Úna enjoys life to the full and says ‘just be nice and kind’

THE YEAR 1923 was a turbulent time in Irish society, reports Ken Doyle.

As a nation, we were taking our first tentative steps into democracy and modernity.

The destructive and divisive Irish Civil war had only just ended, and freedom and peace for Ireland were just around the corner.

A ray of sunshine was about to issue forth from Drumcondra because in that location in 1923, a baby named Úna Doyle was born.

One of seven children, she says she had a great childhood in Drumcondra and wouldn’t change her happy upbringing for the world.

Once the young Úna reached adulthood, she married a wonderful man named Andy Devine.

From then on was known, Úna Doyle was known as Úna Devine.

Andy was a farmer by profession and it didn’t take long for Úna to get into the swing of farm work and become a very contented farmer’s wife.

“We bought a dairy farm in Ballymeece, near Bohernabreena, and spent many, many happy years there,” she says.

Unfortunately, Andy passed away some years ago but Úna still lives at home with her family in the farmhouse and sees no reason to move.

“When my husband passed, I found great comfort in my faith.

“I’ve always been a very observant Catholic,” she says.

Amongst a myriad of things in her life that she is proud of, nothing beats the brief audience she had with Pope (Now Saint) John Paul II in 1978.

“It was a wonderful honour and I’ll never forget it,” Úna says.

You might think that Úna’s life is very difficult up there in the Dublin Mountains, but not a bit of it.

Glenasmole Community Centre, currently receiving a long overdue renovation, has been Úna’s home away from home for years.

Every chance she gets, she attends the centre to take part in activities and have a chinwag over a cup of tea with her friends.

Una has made some wonderful friends through the centre – Ria, Mary Crowley, Susan Murphy and Rose McNulty, to name just a few.

Thankfully transport, in such a rural part of the county is not a problem, thanks to the great work done by a couple of local good Samaritans.

Frank and Sammy drive the local buses which ferry Úna and many more like her, to get to the community centre, do their shopping, collect their pensions and generally catch up with friends in person.

Úna is extremely grateful for the invaluable work they do for her and all of people of the valley.

At the end of our all-too-brief time together, I ask Úna about the secret to her longevity.

“Just be nice and kind to everyone you meet and you won’t go far wrong.

“The odd glass of red doesn’t hurt either!” she adds, with a twinkle in her eye.

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