Interviewed by Faye Neville

Faye: How long have you lived in the area?
Anne: 51 years.

Faye: What’s a fond memory you have of living here?
Anne: The first Sunday attending Kilnamona mass after getting married, the people welcomed me with the phrase: “Welcome to the parish, mam.”

Faye: Have you seen this community come back from hard times before?
Anne: In the mid 80s, Kilnamona school was refurbished with the addition of two classrooms and new toilets. Some parents of the children went to festivals and pubs all over County Clare selling tickets for a raffle. This was done to raise money to enhance our application for a grant. This work was done with a lot of voluntary labour and completed with no outstanding debt in very challenging times.

Faye: What are some things that have helped you through lockdown and what brings you joy?
Anne: The glorious weather during the initial lockdown while we were cocooning and limited to remain within 2 km of our homes. Living on a farm was an advantage and gave more freedom. My greatest joy is my grandchildren and Clare hurlers winning matches.

Faye: What does community mean to you? What sort of things are you doing now to stay connected to your community and family?
Anne: Each person helping each other is a parish to me. I stay connected by participating in parish activities and taking part in the church choir.

Faye: What message do you want to share for yourself and this community in 10 years time?
Anne: Be a good neighbour and be willing to be active in parish activities.

Shown below is a drawing of Anne’s bird feeders that Faye created in response to their interview.