Best friends recreate photo in Limerick town 42 years later via Las Vegas and trip to Penneys!

“TRUE friends are never apart, maybe in distance but never heart.”

That saying is exemplified by three Rathkeale ladies - Siobhan Kennedy (née O'Brien), Felicity Butler (née Doherty) and Valerie Foley (née White).

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The three school friends don’t see each other as much as they’d like as Felicity has lived in America for the last 35 years.

Valerie found an old photo of the trio one day at home while tidying. It was taken in 1983 when they were attending Scoil Bhanrion Na hEagna. Teenagers nowadays would find it hard to comprehend that photos in those days were mostly  developed in chemists.

“I'd say it was a Friday because we used to study from 5pm to 8pm. We'd finish school at 4pm so we'd rush home because the three of us lived in the town. Two of us lived on that road - the New Road. 

“We had the shop (White’s) and Siobhan’s family owned O’Brien's pub right across the road. They're all gone now. 

“Felicity was just around the corner so we probably had just changed and were going back up for study,” said Valerie, community arts development officer, Rathkeale Together, West Limerick Resources. 

The photo brought back lovely memories for Valerie who came up with the idea of recreating it. It would be no problem for Valerie and Siobhan in Crecora to pose but Felicity is a bit further away in Las Vegas.

Felicity came home for a visit recently and Valerie got the gang back together in Rathkeale to recreate the photo.

“I said to try and get clothes like we had on at the time so we had to rush into Penneys and buy the clothes! 

“We tried to get it as similar as we could. It's taken in exactly the same spot on the New Road, the same wall - it's at the back of the convent. The hardest part was getting the bike,” said Valerie.

This time it was taken on a mobile phone by Felicity’s sister Aoife. Valerie shared the 1983 and 2025 photos on social media and it got a great reaction.

“A lot of people were saying, ‘Oh, you weren't blonde back then!” laughed Valerie.

Meanwhile, there will be lots of opportunities for photos to be taken on October 31 when the headless horseman returns to Rathkeale for their Halloween parade. 

Valerie says there will be a performance by Lumen Theatre, fire and LED artists and locals.