Faith Amond’s aunt Olive, who is 87, has an oft-quoted saying about her niece: “You wouldn’t know where night would fall on her”. It was something her grandmother said many times too. While it didn’t make much sense in her younger years, the Carlow woman jokes that she now realises what they meant. She could be anywhere today or tomorrow.
That boundless energy and joie de vivre makes the renowned milliner a perfect choice to be the Age Friendly Carlow Ambassador, a role she says has been a “great honour” to hold for the last two years.
Earlier this summer, Faith joined her fellow Age Friendly Ambassadors to promote the message that emotional, mental and physical health needs to be centre stage in how Ireland supports and celebrates ageing into the future.
It’s a hugely important topic when you consider that the over-65 population is expected to double in Ireland by 2050, according to Age Friendly Ireland.
Speaking from her home in Milford, the racing fan and doyenne of racecourse fashion, says she is thrilled to get behind the positive ageing campaign.
“You’d be amazed at the amount of things that are on in Carlow alone that people don’t know about. So, when I’m out and about, I’m trying to encourage people to contact the county council office to get the details and become a member of the Older People’s Council. That way they will be advised of age-friendly events, groups, etc, to get involved in.”
For Faith, who will be 73 on her next birthday, staying as independent and active as possible is paramount. While she acknowledges for some it can sometimes be easier to stay at home than head out, she encourages older people to push themselves to socialise and get involved in their local community, which is so beneficial.
That said, the style maven believes society needs to be more inclusive in finding ways to ensure older people who are not social media or internet savvy or don’t have a smartphone or credit card are not “cut off” or left “more isolated”.
“I’ve said it over and over again; unfortunately, a lot of people my age and older are still not able to use social media, and everything is on social media. I feel that a lot of people are losing out.”
Faith says that one man she knew loved going to football matches – it was his only outing, but his nephew had to go and sort an online ticket for him.
She discovered this type of issue herself recently, when she had difficulty paying for parking. While a wonderful young person helped her out, not everyone is going to approach a stranger to ask for assistance or has family members to help.
Renowned milliner and stylist Faith Amond pictured at Slane Castle for the inaugural Age Friendly Ambassadors’ Day earlier this summer.
“I’d be able to work most things, but some have got very complicated. I don’t know what the answer is, but I do think it’s a big issue for older people,” she tells Irish Country Living. “Not every older person even has a credit card or whatever it may be. I think that is where people are being left behind – because it is easier to stay at home than to go through all this hassle to go somewhere.”
Loneliness is a terrible thing, Faith continues, and in many cases, people are just craving interaction, especially in rural areas. “A lot of people are cut off, and what I would say to people is be generous with your time. I go down to see my aunt who is in a nursing home.
“If you go visit someone and you bring them a box of chocolates, they would prefer you to sit down and have a catch up, rather than keep the chocolates. People just love a chat.
“My husband Ally says I could go down for a pint of milk; I’d go in the morning and be back by lunchtime,” she says, laughing. “It could be three hours because you stop and have a chat.
Pictured at Slane Castle for the inaugural Age Friendly Ambassadors’ Day are [L-R] Kieran Kehoe, Chief Executive, Meath County Council; a representative from Meath County Council; Rachel Duffy, former Rose Of Tralee winner and Westmeath Age Friendly Ambassador; Mike Hanrahan, member of Stockton's Wing and Clare Age Friendly Ambassador; John Lonergan, former Governor of Mountjoy and Age Friendly Tipperary Ambassador; Moya Brennan, lead singer of Clannad and Age Friendly Donegal Ambassador; Sr Maureen Lally, Mayo Age Friendly Ambassador; Ann Cusack, hotelier, community advocate and Waterford Age Friendly Ambassador; Faith Amond, renowned stylist, milliner and Age Friendly Carlow Ambassador; Francis Brennan, television personality, former hotelier and Age Friendly Kerry Ambassador; Catherine McGuigan, Chief Officer, Age Friendly Ireland; Anna May McHugh, Managing Director of the National Ploughing Association and Laois Age Friendly Ambassador; Geraldine Plunkett, renowned actor and Dublin City Age Friendly Ambassador; Seamus McDermott, Age Friendly Ambassador, Monaghan; Tony Dempsey, former Wexford hurling manager and Wexford Age Friendly Ambassador, Declan Nerney, musician and former Longford Age Friendly Ambassador; Paddy Joe Burke, Roscommon superfan and Age Friendly Ambassador.
Advice for ageing well
When asked for advice on ageing well, her message is clear: “The one thing I would say is to try and keep active. Thank God, I’m healthy. Look, I had cancer 20 years ago, and I think in actual fact when you go through anything [like that] and come out the other end, it does make you appreciate everything an awful lot more every day,” Faith believes.
“If you’re not active, your limbs will seize up very fast. I’m 73 on my next birthday, and I was just thinking there a few minutes ago that thank God I don’t feel any different to when I was 23.”
On the cusp of celebrating 50 years of marriage, Faith also feels very lucky to be enjoying life with five grandchildren from ages three to seven keeping her on her toes. “It’s great to be able to say that, but look, every day is a new day, and I don’t take anything for granted.”
