Barbara Clancy celebrates her 105th Christmas

David O'Connell, The Connacht Tribune

It took a full century for Mrs Barbara Clancy to become a celebrity, but at 104 years of age, she is now enjoying her new-found status. This week she was sifting through a pile of Christmas cards from all over the country.

But on Christmas Eve it will be the usual Midnight Mass for one of the country’s oldest citizens who lives at Wellfield Oughterard, with her relations the McDonald’s.

And, come Christmas Day Mrs. Clancy will have the traditional turkey and ham Christmas dinner complete with a glass of wine to wash everything down afterwards.

Then it will be time to ring the relatives in the US and others in Bundoran to wish them a Happy Christmas. It would be an exhausting afternoon for a woman half her age.

“I suppose I’m looking forward to it alright. I’ve got a lot of cards from all over the country and a lot of mass bouquets as well. I just hope now I’ll be able to go to Midnight Mass” she said at home this week.

Born on November 20th, 1883, Barbara still manages to make her way around the house and the surrounding land. And she minds children belong to her grand nieces and nephews the fourth generation she has lived through.

Barbara also gets around to visit her relations. Recently she went back to Roundstone to attend house stations there, and she loves nothing better than to go to her local bar in Oughterard for small brandy.

On her 104th birthday on November 20th, she was guest of honor at a party thrown in the local Boat Inn for her family and friends. She thoroughly enjoyed the night.

Her grandniece Mrs. Mary Rattigan who helps to look after her reckoned she was never in better form. “She loves the small children and never forgets the name she just seems to get better as time goes on”, she said.

This page was added on 07/12/2022.

No Comments

Start the ball rolling by posting a comment on this page!

Add a comment about this page

Your email address will not be published.