Rural communities are certainly great places to bring up children. What they lack in child-friendly purpose-built amenities, they more than make up for through real life experience. The phrase “It takes a village to bring up a child” becomes the reality. I saw it in action over our manic bank holiday weekend.

The cousins were home from London, which means I had a chance to get together with my three siblings, we’re more than brothers and sisters, we’re close friends too. They arrived in Cork for Friday and Saturday filling up mine and my sister Bernadine’s houses. These are the times when memories are made, when cousins bond in friendship and love and fun.

These are precious years and all too soon they will have grown up. Anna was celebrating her 21st birthday and Cathy her 16th.

The memories are of parties, farmyard tours, calves, pups, kittens, baking bonanzas, loud conversations, difficult negotiations and many, many celebrations

My nephew, Jack from Cork had turned 13, leaving only Marie from London and Kate from Cork in the children’s age bracket. I have a sense of these memories soaking into the walls of our house.

The memories are of parties, farmyard tours, calves, pups, kittens, baking bonanzas, loud conversations, difficult negotiations and many, many celebrations.

This year we added a GAA hurling match to the list. All of it forms our homes creating our unique family history and our memories that herald care and welcome.

Cork to Nolan Park

Saturday took us off to Kilkenny to see Conor Bowe’s under 20 match between Tipperary and Wexford. It was the London girls first time to be at a live game of hurling. There were 19 of us seated together in Nolan Park. My six nieces were in close proximity along with one nephew. The other was on the pitch.

Cartoon by Clyde Delaney.

There was a Dutch couple beside us. They were visiting Ireland and wanted to attend a hurling game. They loved it. Before long I had them shouting for Conor and Tipp.

Diarmuid and I travelled back to Cork in horrendous rain. We collected Tim and struck for west Cork and The Four Winds pub in Ahohill for our son-in-law, David’s barbecue to celebrate a significant birthday! There was the little matter of a cake in my car down the street. I asked Mary in the pub about where I might leave it. “John will go with you,” she said.

What a gentleman and the fact that he is only nine-years-old illustrates that the Ahohill nurturing community is at the top of its game

John and I headed down the street. We chatted away and I quickly realised that I was in the company of a most articulate and competent young man. He operated the key fob for me. When I opened the door to fetch the cake he quickly stepped forward saying “I’ll close the door for you!”

Then he guided me down the street and into the house pointing out trip hazards as we went. He showed me where to put the cake and helped me to retrieve it again when we needed it. What a gentleman and the fact that he is only nine-years-old illustrates that the Ahohill nurturing community is at the top of its game. It was a lovely party. On Monday, we headed to the next family gathering back up in Tipp.

An 80th birthday celebration

Dad turned 80 in July but we waited until we were all available to celebrate the big milestone. In a poignant speech, he reminded us of when he was diagnosed with stomach cancer three years ago. His only hope of survival was the complete removal of his stomach. It was a very tough time for him and we all rallied around to support him. There is always a silver lining to the worst situation.

It is fair to say that our health system served him extremely well and he’s an inspiration to anyone facing into serious surgery and difficult treatment

Dad’s illness and care necessitated us to talk to each other much more often than we would in the normal run of busy lives.

We planned his trips taking turns with his care and it was truly lovely to see him celebrate his 80th birthday in good health. It is fair to say that our health system served him extremely well and he’s an inspiration to anyone facing into serious surgery and difficult treatment.

We had a lovely evening celebrating his story telling abilities and his influence and support of us in our everyday lives. We look forward to many years of health for him into the future. We are extremely proud of him. It was one busy weekend!