Steeplejack bids to climb literary ladder

AN award-winning Ardnacrusha-based retired steeplejack is bidding to climb the literary ladder by writing a new autobiography on her extraordinary 32-year career.
Dr Angela Collins, nee O’Mahony, has successfully recovered from colon cancer in 2009 and from three blocked arteries to start chronicling her life and times scaling the heights of numerous buildings. They include cathedrals in Ennis, Limerick and Ringsend, Dublin.
The 70-year-old, who has already written about 500 pages of material, hopes to finish the arduous task of condensing all her great tales and experiences into a book by the end of this year. Securing a publisher will be the next job once she is satisfied she has done justice to what she believes is a classic “rags to riches” story.
Born in Kilkishen, Angela made history in 1960 by becoming the first female steeplejack in the country at the age of 16. She started scaling buildings as a secretary to deliver materials and messages and continued until her retirement in 1992.
Collins Steeplejack and Partners, which is based in Ardnacrusha, is now being run by her son John O’Mahony Junior and her daughter, Susan Lynch. The firm is also registered as heritage contractors with the CIF.
During the height of her career, she was fortunate to meet with a company from Boston, USA, looking to build a radom, a protective structure for antennae communications systems. These radoms look like a giant golf ball, an example being the one behind the Radisson Hotel on the Cratloe Hills.
Agreement was reached between the two parties to set up a new company on Angela’s farm in Kilkishen, Essco Collins Limited, in 1976, which subsequently became L-3Communications Essco Collins Limited. The company manufactured radoms that were shipped and installed by Collins Steeplejack throughout the world.
Angela has travelled the world on various job assignments including the UK, US, Australia and Hong Kong and has met several famous people including John F Kennedy’s sister Jean Kennedy-Smith, when she was awarded an honorary doctorate.
The company’s meteoric rise was officially recognised in 1980 when Angela became the first Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin businesswoman of the year and six years later, scooped Ir£5,000 for the Bowmaker Award for Irish industry – a prize she distributed between the staff of the two companies. In 1992, she received an honorary doctorate from HETAC, the governing body for all third-level institutions, excluding universities.
Back in the late ’60s, Angela had already become a household name featuring on The Late Late Show in 1968. This provided the platform for several appearances in national and local media including RTÉ’s Nationwide and regular extensive features in The Clare Champion.
While many people would bawk at the idea of climbing to the top of a cathedral, it never bothered Angela.
“As a secretary, I started bringing messages and materials to steeplejacks. It is next to impossible to get a steeplejack’s attention on the ground, so I just went up to them.
“Climbing heights never bothered me and, thankfully, I never had an accident or fall. I didn’t even notice it, it just came naturally to me.
“Technology has made the job much easier today. When I started there was no such thing as mobile phones. I might have gone to Donegal and when I arrived back, I could be told to go back up to Sligo.
“I am writing this book because I am hoping to make some money in the midst of a recession. However, I also hope it be educational and inspiring for the next new breed of Irish entrepreneurs. I believe my ‘rags to riches’ story will be interesting for people to read,” she explains.
Having previously resided in Clonlara, Angela has been living in Ardnacrusha since 1990. What was once a thriving business has been hit by the dramatic slump in construction-related industry.
“Some firms can’t even afford to do the small maintenance jobs now, which is a real pity. A small leak today can turn into a big job tomorrow,” she warned.