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Tech savvy gran breaks digital divide

Monday, 24 March 2008

A NORTHSIDE grandmother and granddaughter team have proved that age is only a number when it comes to learning new skills.
The Ballymun pair recently received hard-earned certificates in computer skills at the local women’s resource centre.
Granny Kathleen Keating, who is 78-years-old and her 11-year-old granddaughter, Samantha Murphy, are now computer savvy thanks to a worthwhile local initiative.
“Technology is not something that was ever part of my life,” Kathleen told Northside People.
“I never thought that one day I’d be able to even turn on a computer never mind surf the net.
“Now I’m able to email my son in China, find out what the weekly deals are in Aldi and pay my bills online.”
Kathleen, from Sandyhill Gardens, also enjoys an odd game of solitaire on her home computer.
“I really enjoyed the course, it was great to get back to learning as I had left school at the age of 14. I didn’t want to leave but my parents needed me to help provide for our big family.”
Kathleen also received a certificate in a cultural diversity course.
“It was great to learn about the different cultures and to find out how many people of certain nationalities are living in Ireland today,” she explained.
Sadly, Ms Murphy’s husband died as she was mid-way through the courses.
“He used to have a little laugh when he saw me doing my course homework in the kitchen each evening,” she remembered fondly.
“But he also wanted me to teach him some of the things I was learning.”
Sixth class pupil Samantha is also now a computer whiz.
“I got a computer for Christmas but I really didn’t know how to use it so I thought it wouldn’t be a bad idea for me to do some sort of an IT course,” she told Northside People.
“The course itself was a bit tough sometimes but it was very worthwhile as I am now more confident with computers.
“It’s mad to think that my grandmother is able to do all the things that I can on the computer.”
She added: “It was great as we were able to help each other out if we were stuck on anything.”
Educational co-coordinator Deirdre Keating praised all those who received certificates last week.
“They all did really well and they are all deserving of their certificates which were awarded after they were put through their paces by an external examiner,” she said.
“Understandably, Kathleen was a bit nervous before she got into the computer course but she really was very successful.
“It is a credit to her that she returned to complete the course after her loss.”
She added: “Samantha was also great to work with and she even imparted the skills she learned to other kids who stared the course after her.”

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