For Susie Kenney, it became a meeting place, a safe place for children, a place for neighbours to stop for a chat — and a small part of the story of Greystones.
Susie is Greystones born and bred, with generations of family connections to the town. In this episode of Voices of Greystones, she takes Terry on a wonderfully nostalgic journey through the Greystones she remembers growing up in: a much smaller village where everybody seemed to know everybody, children wandered freely, summer visitors arrived, and the local shops were part of everyday life.
She remembers the old main street, Artons, the butchers, the harbour, the churches and the divisions that existed when she was growing up — including the Protestant/Catholic boundaries that shaped parts of community life. She also talks about the things that helped bring people together, from pantomimes and clubs to the summer traditions that generations of children looked forward to.
Then comes Paraphernalia.
Susie tells the story of opening the shop, why she wanted to create something in Greystones, and how it gradually became much more than a business. For 30 years, people came through the door to browse, chat, meet friends, wait after school and simply feel welcome. She even recalls being recognised years later in Spain by former customers calling out, “Mrs Paraphernalia!”
But Susie's story doesn't stop when she sells the shop.
She talks about the community work she's involved in today, including The Primary Stitch, where children learn practical skills through sewing, repair and reuse, and the joy of seeing a child fix their own torn cuff.
She also reflects on what community means to her, why connection matters, what has changed in Greystones, what she worries about for younger generations, and why she still believes there is something special at the heart of the town.
As Susie puts it:
“I think there is a soul.”
This is a conversation about memory, belonging, community, creativity and the changing face of Greystones — but above all, it's a conversation about people.
🎙️ Susie Kenney | Voices of Greystones
Every stone has a story. What's yours?
00:00 Welcome to Voices of Greystones
00:29 Meet Susie Kenney
02:35 Retirement, Markets & a Love of Making
03:56 Family, Grandchildren & Life by the Sea
05:05 Growing Up in Greystones
06:11 The Old Greystones: Freedom, Safety & the “Bush Telegraph”
07:59 A Family History on the Seafront
09:18 The Shops & Memories of the Old Main Street
11:07 When Greystones Really Was a Village
12:40 Growing Up With the Old Religious Divides
14:41 Clubs, the Harbour Gang & Breaking Down Barriers
17:11 Dublin, Art Galleries & a Different Life
18:58 Becoming a Mum & Coming Home to Greystones
20:02 The Story Behind Paraphernalia
23:06 When the Shop Became a Meeting Place
26:00 Why Belonging Mattered
26:57 A Safe Place for Children
29:12 “Hey, Mrs Paraphernalia!”
30:17 Selling the Shop After 30 Years
32:04 What Susie Misses Most
33:17 Shops, Community & Welcoming Newcomers
35:13 The Primary Stitch: Teaching Children to Make & Mend
38:07 Rivers, Nature & the Next Generation
39:21 Back on the Tennis Court
40:16 France, Italy & a Lifetime in Greystones
41:13 What Community Really Means
42:28 CSSM & the Summers That Brought Everyone Together
44:36 What Does Susie Want for Future Greystones?
45:46 Growth, Infrastructure & Keeping the Heart of the Town
48:04 “There Is Still a Soul”
49:15 Multicultural Greystones & Making People Feel Welcome
50:45 What Susie Wants Future Generations to Remember
52:13 Thank You for Listening
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