'Life can be very tough but you just have to be tough with it'
When Rose Healy crossed the line to claim gold for Ireland in the over-70s international cross-country event, she could not stop laughing. That happy memory contrasts sharply with more recent times when Rose and her family were hit with a terrible tragedy no family should have to endure.
A LOT has happened to Rose Healy in the last 12 months or so, with some memorable events mixed in with the profoundly tragic
A woman who loves running Rose did something towards the end of 2017 she never thought she would experience. She ran for Ireland.
She laughs now at the good of it all because she achieved that ambition at an age when most people would have given up any thoughts of wearing the green, in any sporting arena. Her story emphasises how people should never give up on their dreams.
"Last November I was very lucky to be asked to represent Ireland in an international cross-country event in Derry," she recalls. "I ran as part of the Irish over-70s team. There was four of us from different parts of the country and we won the gold medal for the team event!"
Rose, who will turn 71 this month, called into the Meath Chronicle offices recently to talk about her life and times - and she was happy to reflect on that day last November when she answered her country's call.
Michael Healy.
She still has the green singlet she wore that day, carefully folded and encased. She also has the many happy memories of what was a truly great occasion for her - and her family. She recalls how, as she approached the finishing line in Derry, she was joined by her three grandchildren who ran alongside her shouting their encouragement; helping her along the way.
"It wasn't emotional because I couldn't stop laughing. Even one of the stewards said to me as I came to the finishing line: 'You can't stop laughing, can you?' Thinking about it now I still have a smile on my face. I never thought I'd run for Ireland."
The pleasant memory of that achievement - which clearly means so much to her - contrasts sharply with more recent times when Rose and her family were hit with a terrible tragedy no family should have to endure. On the 11th April last, her son Michael tragically died in a work-related accident in Mullingar. He was only 43.
Michael, like Rose, loved running - and cycling. Michael had organised a race to raise funds for Kilbride National School. Following a number of forced cancellations due to weather conditions the 29th April was pencilled in as the day when the 10km (or 5km for those who wanted a more leisurely workout) would be finally run off. Tragically by then Michael had passed away.
To honour Michael's memory the Healys decided to go ahead with the event and Rose ran in the race. "Rather than cancelling it again, which Michael wouldn't have liked, we went with it. Life can be very tough but you just have to be tough with it. There was over €5,000 collected for the children of Kilbride school from that event."
One of Rose's most poignant memories of Michael is also closely connected with athletics. "On the first of April last the Fr Murphy club held it's 10km race in Kildalkey and Michael's wife Jenny was there and she said she'd take a photograph of Michael and myself. So Jenny took the picture of the two of us together. It was the last hug we had." She stops at the memory, shrugs her shoulders, before adding: "It's a sad memory but that's life."
Reflecting on her own first 70 years Rose Healy says people should be grateful for what they have, particularly the love of family and friends. She says she's very fortunate with her own family: "We have two sons left and two daughters, two sons-in-law, three daughter-in-law, grandchildren and I must say they are all fantastic. I have a fantastic husband, Johnny, as well, so there is much to be grateful for."
From a farming background in Bohermeen the young Rose Gill met Johnny Healy from Athboy at a dance in the Granada Ballroom, Kingscourt one night in the mid 1960s. The music that night, Rose recalls with impressive clarity, was provided by Brendan Bowyer and the Royal Showband. She and Johnny, a farmer from Athboy, danced the 'Hucklebuck' and they hit it off; they started a relationship that included several years going out together before they married in 1973.
Rose Healy with some of the medals she won in her running career.
"We know each other 52 years. We had our five children including three inside 12 months, Michael was born on the 26th January and the twins (Joe and Bernadette) arrived on the 24th January the following year. After that we had Rosalind and John."
Between jobs on the dairy farm and the demands of a growing family life was busy for the Healys. Hectic and relentless.
Sport was important for Rose she played camogie with the St Francis club in Cortown and was part of a women's tug-o-war team, thought to be the first in Meath. On Sunday afternoons in summer Rose would often bring her brood of youngsters to sports days around the county. She would take part in the mothers' race - and invariably claim the top prize. She loved everything about running and was encouraged to take things a step further.
She recalls sitting with a neighbour watching the Dublin City Marathon on TV in the early 1980s. "'God I'd love to be in the middle of that,' I said not realising the amount of training required. My neighbour said: 'Why don't you do it while you are able instead of later in life when you are not able.'" Rose took the neighbour's advice and went for it.
Relatively few woman were involved in running at the time - and Rose felt she was doing something out of the ordinary. She joined Fr Murphy Athletic Club in Frayne, outside Athboy, where she got guidance and advice.
As part of her training regime Rose often used the Hill of Ward as a means of putting stamina in her legs. Other times she would go out to check cattle and fit in a few laps of the field. She ran in 10 successive Dublin City Marathons, loving it all, even those tough times every long distance runner experiences when the lungs burn and the legs feel like lead. The plaques she received for taking part in the various marathons are now proudly displayed in the Healy household. Treasured.
Rose Healy says she only stopped taking part in the marathons because with a group of teenagers to look after it became difficult to find the time to train on a consistent basis. In more recent times she has confined herself to shorter events of about 10km but giving up running altogether was simply never an option.
"Running gives me everything, you get out on that road and you clear your head completely. It's your time, it's time out, any runner will understand what I mean, the freedom, the wind in your face, you are just with your own thoughts, it's brilliant." Instead of tired and exhausted after a run Rose says she feels fired up, energised, re-invigorated. She doesn't stick to any particular diet, she just runs when she gets a chance - and has no plans to give it up.
The other week Rose and Johnny Healy celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary - and while it was a bitter, sweet, poignant occasion it was also chance for family and friends to mark a very significant milestone.
So what is the secret of a long, happy marriage? "You have to give and take, get on with life and make it worth living, it's so true, life, and marriage, is what you make it. The big old hug every now and again is important, you can't get away from that," she adds with a characteristic, hearty laugh.