Reasons To Be Cheerful Pt 2019

The Cliff Walk by Debra Talbert flickr

ure, isn’t love all around us, if we just know where to look, and how, and, sometimes, who with.

Each year, we’ve taken a sample selection of groovy Greystonians and asked each of them where they found the happy in the previous 12 months.

And again and again, every man, woman and oddball found the happy in the small things.

Except for Darragh from The Happy Pear. He found it in he and his brothers becoming multi-millionaires.

So, let’s be thankful, for what we’ve got, and anything at all that we may be about to receive.

Life is good. Appreciating life is gooder.

Molly Gordon Boles Eco Warrior

2019 was a whirlwind year for the climate change movement and awareness on the issue. Whenever people talk about the climate emergency it is usually very negative. There is no disputing that radical change needs to happen, however when I look back at 2019 there are so many positives that I can see.

The global school strikes brought climate change into the media and into people’s homes. This has led to many lifestyle changes for individual people – we see people buying less plastic, adapting a more plant based diet and a rise in the use of public transport etc. People are finally adopting a sustainable way of life and I find that so inspiring. We also saw more people caring about how their actions can affect the planet and in turn those living in countries less fortunate than ours.

I believe the most exciting aspect of 2019 was how the climate movement has brought so many communities together. In Greystones we saw how the strikes connected different members of the community from all the schools, to business owners, to local residents of the town. The Youth Assembly on Climate Change was an amazing experience that I was honoured to be a part of. Not only was it incredible getting to sit in the Dáil where the youth voice was heard, it connected like minded young people from all different parts of the country. The global strike on September 20th involved 30,000 people in Ireland and 4 million worldwide. However this time it was inter generational with people from all walks of life coming together. It truly showed that we do have the ability to all work together for a common goal.

In 2020, the climate movement is not slowing down or going anywhere. There is still far to go and Ireland is not doing enough. We need to keep pushing our politicians, making lifestyle changes and raising even more awareness about the extent of climate change. I have a positive outlook going into this year where I think we will see sizeable change!

Susan Brambell The Bird With The Words
As with pretty much every year, there were so many, many reasons to be cheerful in 2019. So many, in fact, I’m too embarrassed to list them all.

Cameron McKeever Firefighter, Physio, Psychic
This year flew by and was uneventful, but I see big things happening next year – so, can I do reasons to be cheerful for 2020?

Between my job as local physio in the rugby club and my first full year with the fire brigade in Greystones, I’ve literally got my finger on the town’s pulse. I’ve also literally got a brother in Damian Mckeever (local gossip) and Declan Hogan (local fixer). Therefore, going Full Mystic Meg, I know what’s going down in our town over the coming year…

1. As most of us know our cinema has been rumoured to be re-opened – well, a certain ‘maverick’ with a bad case of shin splints has been into me (rumoured to be the result of below-the-knee kicks by local girl guides). He said the cinema is reopening in March with a bang, Top Gun 2, everyone’s favourite film from the ’80s.

2. A happy pair with bunions from poor foot wear leaked to me the plans for the Cove. It’s being renamed the The Happy Cove, and you can only enter if you’re vegan and can do a handstand. This is happening April 2020. The council agreed as they need the cash for extra traffic lights and ramps.

3. Ladies Day is been scrapped and replaced with The Lads Day, to coincide with the Heineken Cup rugby final and Champions league soccer final on the same day. It’ll be a day of cheap pints and pizzas. Lots more changes to come, including a fish market in the harbour (run by a certain councillor with sore shoulders from shrugging), two new coffee shops, and a Greystones Bouncy Castle Mindfulness Centre. For anyone who’s soft in the head.

Fiona Roche Drug Dealer
I have had the most amazing year! This time last year, I had no plan to be back in business but fate handed me a beautiful gift in March, and through a series of fortunate events, I ended back doing what I love – running my pharmacy with a professional and fun team around me.

As this year draws to a close, I am so so grateful for the amazing support I have been shown by our great community and the health and happiness of my family and friends! I believe in 7 year cycles and for this all to happen 14 years after I sold the pharmacy in 2005 just seems like it was meant to be!

Thank you Thank you! Thank you!

Phelim Drew Born To Folk
I’m happy to say that 2019 has been a really good year in that seeds I had long been sowing are starting to grow, and now I feel a bit more positive about what’s down the road. At the same time, there’s so much wealth around but a corresponding lack of philanthropy which is depressing. At least the Victorians, for all their hypocrisy, provided for the less well off. A generosity that is lacking today.

Having said that, if you don’t have influence, all you can do is watch your house, and I’m grateful for a healthy family, and pretty happy looking year ahead…

Dylan Crampton Rock God
I have had a lot of reasons to be cheerful this year. Of course, the boring stuff, like my health, and my family, this wonderful community, a good job, and food on the table, but the biggest thrill for me in 2019 was simply being able to indulge even more in my one real passion in life – music. I really felt the Greystones love this year from the town – after I had my first appearance on The Late Late Show, so many people congratulated me! I also felt the support when my first proper gig sold out in The Whale Theatre! Of course, I owe it all to The Greystones Guide. Who are getting 97% of my earnings. Plus VAT.

I’m very excited for 2020 too. I now have a full band to play my songs with for the first time, and I recently applied for Whelan’s Ones To Watch festival, getting a slot for Sunday, January 19th of January! I would be very, very cheerful if people could come along to it! I’m also excited to release new music in the very near future!

So, Happy New Year Everybody! Keep on Keepin’ on! In the words of the late Rick Parfitt, it’s not a bad life, really…

Siobhan Stack The Boat Yard Master
After the sad demise of GRAPE earlier this year, a lot of the regular traders were left feeling bereft and at a loss as to what to do next. And that’s when the spirit of Greystones kicked in. Two saviours came to the rescue – the Byrne family very kindly agreed to allow us to use The Boat Yard beside The Beach House, and Greystones Tidy Towns provided us with their panels and much needed advice on how we should proceed. We then set up a Facebook page and put the call out for additional traders and, as they say, the rest is hysteria.

Throughout this journey, we have met the most wonderful people, have laughed and cried and just had the best time. We have been constantly amazed by not only the talent of all who have traded with us, but also with their willingness to help and the immense patience they have shown as we struggled to pull this together.

Setting up the Boatyard Market last summer has given us a real insight in the amazing community we are part of. We could not have imagined how our little gathering each Sunday during the summer would grow into such a successful Christmas Market, with more and more traders applying for a spot. It has been hard work, but knowing that this work will be rewarded with helping to fund the new Sensory Garden being developed by Greystones Tidy Towns along with fund raising for St Vincent de Paul, is the icing on the cake for us. Thank you, Greystones for your support and help in us leaving 2019 on a high.

Barry Hargadon Legs Eleven 
We’re actually coming close to being open two years noww which seems pretty mental, but 2019 was a great year for us. The shop continued to grow and get busier, as we added lots more new stock to the shelves – including more organic wine, beautiful wine glasses, fondu sets and locally crafted chopping boards from Bear Creation, using wood from Wicklow trees.

Most of all, We’ve enjoyed meeting and getting to know lots of new people, and we now feel part of the community and loving life in Greystones. Roll on 2020!

Boom! Sure, 2020 is going to be magical. It’s not like anything could go wrong, right…?

In the meantime, you can jump back to more Reasons To Be Cheerful in 2018, 2017, 2016 or 2015.