Kilbeggan's Young at Heart Group promoting happiness and well-being

If there was proof needed that active retirement clubs promote happiness and well-being amongst their members, then Kilbeggan's Young at Heart Group just might be it.The women (despite their best attempts they have no male members at the moment) meet once a week at SWEETS (South West Education Employment and Training) which is based on the main street, Kilbeggan.It's now five years since former SWEETS manager Sean Grehan first suggested that local older people start an active retirement club and the ladies have never looked back."Well we always welcome men but we can't seem to hold onto them for very long," laughed Peig Gorry.Some of the group are former members of the ICA which once had a strong presence in the area but gradually "faded away"."It was no one's fault really, it just kind of petered out and then Sean suggested that we start a club and Kitty (Kitty Flynn) really got the whole thing going and she really encouraged us all to keep coming," said Emma Redding."That's right I remember the first meeting down at Locke's and I thought to myself that it was never going to work," said Peig."The thing is that some of us are on our own and some of us are widows and so having a club like this means that we are no longer on our own. I always say that we are one big happy family and I really mean that. I remember when my grandson was diagnosed with diabetes and he was only two and a half, everyone rallied around and they were all concerned about him and it was so nice to know that people cared."The words active retirement certainly apply to the members of Young at Heart who travel all over the country on social outings and have strong connections to the local schools where they take part in what has become known as "intergenerational" work where older and young people share thoughts and ideas on life. Last week it was Ann Carton's birthday and the girls had rallied around to get her a cake and give her a "love" because it was a big birthday."Not telling you of course," joked Ann. "I have just turned 21 again."There is no doubt that getting out and about keeps the women young both in looks and in spirit and while some people fear retirement, the ladies of Young at Heart have embraced it."I haven't had a bad minute since I came back to Kilbeggan and I was in Dublin for so many years," said Nan Feeney. "When I was in Dublin I could have been dead and no one would have known. "Now if I don't have the blind up and a fire going first thing in the morning I will have the neighbours ringing to see if I'm okay, he'll be straight on saying 'what's wrong with you'".All the ladies agree that the love the strong sense of community that they love about Kilbeggan and Nan isn't the only member to have worked away before returning to the home that they love."I nursed all over the world and I was in Saudi, Germany, Holland- I was everywhere but I always wanted to come back," said Anne Scott."I met my husband in Saudi and wanted him to come back here and eventually persuaded him. I had to put lead in his boots to get him to stay mind you."Peig Gorry and Phyllis O'Malley also both lived away for years in Dublin and London respectively."I always wanted to come back too," said Peig. "I worked as a supervisor in Roaches Stores on Henry Street for 25 years and I couldn't wait to get home. I don't miss Dublin a bit and I don't miss working.""I always think to myself 'where did I ever get the time to work' because I have been so busy since I retired," said Irene Plunkett. "We meet officially once a week but we all bump into each other during the course of any day and that is so nice because we know that people are all round and about us."While the ladies all agree that Kilbeggan is a fantastic place to live and work, the also agree that the lack of banking facilities makes life tougher than it need be."We really miss the Credit Union since it shut and most of us hate have to go to Tullamore," said Peig. "If we could change one thing it would be that. Aside from that though we are lucky to live in Kilbeggan, it's a great place."