Kay Foran

Kay was born in Gardiner St. Her father worked all his life as a docker called Sean (Fatser) Dunne. She is the eldest of 10 children. She is married to Mick Foran who was also a docker and his photo is on this site. Kay and Mick met when she was 15 years old, in the skating rink that existed in the area of George’s St. Arcade. Entry fee often included an hour, skating followed by a disco and it was here that Kay met the love of her life.

She began her working life in the sewing factories in the inner city which was the usual working option for young girls leaving school, in order to help support the family. Kay and Mick have 5 children and 6 grandchildren. Kay was a home maker staying at home to raise her family and helped out with her husband Mick’s business.

At the age of forty she returned to school and completed her Leaving Certificate. She continued in adult education and completed an access course in the NUI. She always had an interest in creative writing and poetry; however, her career development led her to teach adult literacy classes to young adults re-entering society after prison sentences. She helped them to read and write, become accustomed to going into shops and opening bank accounts. The first literacy class was part of a horticulture class. She moved on to teaching literacy in the Sheriff St Women’s Resource Centre and eventually taught child care classes. She was employed in this capacity for approximately 20 years. Her happiest memories are of the great fun and craic that she enjoyed with the women of sheriff St and she has many great friends and former students that she keeps in touch with to this day.