Kathleen Coady
Interviewed by Eva Mullins
Eva: How long have you lived in the area?
Kathleen: Most of my life, but I lived in London for 20 years.
Eva: What’s a fond memory you have of living here?
Kathleen: Going to the hill with my grandfather in a horse and cart.
Eva: Have you seen this community come back from hard times before?
Kathleen: Yes, absolutely. We saw a lot of people leave this area in the 40s and 50s because there was no work, including my parents. But not me, I stayed with my grandparents.
Eva: What are some things that have helped you through lockdown and what brings you joy?
Kathleen: Our mask making project, reading, and tea on the lawn with family and friends helped me through lockdown. I’m hard of hearing and discovered that I could hear better by wearing ear-pods.
Eva: What does community mean to you? What sort of things are you doing now to stay connected to your community and family?
Kathleen: Community is the very essence of life and community is everything. It all intertwines. I stay connected as I’m a volunteer and my family visits me.
Eva: What message do you want to share for yourself and this community in 10 years time?
Kathleen: That all the work that has been done should be added to and grown, and all the plans we have can flourish.
Pictured below are images from Kathleen’s shoot with photographer Malcom McGettigan.