Amanda Cassidy"One day you are 26 years old with barely a care in the world, living in your first home together, engaged to the most amazing man, and extremely happy - until one short phone call changes it all," Mandy Walsh explains. She is one of the country's best-known travel consultants. But her passion for travel is rooted in deeply tragic circumstances.
“That morning, before he left for work at 630am, he told me that he felt much better and it would go to the gym at lunchtime. I told him to see how the morning went and to take it easy. He called me during his morning break and told me he would call me on his tea break in the afternoon.”The next call Mandy received was from one of Brian’s colleagues saying that there had been an accident and that she should get to the Mater hospital immediately.
Brian actually fought long and hard for over 7 weeks – a testament to the man he was. Some would say it was because he was as stubborn as a mule but to me, he had a huge heart and the biggest smile. The lads in the jail that day had done CPR on Brian and basically kept him breathing.” It wasn’t easy and it’s not easy even now to think that I didn’t want to keep going.” Mandy believes her motivation for her career in travel was always to try and make Brian proud.
I am now a total of 25 years working in the travel trade. I am proud to say I have made a name for myself and I have won numerous awards and accolades over the years so I must be doing something right.” Mandy admits it is also a form of escapism that helped her cope with the losses in her life.