RENA RE-CREATING SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS FOR PAST 45 YEARS
RENA Kennelly is part of a very special Christmas tradition at St Mary’s Cathedral in Killarney. Rena has just put the finishing touches to the cathedral’s crib for the forty-fifth year – a crib that is now an important part of Christmas in Killarney.
The crib’s figures were brought home from Italy over 32 years ago by Fr Gearoid Walsh, whose father used to build the crib’s frame. The Walsh family connection still continues to this day as Gearoid’s nephew, Martin, is now the man who puts up the crib’s frame. Once done, Rena then adds her own special touch by arranging the figures and creating a Christmas scene that has gladdened the hearts of generations of people. In recent years Rena has passed on the tradition to her grandchildren, who help out in arranging the crib.
“They love it and it’s something that is part of the town’s tradition at this stage,” Rena said.
Some of the crib’s features include a fawn that was killed on the Kenmare Road years ago and was revived thanks to a local taxidermist. There is also a lovely pool feature and the crib represents a lovely blend of nature in the bleak mid winter.
“I’m proud of it and I enjoy doing it. There was an American lady photographing it the other day who asked me the same question. I said that I enjoy doing it for the kids and she answered: ‘Well, I’m no kid and I love it’. That was nice. Local school children have also been taken to see it over the past few weeks. So that’s nice too,” Rena said.