A transport manager in a meat company for 36 years, her life changed in 2004 when she got a breast cancer diagnosis. In the same year the business closed.
Style icon and milliner Faith Amond pictured in the grounds of the Lord Bagenal Inn in Leighlinstown, Co Carlow. \ Patrick Browne
After undergoing chemotherapy for a year, she was lucky enough to come out the other side and decided it was the time to pursue her other big passion – fashion and headed to London to do millinery.
“I was always making clothes, knitting and crocheting from an early age, so I suppose I was always able to do it.
“It was the only way you got money years ago or if you wanted a new outfit. I’m going back 50 odd years or more, gosh,” she explains, somewhat startled at the thought.
Faith later set up her business from home, offering her hats for hire and outfit styling, something she absolutely loves to this day. Her main nugget of fashion advice is to dress to suit yourself, not current trends, and always be comfortable.
“It’s trial and error, I would say,” of styling. “There’s nothing magic about it – you have to look, try on this, try on that shoe and try different shapes. When that’s all put together, the person will look and say, ‘Gosh, I really like that.’
Pretty in pink! Stylist and milliner Faith Amond is the doyenne of racecourse fashion. \ Patrick Browne
“I can help people put it together and push the boundaries, but only push them to where they are comfortable.”
Faith describes her own style as “classic with a twist” and while she says black and cream make up 90% of her wardrobe, the other 10% is vibrant colour.
“The basics are the basics, and they are like bread and butter. You buy your good basics, and you’ll always have your outfits,” she explains. “I have won the Best Dressed in my 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s. I could be in the Guinness Book of Records,” Faith adds, chuckling heartily as she chats. “Ah sure. I love it.”
Unlike many, Faith doesn’t feel invisible or that fashion is very youth-focused, even though she’s up against people perhaps 50 years younger.
“I never felt different in any way. It’s really your own attitude – if you’re comfortable with what you’re wearing, you feel confident,” she says prior to the Galway Races last week, where she was a finalist in the Best Dressed Lady. Her son Niall – who plays a pivotal role in the yard of Emmett Mullins – also had a successful week in Galway.
Faith’s advice to others participating in the summer’s style competitions, including this weekend’s Dublin Horse Show, is to enjoy yourself and not to overthink it.
“When I was going through chemo and I had a wig, I’d put on the hat, and say, ‘If the wind comes and the hat goes, it’ll all be gone in one go,’ she laughs. “But do you know what? What about it? Nothing like that would worry me too much now.”
See agefriendlyireland.ie or @faith.amond on Instagram
Faith Amond’s aunt Olive, who is 87, has an oft-quoted saying about her niece: “You wouldn’t know where night would fall on her”. It was something her grandmother said many times too. While it didn’t make much sense in her younger years, the Carlow woman jokes that she now realises what they meant. She could be anywhere today or tomorrow.
That boundless energy and joie de vivre makes the renowned milliner a perfect choice to be the Age Friendly Carlow Ambassador, a role she says has been a “great honour” to hold for the last two years.
Earlier this summer, Faith joined her fellow Age Friendly Ambassadors to promote the message that emotional, mental and physical health needs to be centre stage in how Ireland supports and celebrates ageing into the future.
It’s a hugely important topic when you consider that the over-65 population is expected to double in Ireland by 2050, according to Age Friendly Ireland.
Speaking from her home in Milford, the racing fan and doyenne of racecourse fashion, says she is thrilled to get behind the positive ageing campaign.
“You’d be amazed at the amount of things that are on in Carlow alone that people don’t know about. So, when I’m out and about, I’m trying to encourage people to contact the county council office to get the details and become a member of the Older People’s Council. That way they will be advised of age-friendly events, groups, etc, to get involved in.”
For Faith, who will be 73 on her next birthday, staying as independent and active as possible is paramount. While she acknowledges for some it can sometimes be easier to stay at home than head out, she encourages older people to push themselves to socialise and get involved in their local community, which is so beneficial.
That said, the style maven believes society needs to be more inclusive in finding ways to ensure older people who are not social media or internet savvy or don’t have a smartphone or credit card are not “cut off” or left “more isolated”.
“I’ve said it over and over again; unfortunately, a lot of people my age and older are still not able to use social media, and everything is on social media. I feel that a lot of people are losing out.”
Faith says that one man she knew loved going to football matches – it was his only outing, but his nephew had to go and sort an online ticket for him.
She discovered this type of issue herself recently, when she had difficulty paying for parking. While a wonderful young person helped her out, not everyone is going to approach a stranger to ask for assistance or has family members to help.
Renowned milliner and stylist Faith Amond pictured at Slane Castle for the inaugural Age Friendly Ambassadors’ Day earlier this summer.
“I’d be able to work most things, but some have got very complicated. I don’t know what the answer is, but I do think it’s a big issue for older people,” she tells Irish Country Living. “Not every older person even has a credit card or whatever it may be. I think that is where people are being left behind – because it is easier to stay at home than to go through all this hassle to go somewhere.”
