There are some people in Killarney who quietly become part of the fabric of the town.

You may not always notice it day to day, but they’ve been there through generations, through change, through progress. This week on Marie Meets, I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with one such lady: Brid O’Callaghan.
In late February back in 1976, Brid walked through the doors of O’Donoghue’s Opticians on Main Street for her very first day of work. She had no way of knowing then that she was beginning a journey that would span five decades.
Fifty years. A lifetime of helping Killarney see clearly.
Brid began as a receptionist under the guidance of well-known businessman Pat O’Donoghue before later becoming an optical assistant. From handwritten records to high-tech systems, she has seen the profession transform before her very eyes.
“When I started, everything was sent by post,” Brid told me. “There wasn’t even a fax machine. I recorded all the customer details by hand on personal data cards.”
No computers. No emails. No instant lab orders. Just careful handwriting, sharp organisation and a very good memory. Today, the practice operates with fully networked computer systems, digital imaging and modern diagnostic equipment, lenses thinner, frames lighter, and technology advancing faster than ever. But through every change in focus, Brid remained the constant.
Originally, customers entered the opticians through the pharmacy. Then in 1990, one third of the pharmacy became a dedicated opticians space, complete with its own entrance leading upstairs.
“And we had a beautiful display window on Main Street,” Brid recalled fondly. “It was fabulous.”
Her colleague Derry O’Keeffe joined in August 1977 and is now approaching 50 years himself. Between them, they have nearly a century of combined service anf you might say they’ve kept a very close eye on the town.
But what truly defines Brid’s story isn’t just longevity; it’s loyalty and the impact she has had on those around her.
“Pat was a fantastic employer,” she said warmly. “Bringing up my children, I never missed a school concert, a doctor’s appointment or a parent-teacher meeting. Pat and his wife Helen are family people. They were so kind to me.”
Pat was known for taking students from all over Ireland for six-month placements. But according to Brid, he didn’t just leave them at the front desk.
“He showed them the ropes. He took a real interest in them. He was always forward-thinking and could see the future of the practice.”
What Brid modestly doesn’t say but I am told by those who know is that she herself has helped nurture and train many of today’s finest optical assistants.
With 50 years of experience behind her, she passed on not just practical knowledge, but a way of working: always patient, always kind, always putting the customer first. She is known for remembering everyone’s name from great-grandparents right down to the youngest child choosing their very first pair of glasses. In a profession built on precision, Brid added heart.
In 2018, the business transitioned to independently run Urban Optics on Scott Street. True to his word, Pat researched the changeover thoroughly to ensure every staff member’s job was protected. He remained until 2019 to guarantee the transition was seamless.
Once again, Brid found herself working with another exceptional team — Adrienne, Aisling, Julia, Caoimhe, Derry, Mehrdad, U.G. and Sheila, a group she speaks about with genuine affection.
“I’ve been abundantly lucky,” she told me. “I couldn’t have asked to be better treated.”
Her remarkable 50 years were celebrated recently at The Lane at The Ross Hotel, where colleagues gathered for a night of great food, laughter and chats that stretched into the small hours.
Director Noleen Loughlin travelled from Kildare to attend. Clodagh McGovern sent her good wishes, while in-house directors Sheila O’Sullivan and U.G. Okafor were there on the night. Most special of all, Pat and Helen O’Donoghue joined the celebration a fitting full-circle moment after half a century.
Brid has particular praise for Sheila.
“She’s on par with Pat as employers go. Nothing is ever a problem. She’s kind, helpful and so approachable.”
Now working two days a week, Brid has no plans to hang up her lenses just yet.
“I’ve loved every one of those 50 years. I loved it from the first day I walked through the doors on Main Street and I’ll stay as long as I can.”
Outside of work, her world revolves around family her daughter Sarah and son-in-law Greg, her son John and Laura, and her two adored grandchildren, Aimee and Sam.
In a world where people change jobs as quickly as they change frames, Brid O’Callaghan is a reminder that dedication, kindness and a clear vision still matter.