This is a subscriber-only article
When Nuala Costigan has a child doing the Leaving Cert, you know all about it. This year it’s her youngest. And my niece Freya’s did it too. And… let’s just say, as they say in the Olympics, Freya will be in the repechage.
Nuala collars me in Lidl – “well, did Freya get her course?” I said I didn’t know but I knew well she didn’t get any course. Freya announced to her mother before the exams that “the CAO was a pyramid scheme.” She wasn’t the slightest bit bothered after her points. She’s only this summer announced she’s going to be an apprentice electrician.
I was saying to her, “Freya I thought you’d be going into college with all your feminism.” Freya gave me one of those looks that told me I’ve got it wrong. Again.
“This IS feminism Auntie Ann. You have to be the change you want to see. Talk is cheap. But I’ll tell you what isn’t cheap, dear Auntie – an electrician. I’m going to be making that bag.” “You’re going into fashion design?” She give me what I think is called ‘side-eye’.
So when Nuala Costigan comes up to me bragging about how Siofra got 604 points and would have got the 625 only for jealous teachers and that she has more than enough for medicine and business and still has change for the bus, I was bracing myself.
“To be honest Nuala, I think Freya is going down the practical route. She’s looking at an apprenticeship.”
“You ..mean….like a… trade?” Nuala was almost pale.
I replied, “They’re crying out for people now Nuala.”
“But Ann … it’s not a degree is it. How is her mother taking the news?”
Actually her mother is torn and had said to me, “Don’t get me wrong Ann, I love Freya’s activism but I’m glad she’ll make a few bob. I’m tired of this house being poor.” Now, I don’t tell Nuala that.
“Ah she’s happy if Freya’s happy.”
“The poor woman must be bereft.”
She wasn’t the slightest bit bothered after her points. She’s only this summer announced she’s going to be an apprentice electrician
You see Nuala’s father was a builder and did the septic tanks and they say one day he collected her from school in the tank cleaning lorry and she’s been traumatised by practical jobs ever since.
Freya got the bug when she was going out with Kyle Shaughnessy, Larry Shock’s youngest. Freya is Kilsudgeon’s answer to Greta and the Shocks have a silage pit bigger than Newgrange and Freya going around telling them they were massacring the ragwort. But they all got on.
Larry Shock was fierce fond of Freya. She was up there one day and young Kyle was laid up from an ankle injury from a GAA match and Freya was out helping Larry fix a fencer. Seemingly he thought she was gas and before long she was going up there tipping away at small jobs.
Kyle and Freya broke up but “are still friends” and Larry said she’s welcome any time to call up. She does and all, and he tells me she’s a dab hand at the fencers.
“He’ll nearly leave you the farm Freya,” I joked.
“Auntie Ann, when I’m an electrician, every farm is mine,” she says. “They’ll all be on the solar.”
Nuala is still shaking her head as I leave her. Later that day I’m at home when the Kilsudgeon ICA WhatsApp group pings.
It’s Nuala: “Is the current gone with anyone else?”
No they say. Nora Shock says: “I’ll ask Freya” and then, “she says try the tripswitch Nuala. She says PM her.”
There isn’t a peep for a while so they must be chatting, then Nuala is on again.
“Thanks ever so much Freya for helping with that.” Do ya ever just know when someone is sheepish, only from a WhatsApp? Then another message: Freya has joined the group. And I see her reply with a thumbs up. “Just learning my trade Nuala.”
SHARING OPTIONS: