Great sadness at passing of Kerry’s oldest woman

ON Friday the 16th of June, Catherine (Kitty) Lenihan (Nee Trant) of Leith, Abbeydorney, went to her eternal reward peacefully at the home of her daughter Bridie McHale. Kitty was predeceased by her husband Ned in 1981, her son Paudeen in 1946, her grandchildren Cathy and Mark Anthony and her sonsin-law Pat and Arthur.

She was born on the 1st of December 1913 and lived to the remarkable age of 103 years and six months and had received three presidential medals from Michael D. Higgins.

She was the oldest woman in Kerry on the date of her death. She had three siblings – sisters BB & Maisie and a brother Johnnie.

Born in Rathscannell, Kitty went to school in Ardrahan owing to Abbeydorney village school being closed because of the activities of the Black and Tans at the time. She did her Primary Certificate in 1928, the first year this exam was held and then went on to the Convent School in Lixnaw.

She went on to train as a radio operator in St Catherine’s College in Limerick where she stayed for some time. At a ‘Fair of The Cross Dance’ in Abbeydorney she met Ned Lenihan and they later married and went on to have eight children – Maura, Jimmy, Anne, Paudeen, Tom, Dan, Gerard, and Bridie. Her children and in turn her grandchildren and great grandchildren became the main source of her joy.

Kitty had a wide circle of friends with whom she kept in touch. She was a renowned letter writer, always sending a few lines whether it was to congratulate or to sympathise.

Her telephone was also a great communication friend. Her great faith, daily Rosary and daily Mass whenever possible sustained her. There was always an open door in her home to friends, neighbours and visitors. Her home was a house of music, song and dance and she often recited and sang and even performed on Radio Kerry and Siamsa Tíre on a number of occasions. She loved her days out with the St Patrick’s Day Care Centre and the Kilflynn / Abbeydorney Care Group and all the activities and social occasions that they organised.

She was gentle, kind, loving and respected by all who knew her. She had a great sense of humour and an innate concern for those less well off than herself.

She was an inspirational and brave woman who found and fulfilled her purpose in life with enthusiasm. She loved her style and always dressed for the occasion. She had radiance about her and a grasp of what was truly important in life and also had an awareness of what mattered.

She had time and a kind word for everyone she came into contact with and her legacy is defined by her family and the great memories she has left behind. She will be remembered as a priceless friend who was always ready to help, to listen and to understand.

After the death of her husband, Kitty became an inveterate traveller, visiting the USA many times, also Rome, San Giovanni, The Holy Land, Lourdes, Medjugorje and Fatima. She was a regular visitor to Knock and had been there only a few weeks before her death.

This remarkable woman lived through the 1916 rising, two World Wars, the Civil War, the Wall Street Crash, the Economic War of the thirties and the massive emigration of the fifties and early sixties but she got on with life and never complained.

Her funeral Mass in St John’s Church, Tralee was a celebration of her life and of giving thanks for her longevity. Fr Tadhg Fitzgerald, Fr Maurice Brick & Fr Willie Stack, Br Maurice and the lovely choir all helped to make it a respectful and joyous occasion to remember.

She was laid to rest beside her husband in Old Rath Cemetery. She is sadly missed by her sons, daughters, her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephew, nieces, son-in-law, daughtersin-law, relatives, neighbours and many friends.

Kitty’s month’s mind mass took place in St John’s Church on Monday, July 24.

The late Kitty Lenihan