Letter to the Editor: Keelin savoured every drop of her life

Like so many, I was touched by Keelin Shanley.

I first met her about four years ago. Typical of her energy and openness (not to mention her nose for a story!) she quickly found out about my background. A few of our threads were similar: Both our fathers dentists, our mothers gone. Not long afterwards she brought my work to the attention of the Arena team in RTÉ.

This was quietly and subtly done — no gain for her — and a gate was opened that I would never have been able to unlatch myself. For this, I am forever grateful to her.

Imagine your life as a bag of water with a tiny leak at the bottom, and your life is passing by in moment, second by second, drop by drop. None of us knows the size of the bag we start with, when it will be drained, when the last drop is due.

Will it be the next one? Or the one after? Or 10,000 drops later?

All the more reason to value every drop of life, be present in it, taste its uniqueness, cherish the moment, be present. Whether sitting in traffic, walking the pier, running a race, laughing, crying, arguing, feeling irritated, or feeling sad, it is in your hands.

Keelin savoured every drop to the end. Her spirit lives on in all who knew her. I will treasure and hold the part of her that is forever in me. May she Rest in Peace.

Alison Hackett

Dun Laoghaire

Co Dublin