Interviewed by Jessica Collins / photos by Emma O’Brien

Jessica: How long have you lived in the area?
Bridie: 48 years.

Jessica: What’s a fond memory you have of living here?
Bridie: Fond memories include getting married in the area, having kids and watching them grow up in the peace and quiet of the countryside, in contrast to living in the town.

Jessica: Have you seen this community come back from hard times before?
Bridie: We would have seen this community come through a recession in the 80s and come out of it with difficulty as this was particularly hard on the farming community.

Jessica: What are some things that have helped you through lockdown and what brings you joy?
Bridie: The fine weather during the first lockdown was brilliant as we could be outside a lot. During the lockdown we developed a keen interest in gardening, and it is still one of my favourite hobbies. Contact with family through FaceTime and phone calls helped a lot also.

Jessica: What does community mean to you? What sort of things are you doing now to stay connected to your community and family?
Bridie: Since the restrictions have eased up, we have lots of activities in our community centre. For example: pilates, athletics, a walking group and dancing. This is a great help to keep the community fit and healthy as well as helping us keep in touch. We visit our family regularly as they all live nearby, which is a blessing.

Jessica: What message do you want to share for yourself and this community in 10 years time?
Bridie: In 10 years time, we will hopefully look back on the last 2 years of the pandemic and we will be enjoying our old age! I would like to share this message: “Live life to the fullest and enjoy every minute of it!”

Featured below are images from Bridie’s shoot with photographer Emma O’Brien.

Bridie Finnerty