Three roads, one path! An Olympian, a Rose and a nun.

Phil Healy has arrived home from the Olympics and she’s a household name now. Her first cousin Maria Collins is home from Australia as the Perth Rose of Tralee. And Máire O’Driscoll from Coppeen has made her Solemn Profession for life as a nun at an enclosed order in Dublin.

How diverse is that?

But, perhaps, not as much as you think.

I was struck by the simplicity and the relevance of the message Phil Healy spoke at the community reception for her in Enniskeane. Surrounded by children and their families, she reflected on what she holds as a core value in her life.

“It’s not about winning all the time,” she said. “We didn’t win last week but we did our best and we represented our country.

There are three things to remember: Enjoy, have fun and make friends. 

Just because you don’t win, it doesn’t mean that what you’re doing is a failure.”

I couldn’t help but here the spirit of St. Paul, the apostle, speaking through her. Two thousand years ago he wrote to the early Christians that there are three things that last: faith, hope and love. “And the greatest of these is love.”

And he’s the one who at the end of this life wrote, “I have run the race. All that awaits me now is what God has prepared for me”.

I had the blessing of being present at the monastery in Dublin where Sr. Máire made her commitment as a nun. She was surrounded by family, friends and her religious community.

She too has gone around the trach a few times in recent years to try it out. Now she’s ready for the marathon.

The priest who spoke the homily said her life is about “becoming a living memorial of Christ”. Different to being! It’s a process; it’ll take time, a lifetime. She’s giving over her life in prayer to Christ so that he can live in her in the world and for the world. Living for God and for the world.

At the Solemn Profession of Sr. Máire Bríd O’Driscoll as a Redemptoristine Sister at Mount St. Alphonsus, Drumcondra, Dublin, are her family: (l to r) her brother Pádraig and baby Analise O’Driscoll, Zoe O’Driscoll, her mother Ina, Sr. Máire Bríd, brother Seamus, father Patrick and sister Siobhán O’Driscoll. Sr. Máire Bríd is from Gortaleen in Enniskeane Parish.

Maria Collins grew up in Gurranreagh, just east the road from Coppeen where she also went to school and later returned to teach during her teacher training. She’s Phil Healy’s cousin (both mums are sisters!) and she’s now teaching in Perth in Western Australia.

She’s back home these days to take part in the Tralee events.

During the week, she spoke to the media about what the festival means to her and she also revealed her own values.

The Rose of Tralee is about the women who have emigrated and made a mark, Maria said.

“It also shines a light on the footsteps we, as a nation, have left on the world. For such a small country, we have a huge impact abroad, and our culture is really, really strong and just showcasing all of that is really brilliant.”

Impact, values, balance, spirit, faith, hope and love.

Same roots. Different paths. Same vision.