Betty O’Donnell is 'the Gem' of Athy
Happy birthday to Betty O'Donnell
TODAY we celebrate the 100th birthday of Betty O’Donnell, whose birthday occurs on 29 August.
Betty, like myself and so many others now living in Athy, is not a native of the south Kildare town.
She has lived here for 76 years, having first arrived in Athy just a few years after the end of the 2nd World War to take over a business with her late husband Jimmy.
Betty was always associated with ‘The Gem’, a readily identifiable news agency, stationery and book shop adjoining the Garda Siochana station which was located on Duke Street at that time.
‘The Gem’, under the management of Betty and her daughter Una, continued in business until it closed in March 2020.
Betty, formerly Betty Prendergast, a native of Carlow, first arrived in Athy as the young bride of Manorhamilton, Co Leitrim native Jimmy O’Donnell. Her father, Thomas, some years previously had bought the premises for his widowed sister, Bridget (‘Biddy’) Gavin, when she returned from America.
She operated a sweet shop and an ice cream parlour, which on fair days became tea rooms. Operating the business successfully for a number of years Bridget felt it was time to close up the shop when Tom Bradbury opened up his tea rooms in Leinster Street.
It was then that Betty and her husband Jimmy were invited to take over the business, which they did, just as the important newspaper agency of Mrs James at 12 Duke Street became available to them.
The tea rooms were soon discontinued and ‘The Gem’ became a fulltime stationery and news agency so beloved of the people of Athy.
Betty was sadly widowed in 1971 when her beloved husband Jimmy died suddenly at the young age of 52 years. With eight children to support, the youngest aged 5 years old, Betty continued to operate the business.
Behind Betty’s cheerfulness there lay a resourcefulness and an innate strength which allowed her to make a success of the business.
Always good natured, Betty managed over the decades to involve herself in the social and community life of the town. Elected Lady Captain and later Lady President of Athy Golf Club, she managed both honorary positions with distinction.
Up until recent years she still retained an active involvement in bridge playing as a member of the Geraldine Bridge Club and the bridge club associated with Athy’s Golf Club. Her bridge partner for many years was her near neighbour in Chanterlands, Moya Wall, to whom belated birthday wishes are also sent, although Moya has quite a few years to wait for the President’s cheque to arrive!
Betty, who was driving her car up to quite recently, has proved to be a great friend of this column over the years. Her interest in Athy’s history is matched by an extensive background knowledge of Athy people and Athy events of the past.
She has proved invaluable to me in suggesting persons, events and topics for previous columns. It was Betty who first drew my attention to the forgotten roadside memorial to Tommy O’Connell, former commanding officer of the Carlow/Kildare Brigade.
Tommy was killed in a road traffic accident on the Carlow Road near Maganey on 31 August, 1924. He had worked in Betty’s father’s furniture manufacturing workshop prior to and during the War of Independence.
The memorial, hidden from public view for many years, was rediscovered by myself, but unfortunately soon thereafter was damaged as a result of a road traffic accident. Due to the good work of Jerry O’Toole it has now been fully restored and continues to serve as a fitting tribute to a brave Irish republican.
Betty O’Donnell’s name is synonymous with that of ‘The Gem’. Both are part of the living lore of a community which treasures not only those native to Athy, but the many who like Betty and myself came as strangers to live in the South Kildare town. Best wishes to Betty O’Donnell on her 100th birthday and very sincere thanks to the cheerful and chatty Betty whose presence enlivened every gathering of which she was a part.
The Autumn series of lectures organised by Athy’s Historical Society will open on Tuesday, 17 September at 8pm in the Community Arts Centre with a presentation by Rod and Mary Feely of their trek through Napal to the Everest base camp. Admission free.
