Family woman Kathleen led a busy and active life and was always there in a crisis
KNOCKANANNA lost one of its shining lights with the passing of Kathleen Whelan.
Kathleen was born in 1928 to parents Hugh and Martha O’Byrne. She was one of eleven children and the family lived on a hillside sheep farm in Ballycreen, Aughrim.
Kathleen’s primary education was just across the ditch at the local national school. She went on to spend five years in the Loreto Convent in Gorey, Co. Wexford.
Following her education, she worked in Dublin for several years as a cashier in Ferguson’s Bakery in Rathmines and lived with her sisters on the South Circular Road.
It was on a trip home that she met the love of her life, Jim Whelan from Knockananna, at the Fr Murphy statue in Arklow. They were married in the Church of the Most Sacred Heart in Aughrim in June 1951 followed by a reception in her home place in Ballycreen.
Arriving at her new home, Teach Fáilte, Knockananna as a newlywed, the honeymoon period was short lived for Kathleen and Jim. Sleeves had to be rolled up quickly as there was no electricity or running water at that time.
Knockananna celebrated the big ‘Switch On’ of electricity with a dance in 1957. Kathleen often told the story of hundreds of bicycles propped up against the wall of the local hall and not one going astray. On the same night, there was a mix-up with the cloakroom ticketing system. Kathleen took great pride in the fact that all coats were placed on the dancefloor for all to reclaim without one discrepancy.
She was part of the local ICA Committee that established the Group Water Scheme in 1961, resulting in tap water for the village in 1964.
Over the next 15 years, Kathleen and Jim had a family of ten children, five sons and five daughters. Sadly, baby Catherine passed away in August 1964, aged 18 months.
Kathleen was exemplary in her role as a mother, advisor, constructive critic, problem solver and friend to her children. In later years, she would take on a similar role for her 18 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren who all adored her. She enjoyed keeping up to date on all their lives and adventures.
Kathleen was always there in a crisis to advise and to lend a helping hand.
Kathleen possessed a very strong work ethic throughout her busy life. She operated and drove a school bus for 30 years serving Rathcoyle and Kiltegan National Schools. She took a great interest in the farm and operated a farmhouse B&B for some time. She also went to work in the Braun factory in Carlow in her late 50s.
She was an avid supporter and assistant to her husband Jim in his public life as a Wicklow County Councillor.
Kathleen embraced community life with great energy and enthusiasm. She was involved with numerous clubs and organisations.
Kathleen established lifelong friendships through her voluntary efforts and shared challenges and successes. She always demonstrated a great sense of friendship for the elderly and people living alone in the surrounding countryside. She would frequently cook and deliver dinners, checking in on neighbours.
It was through her interests in this area that she set up the Care of the Aged Committee and became instrumental in obtaining approval for the building of houses in the village which later became homes for many of the neighbours she visited.
Kathleen always had a great pride in the village and was one of the founder members of the Tidy Towns committee. In return for ensuring the village was kept litter-free, she would load the local children into her Volkswagen bus rewarding them with an annual trip to see Fossett’s Circus in Ballinglen, armed with a supply of minerals and crisps for all.
Kathleen never forgot her beloved Ballycreen and would often ask to be taken on a drive past the old homeplace. During these drives, she would share many stories from her youth about mischievous adventures and house dances. Kathleen lost her beloved husband and best friend Jim in 2003, when he passed away at the age of 87. She always kept his memory alive with countless stories of their lives and times together.
Kathleen passed away on March 12, 2020 shortly after her 92nd birthday at home surrounded by her loving family. Of course, this coincided with the then Taoiseach Leo Varardkar’s first Covid-19 speech, hence it was with a great degree of sadness that restrictions necessitated a private funeral. Following a very full and busy life, Kathleen slipped away quietly with no fuss and Knockananna lost one of its shining lights.