Athy stalwart celebrates 40 years of providing community childcare
Bridie Corrigan with her family at the party in the Clanard Court Hotel to celebrate her 40 years as a childcare provider Photos: Aisling Hyland
AN OCCASION was held in the Clanard Court Hotel just outside Athy recently to celebrate the landmark anniversary of 40 years in community childcare by local stalwart Bridie Corrigan, prompting the to call for a chat.
The first mistake was assuming.
“Oh no! That was not a retirement party, gosh no!” said Bridie, quite emphatically. “I will keep going as long as I can, this was just a celebration of 40 years.
“I have great staff, and great energy. I’m very happy to continue, but I never thought I’d be doing it for 40 years!” she said.
It all began back on 6 October 1986 – a week before Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev met at the Reykjavík Summit – and Bridie began to think about it when her eldest, Louise, was about three and a half.
“We lived in Kilmeade, and there were no places,” explained Bridie.
“The nearest was in Athy but I wanted to be a stay-at-home mam, so I decided to do it.
“That time, you didn’t really need planning permission. And we had a garage at the house that never held a car, but was only used for storage. Initially, we had 12, but at that time there were no regulations, and Louise had a lot of friends from that class.
“Then Gráinne came along, then two more – Eoin and Orla – and so I thought I’d do it for maybe five years.
“Back then you were only required to have an IPPA cert (Irish Pre-school and Playgroup Association), but when Orla started primary school I went back to Athy College and did a Level 5 FETAC in childcare.”
In 2018, Bridie finally got her degree in childcare from Carlow College.
“I did this over two years because I was still running the playschool by myself. By 1999, when the regulations and policies came in it, was time to shape up or ship out,” said Bridie.
Taking advantage of a number of capital grants available, she extended her premises into the back garden, even including an outdoor play area.
“I still have that premises, with four staff and me, looking after 26 children. It has served the community well because I have great staff – absolutely wonderful.
“I’m still there every day. I can take it easier, but I still take a very active role in the playschool.
“I love it, and I love the children. They keep me young and going.”
