AS 2018 draws to a close, so begins the process of weighing up what kind of a year it has been. Will you be sad to see it end, or will you be more than happy to see the back of it?
As usual, I have mixed feelings.
This year has been extraordinary in so many ways. As we move into 2019, I promise to keep a diary – so, when it comes to this time next year, I will have an exact account of exactly what happened during the past 12 months.
2018 was the year of Brexit, #MeToo, the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights movement and another 12 months without a working local government. Tyrone got to the All Ireland Final, Ireland beat the All Blacks at home, the Irish women’s hockey team reached the world cup final.
In the world of entertainment, the year belonged to the Derry Girls and the Young Offenders.
Professionally, I have had a busy 12 months and personally, if I was to sum this year up in one sentence, I would say that 2018 has been my ‘year of the west’. Little did I know that a walk up Divis Mountain through hail and rain on New Year’s Day 2018 would lead to such a discovery of west Belfast and great friendship.
I had been to west Belfast before, of course, many times. I recall my first visit. It was to St Mary’s CBS in 1996 for the final of the Gael Linn Irish language debating competitions. I was the captain of the St Patrick’s Girls’ Academy team: we worked really hard to prepare for the final, only to have our hides handed to us by the cheeky, confident, astute and very funny St Mary’s team. That was my first encounter with 'westies'.
I did some work experience in Meánscoil Feirste when it was located in An Chultúrlann and was the only Irish language secondary school in the north. I remember being astonished by how the Irish language was an integral part of everyday life in west Belfast, that they even had Irish medium education. How I would have loved that opportunity.
There have been so many visits to Casement Park over the years, usually for Tyrone matches. I remember moving house on a Sunday in June 2003, and going straight to Casement to watch a Tyrone championship match. I also recall going to the McKenna cup fixture between Tyrone and Armagh in January 2006 at which there were 20,000 people.
It is very sad to see a stadium which holds so many memories in a dilapidated state. Hopefully 2019 will bring some resolution on that front.
Until this year, my knowledge of the west was quite limited – then I started to train and run with a group of women there.
The 'westies' (as they refer to themselves) really are a different breed. It’s the wit. You really need to get up early in the morning to catch them out. They talk at the speed of light, have an incredibly funny turn of phase and I usually end up laughing a lot whether engaged in conversation or just listening. I try to give as good as I get, but usually fail.
During 2018, the group of westies that I can now call friends have been a constant inspiration and encouragement to me. I have ran around most parts of west Belfast this year and have joked many times that my runs should have been sponsored by the tourist board.
10k na Ceathrún Gaeltachta, the Gaeltacht Quarter run was my favourite of the year. I would recommend it to anyone – even though it entailed running right up the Glen Road, which at the time seemed never ending.
It was heartwarming to hear so many people on the run speaking Irish. There was an incredible community spirit on the day, especially given that the run was organised to raise awareness for Yes I Donate!, promoting organ donation.
In January, the parents of now two-year-old Dáithí Mac Gabhann found out that he needs a heart transplant. That day, Dáithí’s family were left in no doubt but that their community was completely behind them.
I look forward to Tuesday morning. After a two hour early morning radio shift, I intend to walk up Divis again on New Year’s Day.
Here’s to another year of friendship and discovery.
