Lily Wrigley knew Drummer
A DROGHEDA-born woman who celebrates her 100th birthday on Tuesday next said this week she recalls the day war hero William ‘Drummer’ Kenny called to her Greenhills home after receiving the freedom of the town in 1915, writes NIALL MOONAN.
Lily Wrigley said Victoria Cross recipient Kenny - who rescued five wounded men during the Battle of Ypres in 1914- called to her family home in 1915 wondering why he had received a hero’s welcome on his return to the Boyncsidc.
She was speaking this week from her home in Heywood, Lancashire, where she has been based since 1917, having sailed from the Boyne on The Coleen Bawn. 100 years of age on May 4, she was knitting at her home on Tuesday before delving into her daily crossword and insisting that she wanted ‘no fuss’ to celebrate her remarkable age, which she puts down to all the porridge and fried bread she ate before leaving the Boyneside.
Describing William Kenny as a ‘ lovely man’, Lily remembers him being taken around Drogheda in a horse and cart after receiving the Freedom of Drogheda.
Me called up to see Lily’s mother, and according to Lily, remarked that he did not know what he had done to deserve such an honour.
Eighty-four years later, Lily (formerly McGowan) lives the quiet life with her daughter Maura, and was elated when she read the Drogheda Independent’s coverage of the recent tribute to Kenny by the Gordon Highlanders. Her husband Joe Wrigloy, Maura’s father, is deceased.
Lily has never smoked and takes the very occasional drop of sherry.
‘She doesn’t want any fuss, but there’ll be an open house on the day,’ said Maura