When Love Comes To Town

Kathleen Kelleher WEDS18DEC24

athleen Kelleher is one of those feckers who makes the rest of us look bad.

We’re talking lazy, selfish, disorganised, unmotivated and lacking-in-community-spirit bad.

Right from the moment she took that leap from Boston to Greystones in 1973, the lady has been involved in just about every local support group, town hall meeting, community campaign and district office shenanigans known to man and dog.

And when you tot up 51 years of helping your fellow Greystonians, that’s a whole lotta hard work, good deeds and, hey, love.

“I’m just very grateful to the people who were here before me,” says Kathleen when we meet up for a coffee at The Bitter Lemon this afternoon. “They had done such incredible work, making Greystones such a wonderful place to live, and that was really my inspiration.

“People like Gwen McNiff, Ruth Handy, Flo Fennell, Dolores Fitzpatrick, Mary Fitzpatrick, Don McLean, The Civics Association…”

That inspiration led Kathleen to Greystones Cancer Support, our Paddy’s Day committee, the local town council, the Holyhead Twin Town committee, Meals On Wheels, qualifying as a second-level teacher, Toastmasters, the boards of management at various schools here…

Even today, when she should be putting her feet up and watching Judge Judy all day, Kathleen is keeping busy, with the Greystones Active Retirement Association, the Public Participation Network, the Housing Strategic Policy Committee, the Holy Rosary Irish Choir, The University Of The Third Age and the County Wicklow Older People’s Council. To name but half of the do-goodery the woman is up to in her retirement years.

The Kelleher clan 2019

Which is why we felt Kathleen Kelleher was the perfect recipient for this year’s Greystones’ Person Of The Year, something we surprised the lady herself when Danny O’Connor from sponsors EBS Greystones presented this local hero with her just award.

“Well, this is a lovely way to officially start Christmas,” laughed Kathleen when she saw the award. “I really feel this is for so many other people who have been part of the various clubs, support groups, councils, whatever, over the years.

“It’s always such a joy to get together with others and just do something useful, something that’s going to make life better for someone.

“It’s that spirit that makes a community, that makes a town. So, hopefully I can inspire others, just as I was inspired all those years ago…”

You can check out Kathleen’s 2016 My Greystones here, her retirement from GCS here, her celebration of 50 years in Ireland back in 2019 here and 50 years in Greystones here. You can also catch previous Greystones’ People of The Year right here.