Interviewed by Laoise Doherty

Laoise: How long have you lived in the area?
Lucille: 45 years.

Laoise: What’s a fond memory you have of living here?
Lucille: The fondest memory I have of living here is watching all my grandchildren grow up. I have 7 grandchildren, 5 girls and 2 boys. The oldest is 19 years old and the youngest is 3 years old. I have many memories of watching them grow up. I enjoy bringing them to the beach and then treating them to ice cream.

Laoise: Have you seen this community come back from hard times before?
Lucille: Yes, I have seen this community come back from hard times. This community has been through a very hard two years. As we have battled the coronavirus, we try to keep ourselves and each other safe. We supported each other through lockdown and we kept connected.

Laoise: What are some things that have helped you through lockdown and what brings you joy?
Lucille: I have a garden where I grow flowers and have a pond. I also really like going for my daily walks. I enjoyed getting window visits and phone calls from my family and friends. It gave me great joy hearing their voices and catching up with them.

Laoise: What does community mean to you? What sort of things are you doing now to stay connected to your community and family?
Lucille: A community is more than just a group of people living in a particular area. A community is a group of people we lean on when times are tough. I stay connected with my community by meeting them in the town while doing my shopping and going to mass. I also meet up with my family most days in the week.

Laoise: What message do you want to share for yourself and this community in 10 years time?
Lucille: I hope that my community look out for each other. To continue meeting up and visiting the elderly and help them complete daily tasks.

Laoise on her experience with the project: “I enjoyed hearing about her past and her opinion on the pandemic.”