Rachel stops for short break at Fore benches

Two benches have been unveiled in Fore – one honouring friendship and one marking innovation, very different, but both about community and connection. The first is a simple wooden one, the second is a sophisticated piece of tech.

One is powered by the memory of a lovely man, who was so kind, generous and amiable, that thinking of him generates an energy field of friendship around it. The other is solar powered, and sends out a wi-fi signal for 100 metres.

The spirit of friendship was honoured in Fore with the unveiling of a buddy bench in memory of Michael Caffrey. His family visited St Feichin’s NS for Mass and to mark the retirement of their mother Kathleen as school caretaker, and to see the bench in place at the front of the school.

A small plaque reads ‘In memory of our dear friend and cherished member of our school community’.

The Caffrey family look after the school in every way and at the time of Michael’s passing in early January, school principal Monica Fanning summed up his support saying: “I never had to worry about a single thing. I never even had to as much as change a light bulb. Michael took care of everything to make sure the children and the school had what they needed.”

The school was celebrating Kathleen, Michael’s wife, who retired after looking after the school for more than 25 years.

A keen lake swimmer, and walker, Kathleen is well known in the village and the school community wanted to make sure she knew how grateful they all were for everything she had done for them.

Michael’s Bench is a buddy bench, which means that if a child is feeling a little on their own or wants someone to come and chat to them, they sit on the bench and that lets other kids know they are looking for a chat and need a friend to come and sit with them.

The new €10,000 bench in Fore connect the ancient site to the modern world. “This bench,” Cllr Frank McDermott said, “can charge your phone, will cast ambient light into the area in the evening and has speakers that will tell people sitting here the story of Fore.”

The solar powered bench was placed in the abbey car park and is one of five set up to deliver wi-fi hotspots for visitors across the county. The other four will be in Rathowen, Multyfarnham, Kilbeggan and Streamstown.

“€49,670 was allocated to Westmeath for smart benches with wi-fi hotspots for five CLÁR Areas in Westmeath and it is hoped the bench will play a part in the wider work of Fore Heritage and Amenity Group to assist with issues such as rural isolation, population decline and social disadvantage,” said Cllr McDermott.

He invited Rose of Tralee Rachel Duffy to officially launch the new bench and take a brief break in her packed Rose of Tralee duties for the day, which included a visit to St Feichin’s NS.

“Thanks Frank, for inviting me out here. It is lovely to be out here and part of another exciting project in Westmeath. I love every opportunity I get to promote our county and the wonderful things that happen here,” Rachel said.

In a statement, the Westmeath Rose Centre said: “A huge thank you to Cllr Frank McDermott and the people of Fore, for extending an invitation to Rachel to come and visit their beautiful school and village. It was a pleasure for Rachel to be a part of the official opening of the new smart seating at Fore Abbey.

“Thank you to Bloom by Rebecca King for the beautiful flower presentation, and to everyone who came to meet Rachel.

“A special thank you to Emma Carter for welcoming Rachel to her locality, and for being such a great support and friend to Rachel since they took part in the Westmeath selection together in 2022.”