The smile guiding children to safety at St Mary's NS
Local woman Aymie Cookland is a crossing warden for St Mary's National School in the heart of Athlone town.
In Athlone, people like Aymie quietly shape daily life. They ask for little recognition, but their impact is felt in every safe step children take across the street, and in every friendly greeting that helps make the town a little brighter.
Having taken up the role six years ago, she has become a vital part of the school ecosystem, ensuring children from Junior Infants to Sixth Class arrive safely at school each day, and begin their journey home with ease.
"We do three shifts: the mornings until 9.30am, at 2pm for the juniors, and then at 3pm for the seniors," Aymie said.
"I love the job, what I enjoy the most is greeting the children and parents in the mornings with a smile and a little chat to hopefully brighten up their day."
When asked what her favourite part of the job is, Aymie said it was the community aspect.
“You do play a vital role in the community, and it’s nice to feel that you’re bringing that benefit,” she said.
Something Aymie feels the public don't know about the role of crossing wardens is the extensive training involved in the role.
"We do extensive training we have in relation to child safety. There’s manual handling, child safety, of course, road safety," she said.
"Westmeath County Council are lovely people to work for, and the training they provide is second to none."
Despite her love of the job, Aymie says there are challenges that come with the role, as motorists have become noticeably less patient in recent years.
"In the short time I have been doing this work, in my opinion, the public have changed. There seems to be less patience with some motorists, and sometimes you can get people quite irrate.
"I have had coffee thrown at me from passing cars that don't like to be stopped, I have had people follow me to my car when I have finished my shift to confront me, or in some cases having to move the child while they are crossing because a motorist will drive right through without stopping.
"It would be a regular enough occurrence that people would get annoyed. It’s the times we’re living in, people are working two or three jobs just to get by. Life isn’t 'nine to five' anymore, and you have to understand people are stressed."
"Crossing wardens play an important role in every community, not only in relation to safety, but also having a warm smile and a little chat to brighten up the day," Aymie added.
“You build relationships with the children and the parents. It’s quite nice, you see the kids grow up. It's a short time for us, but it’s a lifetime for them."