuba brings that back to me. People lend each other things. They are poor but happy. And they all love Fidel.

Granted, they would take extra money if it was going, but young and old alike have a total love for what he’s given them. My wife feels that way too.

American companies and politicians and investors are just dying to get in. Still, the next wave of Cuban leaders is young and very committed. They know what the people want. Once Fidel goes, I hope they’ll make changes on their terms, not on Bush’s. But each small step will be a move away from the Cuba we know – and love – today.

My advice? Go see Cuba now, while Castro is still alive. It’s an amazing country. And you never know what might happen.

Comments

[darla]

good for you.age is only a number;).Jealousy is vile ot endure so dont endure it,walk away from it.

[Tee]

Agree completely. Cuba is a fascinating country, and if you have the opportunity to go, don´t think about it. Homestays are the best way to stay and travel the country and get in touch with locals a bit more. Maybe learn some salsa moves before you go, as you will dance, no two ways about it. The most difficult thing is that hip swing. Every time I was dragged up by some ´oul fella I found the voice of my father coming into my head whenever they tried to get me to shake those hips, even though I´d salsa danced before. Oh, and watch the 2 currencies, I know a few people who were done on the exchange to pretty much worthless Cubano Pesos instead of Convertibles.