Andrew Batty teaching the fine art of the backhanded compliment
f it feels as though the CSSM gang have been coming to Greystones every 
summer since the beginning of time, well, that’s because they kinda have.
who believe CSSM should stand for Come Single, Soon Married, given the amount of couples that grows out of these gatherings.
Just 25 years before CSSM came into existence, three neighbouring buildings called Cooleen, Trafalgar and Coolnagreina were built on Trafalgar Road, between 1864 and 1889. It was in 1890 that the Young Women’s Christian Association began renting the property as a holiday centre for those in need of a change or a rest by the sea. Listed as occupants by 1922, it was in 1928 that the YWCA bought the three buildings, and through it all, the property has proven to be a perfect fit for the CSSM summer gatherings.
as always, open to all school-going children and is free of charge.
afternoons and evenings, there are all sorts of fun and games organised, including Hunt The Worker (think Hunger Games, without the blood) and the ever-popular Birthday Service.
We caught up with young Ken down at Coolnagreina this afternoon, to find out more about CSSM, and also a little about his great work with The Leprosy Mission Ireland, including how Leopardstown started out as a leper colony financed by Monkstown’s remarkable Pim sisters…