‘Our Living Scenes’ is an intergenerational initiative that Calasanctius College take great pride in. Each Transition Year group spends eight weeks working and chatting with senior members of the community who join us at school each Thursday.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Gabriel Henry and Josie Cannon, who shared some reflections on their lives and the lessons they’ve learnt along the way.
Interview with Gabriel Henry
What is your favourite thing about living in the area?
“I live on the Tuam Road beside Supermac's. I like living here because it is very handy to get into town: only 2 miles into Eyre Square and the pub isn’t too far either!
Who has been the biggest influence on your life?
“I have been influenced by so many different people, I can’t really say one, but my mother was definitely my biggest influence at a young age. She was a reader, she loved reading books of all sorts and I think I took that from her because I love to read as well.
What are you most proud of?
Rewriting my book and finishing it. It took about three and a half years to finish writing it. My book is called ‘One Inch of Joy’. I’ve sold over 500 copies so far.
If you could talk to your younger self, what advice would you give them?
If I could go back and tell my younger self something, it would be to not go working on construction sites, try to do something a bit easier. I went to England when I was 17-years-old and, in those times, it was a seven-day week, five 10-hour days and two 8-hour days.
If you could go back to any age, what would it be?
Oh, I’d say when I was 21, I had the most fun. We used to go to dances and have the craic and all that. We would go up to girls asking them to dance. We cycled everywhere in those times, we used to cycle up to the dances, could be nine or ten miles.”
What advice would you give to a teenager?
Take care of your mind and then take care of your body because health comes before wealth.
Interview with Josie Cannon:
What is your favourite thing about living in Oranmore?
“I was born and reared in Oranmore, so it was a lovely little spot going back years ago we knew everybody and everybody knew you.”
Who has been the biggest influence on your life?
“I suppose my teachers, anything we were told we kept it in our heads, whether it was right or wrong, but we always thought of what they said and what to do.”
What are you most proud of?
“Well thanks be to God; the health is number one anyway. I am proud of my family.”
If you could go back and talk to your younger self, what advice would you give them?
“I’d say there was a lot of little minor things like keeping good company and you wouldn't go astray.”
What was your first job?
“Farming anyway, my first job I enjoyed the most was driving the tractor anyway, and I’m still doing it!”
If you could go back to any age, what would it be?
“I’d say the teenage years, it was the best years we enjoyed life. There was no pressure no worries nothing, free to go everywhere.”
What advice would you give to a teenager?
“Well don't do anything too silly, take care of yourself and enjoy life. Don’t stress about the days ahead.”
