Ireland’s most famous mattress salesman, Mattress Mick, has spoken about his wife’s death, saying that he still reaches for his phone to call her every time he makes a good business deal or has news to share.

Margaret, the wife of the Dublin businessman whose real name is Michael Flynn, passed away peacefully at the age of 63 in February.

Mick spoke candidly about how he has been coping since his wife’s passing. “It is raw still.”

READ MORE: Ask Jennifer: I'm devastated by the loss of my wife

“We had a good life,” he said. The couple had been married for 40 years and they met after Margaret started working in a grocery shop that Mick owned. He said she supported him during the recession when times were very tough.

Mattress Mick spoke about the death of his wife Margaret recently.
Mattress Mick spoke about the death of his wife Margaret recently.

The businessman had previously lost his sister and was just starting to feel better mentally when his brother died and shortly afterwards, his wife was diagnosed with stage four cancer in November.

Speaking to the Ray D’Arcy Show on RTÉ Radio One to promote Mattress Mick The Musical, and reading from a post he made for the Humans of Dublin Facebook page, Mick said walking home to an empty house is a weird feeling.

“She had left a great void behind her… Margaret was in hospice, and when someone gets there, there is a very small chance left of surviving. Despite this, you hardly acknowledge it.

“I knew that she wasn't going to come home, but losing her felt so distant and unbelievable.”

Mick said the other day after making a great business deal, he instinctively reached for his phone to share the news with Margaret: “The phone rang out once and twice, just to remember that she won't pick up the phone.”

Mick added that in life, without realizing, we all do things for the last time. “I definitely didn't give enough attention to the significance of what those phone calls meant to me. That great business deal doesn't feel the same without sharing it with her.”

Mick paid tribute to St Francis Hospice in Raheny in Dublin, who looked after his late wife until her passing. “They were amazing people, absolutely incredible.”

Mick said everyone deals with grief at some stage in life, and we should all make an effort to tell our loved ones how we feel before they are gone.

There are ten Mattress Mick shops around the country. Mick, who is originally from Pearse Street in Dublin, said his business started to boom after the comedian and actor Stephen Fry tweeted a picture of one of Mick’s posters back in 2015. “It’s going exceptionally well.”

Mick added that nowadays, king-sized mattresses with pocket springs, latex and a small bit of memory foam are the most popular.

Mattress Mick The Musical will run for two nights on the 27th and 28th of April in Liberty Hall Theatre. Actor Conor Duffy will play the role of Mick.

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