![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/coffee4.jpg\")
<\/p>\nArticle by Kellie Anne Lee from Uccello Designs<\/p>\n
Some of the best things in life start with a simple cup of tea. <\/p>\n
Fourteen years ago, in Kilmacrennan, County Donegal, that\u2019s exactly how a little idea grew into something big \u2013 a weekly gathering that\u2019s been lifting spirits and sparking friendships ever since.<\/p>\n
We first heard about the Young at Heart Group through friends at the Kilmacrennan Men\u2019s Shed.<\/p>\n
During one of their coffee mornings, local woman Jane McGettigan stopped by, spotted the Uccello Kettle in action, and later reached out to us to tell us about the wonderful group of women meeting every Tuesday in the village.<\/p>\n
It all began when a new parish priest, Father Paddy Dunne, arrived in the area and quickly noticed something important.<\/p>\n
Many retired women in the parish were living alone, missing loved ones, and feeling a
little disconnected from the bustle of community life. Wanting to help, the good Father turned to two friendly faces he often saw chatting after the school run \u2013 Jane McGettigan and Emma McGinley.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2019They always had time for a chat and a walk,\u2019\u2019 he thought. \u2018\u2019Maybe they\u2019d have time to\u00a0 bring a few ladies together?\u2019\u2019\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Word got out fast, and one crisp October Tuesday, the Young at Heart Group was born.<\/p>\n
Tuesdays Done Right\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
From the moment the doors open on a Tuesday morning you can feel the warmth (and not just because someone\u2019s turned on the heating early!). <\/p>\n
Kettles boil, tables are set, and the smell of home baking fills the room. As the ladies arrive, the space buzzes with chat, catch-ups, and plenty of laughter.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Some Tuesdays are simple: tea, cake, and good conversation \u2013 the perfect recipe for connection. Other weeks, it\u2019s all about learning and trying something new. Over the years, the Young at Heart crew have enjoyed art classes, cookery demos, gardening tips, reflexology, chair aerobics, well-being sessions, and more.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And then there are the outings \u2013 always a highlight. Once a month, the group heads out for lunch, sampling Donegal\u2019s finest spots (and let\u2019s just say they\u2019re almost local experts now). Bigger adventures have included visits to D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann, Stormont, Wild Ireland, Bloom, theatres, distilleries, and some of Ireland\u2019s most beautiful hidden gems.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As one member once said with a smile:\u00a0\u2018\u2019We never would have gotten here or thought we\u2019d go to such a place in our lifetime.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Photo (Left to Right): Raymond Mc Bride, Brid Fields, Kathleen Mc Daid, Hilda O Donnell, Mary Whoriskey.<\/p>\n
Bridging Generations \u2013 Over Tea & Tunes\u00a0<\/p>\n
One of the group\u2019s most special traditions is inviting local schoolchildren to join them once a year. Pupils from second and sixth class visit to swap stories, play music, and sing songs. In return, the ladies share tales of what childhood was like when they were young \u2013 no smartphones, plenty of chores, and just as much fun.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The morning always ends with tea, cake, sweets, and a lively game of bingo. Sometimes there are grandmothers and grandchildren in the same room, laughing and making memories together.\u00a0<\/p>\n
More Than A Group \u2013 A Lifeline\u00a0<\/p>\n
What makes Young at Heart so special isn\u2019t just the activities. It\u2019s the friendship, loyalty, and love that have grown over 14 years. For many, Tuesday morning is the happiest day of the week \u2013 a time to talk, laugh, share memories, and feel part of something.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Family members often comment on how much their loved ones look forward to it. Some jokingly say there\u2019s no chance of a babysitter on Tuesdays because \u2018\u2019Young at Heart is on!\u2019\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n
There have been sad goodbyes along the way as beloved members passed on, but they\u2019re never forgotten. Their stories and laughter still echo through the group.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For the coordinator Jane McGettigan, it\u2019s a role that is as rewarding as it is busy:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2019It\u2019s my pleasure and a privilege to be part of this group. They\u2019re a wealth of knowledge on life \u2013 and everything in between \u2013 all shared with a smile, a laugh, and sometimes a good debate.\u2019\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Young-at-Heart-Group.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
In Photo starting back row (Left to Right): Hilda O Donnell, Jane Mc Garvey, Geraldine Gallagher, Margaret Sweeney, Catherine Ronaghan, Sheila Healhy, Maria Coyle, Joyce Mc Nutt.
Front row (left to right): Mary Mc Grenra, Kathleen Mc Daid, Marion Skelly, Ann Doherty, Susan Sheilds, Noreen Shields, Maureen Mc Cann, Celia Carr.<\/p>\n
Why It Matters\u00a0<\/p>\n
Loneliness can be invisible, especially for older people. Many assume retirees have full social calendars, but that\u2019s not always true. Groups like Young at Heart provide something priceless \u2013 a reason to get up, get out, and feel part of a community.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2019Social gatherings are so important,\u2019\u2019 Jane says, \u2018\u2019They keep us young.\u2019\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n
With the support of the local community, grants, and volunteers, the group has not only survived but thrived \u2013 proof that small efforts can make a huge difference in people\u2019s lives.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Fourteen Years Young \u2013 and Still Growing\u00a0<\/p>\n
This October, the Young at Heart Group celebrates an incredible 14 years of tea, laughter, friendship, and adventure. From its humble beginnings to the vibrant, joy-filled Tuesdays it hosts today, the group shows just how powerful a warm welcome can be.\u00a0<\/p>\n