Loneliness is a terrible thing, Faith continues, and in many cases, people are just craving interaction, especially in rural areas. “A lot of people are cut off, and what I would say to people is be generous with your time. I go down to see my aunt who is in a nursing home.
“If you go visit someone and you bring them a box of chocolates, they would prefer you to sit down and have a catch up, rather than keep the chocolates. People just love a chat.
“My husband Ally says I could go down for a pint of milk; I’d go in the morning and be back by lunchtime,” she says, laughing. “It could be three hours because you stop and have a chat.
Pictured at Slane Castle for the inaugural Age Friendly Ambassadors’ Day are [L-R] Kieran Kehoe, Chief Executive, Meath County Council; a representative from Meath County Council; Rachel Duffy, former Rose Of Tralee winner and Westmeath Age Friendly Ambassador; Mike Hanrahan, member of Stockton's Wing and Clare Age Friendly Ambassador; John Lonergan, former Governor of Mountjoy and Age Friendly Tipperary Ambassador; Moya Brennan, lead singer of Clannad and Age Friendly Donegal Ambassador; Sr Maureen Lally, Mayo Age Friendly Ambassador; Ann Cusack, hotelier, community advocate and Waterford Age Friendly Ambassador; Faith Amond, renowned stylist, milliner and Age Friendly Carlow Ambassador; Francis Brennan, television personality, former hotelier and Age Friendly Kerry Ambassador; Catherine McGuigan, Chief Officer, Age Friendly Ireland; Anna May McHugh, Managing Director of the National Ploughing Association and Laois Age Friendly Ambassador; Geraldine Plunkett, renowned actor and Dublin City Age Friendly Ambassador; Seamus McDermott, Age Friendly Ambassador, Monaghan; Tony Dempsey, former Wexford hurling manager and Wexford Age Friendly Ambassador, Declan Nerney, musician and former Longford Age Friendly Ambassador; Paddy Joe Burke, Roscommon superfan and Age Friendly Ambassador.
Advice for ageing well
When asked for advice on ageing well, her message is clear: “The one thing I would say is to try and keep active. Thank God, I’m healthy. Look, I had cancer 20 years ago, and I think in actual fact when you go through anything [like that] and come out the other end, it does make you appreciate everything an awful lot more every day,” Faith believes.
“If you’re not active, your limbs will seize up very fast. I’m 73 on my next birthday, and I was just thinking there a few minutes ago that thank God I don’t feel any different to when I was 23.”
On the cusp of celebrating 50 years of marriage, Faith also feels very lucky to be enjoying life with five grandchildren from ages three to seven keeping her on her toes. “It’s great to be able to say that, but look, every day is a new day, and I don’t take anything for granted.”
A transport manager in a meat company for 36 years, her life changed in 2004 when she got a breast cancer diagnosis. In the same year the business closed.
Style icon and milliner Faith Amond pictured in the grounds of the Lord Bagenal Inn in Leighlinstown, Co Carlow. \ Patrick Browne
After undergoing chemotherapy for a year, she was lucky enough to come out the other side and decided it was the time to pursue her other big passion – fashion and headed to London to do millinery.
“I was always making clothes, knitting and crocheting from an early age, so I suppose I was always able to do it.
“It was the only way you got money years ago or if you wanted a new outfit. I’m going back 50 odd years or more, gosh,” she explains, somewhat startled at the thought.
Faith later set up her business from home, offering her hats for hire and outfit styling, something she absolutely loves to this day. Her main nugget of fashion advice is to dress to suit yourself, not current trends, and always be comfortable.
“It’s trial and error, I would say,” of styling. “There’s nothing magic about it – you have to look, try on this, try on that shoe and try different shapes. When that’s all put together, the person will look and say, ‘Gosh, I really like that.’
Pretty in pink! Stylist and milliner Faith Amond is the doyenne of racecourse fashion. \ Patrick Browne
“I can help people put it together and push the boundaries, but only push them to where they are comfortable.”
Faith describes her own style as “classic with a twist” and while she says black and cream make up 90% of her wardrobe, the other 10% is vibrant colour.
“The basics are the basics, and they are like bread and butter. You buy your good basics, and you’ll always have your outfits,” she explains. “I have won the Best Dressed in my 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s. I could be in the Guinness Book of Records,” Faith adds, chuckling heartily as she chats. “Ah sure. I love it.”
Unlike many, Faith doesn’t feel invisible or that fashion is very youth-focused, even though she’s up against people perhaps 50 years younger.
“I never felt different in any way. It’s really your own attitude – if you’re comfortable with what you’re wearing, you feel confident,” she says prior to the Galway Races last week, where she was a finalist in the Best Dressed Lady. Her son Niall – who plays a pivotal role in the yard of Emmett Mullins – also had a successful week in Galway.
Faith’s advice to others participating in the summer’s style competitions, including this weekend’s Dublin Horse Show, is to enjoy yourself and not to overthink it.
“When I was going through chemo and I had a wig, I’d put on the hat, and say, ‘If the wind comes and the hat goes, it’ll all be gone in one go,’ she laughs. “But do you know what? What about it? Nothing like that would worry me too much now.”
See agefriendlyireland.ie or @faith.amond on Instagram
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