Kathleen’s Second Golden Jubilee

Kelleher’s My Greysotnes 16FEB16

he’s a hardy soul, that Kathleen Kelleher, having pretty much dedicated the last 50 years of her life to her adopted home, Greystones.

From her voluntary work with everyone from Greystones Cancer Support to 1,001 Paddy’s Day committees to her weekly newsletter rounding up all the good, the bad and the Stephen Stokes news, Kathleen cares deeply about her adopted home.

So, it’s hardly surprising that a little party was held in Bochelli’s over the weekend to mark that golden jubilee, with Kathleen joined by her children and grandchildren for a major kiss-up.

Over to the lady herself…

Four years ago, I celebrated 50 years living in Ireland. This summer, in 2023, I celebrate 50 years living in Greystones. And what a time those 50 years have been!!

When I arrived, La Touche Park, Mountainview Park and Grattan Park were already built. They were as you see them now. Rathdown Park, where we settled, Applewood Heights and Kindlestown Park were under construction. Everything else that you see now was just green fields.

Shopping in Greystones was minimal, cottages lined both sides of Church Road in the village. Flynn’s Supermarket was open beside the old Ormonde cinema. Major supermarket shopping was done at Dunnes Stores in Cornelscourt. Shops still had a half day on a Wednesday, even in Bray.

St. Brigid’s National School had just been built, boys and girls through first class. Girls only from second class. Scoil Chaomhín, the Christian Brothers (now St Kevin’s), was still all boys, second through sixth class. St. David’s Secondary School had just gone co-educational. St. Patrick’s National School was a pre fab on La Touche Place. St. Laurence’s National School was just a speck of chalk dust in the eye of the Department of Education.

Slowly, but surely, over the years Greystones grew and grew as more people came to love living here. Greystones is now a town with superb facilities, still with a village atmosphere. As a parent with four children, I tried to help out in the community as best as I could. Joining and helping many organisations and serving as an elected Public Representative. Greystones Town Council for fifteen years, including five years as a Wicklow County Councillor. For those who were in Greystones before I came to live here, thank you for the welcome.

And special thanks to those who had worked so hard to make Greystones such a great place.

We arrived with two little boys, I was expecting a third two months later, with a fourth to come in a few years. We were so grateful to have a roof over our heads and good schools for the children.

To those who arrived around the same time as we did, thank you for good company and friendship.

Over many years, we have had many enjoyable experiences. Coffee mornings, lunches, dinners, working together on many committees for the good of the town. To those who have just arrived recently, welcome to you.

I urge you to get to know your town, read the local newspapers, listen to the local radio. Keep up with our online Greystones news, stay informed. Make your voice heard, help on the various groups who are always seeking volunteers. Any effort you put in will be rewarded back to you many times over.

I look forward to many more years living in our lovely town. Lots still to do and lots still to be involved in. Right beside the sea, with the mountains behind, friends and family around me.

What more could I ask for??

You can check out Kathleen’s 2016 My Greystones here, her retirement from GCS here, and her celebration of 50 years in Ireland back in 2019 here.