Fresh air key to Kathleen's 107 years
Saturday November 07 2009
IT'S the secret to long life -- brisk walks in the countryside and gardening in the fresh air.
At least, that's the recipe Kathleen Murray has followed and as she's still going strong after 107 years, who's to say she's wrong.
Yesterday she was the centre of attention at the HSE West Sacred Heart Home in Roscommon as her extended family, neighbours and staff joined her to celebrate her birthday.
Though still a bit under the weather following a lengthy chest infection, she was in good form and is not on any form of medication.
Kathleen is one of a tiny group of Irish people who have survived after a century. There are believed to be just three others older than her in the country.
A native of Crannagh, Summerhill, Athlone, she was born on November 6, 1902 and grew up in a farming family. She trained as a cook but never married.
Kathleen worked with McNeill's Undertakers and Nayler's Chemist shop in Athlone before going on to finish out her working life as a priest's housekeeper. She retired more than 40 years ago.
Her health has always been good and she clearly thrived on her walking and gardening -- especially in her later years.
She even indulged in cigarettes -- smoking up to 20 a day until she gave them up when she entered the Sacred Heart Home 12 years ago.
Her niece, Teresa Kennedy, was among the many extended family members who travelled to join her in the celebrations.
"She is in good form, but had a little bit of a setback with the chest infection which she picked up in the springtime.
"For her birthday, she has been surrounded by her nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand nephews -- just about everybody from her extended family here in Ireland.
"The staff at the hospital do a great job and she is a credit to the lot of them", said Teresa.
- Brian McDonald
Irish Independent
