Collette - The Organised One
Role at Baileo
I bring an interest in Celtic myths and legends, gleaned from stories that my father told me, and from a career in teaching. I love passing this on to children.
I also work with Lucia to source products for Baileo and negotiate with our wonderful suppliers. I love visiting artisans and small businesses, talking about their work and sharing in the passion for unique products inspired by their Celtic heritage and landscape.
Lives
With my lovely hubby in a rural English village. Our neighbours on the one side are sheep and on the other side are donkeys. We’ve had to get used to their braying and baaing at 5am – not your average dawn chorus!
Loves
Family time. Especially with my sisters. We four sisters have a special bond; in all our years together we have been happy to share and swap our possessions, our triumphs and our worries – and we have never had a cross word. This bond has never wavered, despite us being scattered across the globe.
Wandering. I love to walk by the coast, feeling the wind and smelling the salty waves. And I love to explore new places, discover their culture, landscapes, art. ‘Not all who wander are lost’.
A good Bushmills whiskey. Enough said!
Her story
When you grow up as the eldest in a large Northern Irish family, you quickly learn to fend for yourself, be helpful and take on early responsibilities. You can’t help being a bit bossy too, to keep your siblings in line!
I suppose it was inevitable, then, that as I got older my thoughts turned to teaching. I left home at the height of ‘The Troubles’ to go to university in England and train as a primary school teacher. Inevitably, with family-instilled ambition I became Headteacher of several schools and latterly an adviser specialising in literacy. I continue to contribute to quality assurance.
I have now spent more time in England than Ireland, but have always maintained strong ties to my homeland. Being away from ‘home’ – as I still call Ireland – has made me value my Irish heritage and culture. As my husband frequently reminds me: “You can take the girl out of Ireland, but not Ireland out of the girl.”
What does heritage mean to you?
To me, heritage means being proud of where you come from. Remembering the past and sharing it with others helps keep heritage alive from one generation to the next. Without that, we lose a sense of our roots and identity.
What makes you feel at home?
The sound of church bells ringing. It always reminds me of home.
What do you want Baileo to be?
We created Baileo to celebrate and share our common love of all things Celtic, and as a tribute to our parents and other loved ones we have lost and who had the most incredible impact on our lives.
I want Baileo to be a place where folk can enjoy exploring Celtic life, past and present – places, people and the craic. Where they can connect with others and maybe find that special gift for a loved one that reminds them of ‘home’.