Since I was young, I’ve made friends easily and it has resulted in friendships that are beautiful, diverse and different. I value all of them. Many are from different times in my life. I’d lost touch with some but now I find that we are coming back together in the loveliest of gatherings.

This latest rendezvous was in Annascaul with my former teaching colleagues, Siobhan, Mary, Cherryl, Geraldine and me. Cherryl now lives in the UK. We collected her from the lovely Kerry airport.

We have been friends for nearly 20 years and learned all about each other’s families as we taught together in Our Lady of Good Counsel school in Ballincollig. As a result, our ties run deep.

We had a weekend of great discussions while we strolled on the magnificent Inch beach or walked the streets of Dingle.

The five of us are grandmothers now so a little shop in Dingle called ‘Once Upon A Toy’ was made for us. There we found unusual toys and lovely books ‘as Gaeilge’. Another little gem, called La Bohème, had good style on offer and especially nice-fitting jeans. There’s nothing like a bit of retail therapy with the girls. We make having fun a priority.

Macra na Feirme became a huge part of our lives. We learned so much and the local lads took care of us girls really well

Before calving started in February, I met with my primary school friends in the village of Moyne, Co Tipperary, where I went to school. The venue was Tig Maighne, a community-run café and shop. It was absolutely buzzing.

The five of us settled around a table and the chat flowed. We were firm friends in primary school, sisters Pauline and Geraldine Grimes, sisters Maura and Margaret Ryan and me, Katherine Bowe.

The fun we had was enormous. I was mad jealous of the girls as they lived side by side and I wanted nothing more than to be with them. We’d all head off together to explore Lisheen Castle or just to walk in the fields.

The teenage years were magic as we ventured into the Premier Ballroom in Thurles for the dances to live bands. There would be a meet up in Pauline and Geraldine’s bedroom where the getting ready would occur, swapping clothes and exploring makeup and hair styles.

Macra na Feirme became a huge part of our lives. We learned so much and the local lads took care of us girls really well. As we settled down, met our husbands and had our families, the busyness of life in Cork pulled me away and I didn’t stay in touch like I should have.

We are now five women living life to the full, retired or close to retirement. We’ve had successful careers, too much trauma, too many health challenges and lost far too many loved ones for a group of five friends. Yet, we are intact, our personalities are unchanged which is quite beautiful. We are very proud grandmothers.

Warm welcome

It all began in Moyne National School. Margaret is a wonderful organiser and she had arranged a visit to the school for Pauline, Maura and me.

The principal, Esther Hogan gave us a warm welcome. Much had changed but not the photographs of the classes through the years on the walls.

It was a real trip down memory lane. Geraldine had a motto for the tough days. “Get up, make up and get out.” That focus alone can get one back on track.