One of island’s oldest resident, Johanna, marks 101st birthday

CONGRATULATIONS to Valentia Island’s most senior resident, Johanna Griffin (née O’Connell), of the Cable Station in Knightstown, originally from Kilkeveragh in Portmagee, and who was 101 on Thursday, January 11.

She now joins Noreen Cassidy (née Mawe) - the most senior of all Valentia Islanders, of Dublin and originally the School Road, Knightstown who turned 101 on October 6, 2017.

Johanna’s husband, Tom Griffin, a native of Ballinlough in County Roscommon, passed away in 2000. Her father, Patrick O’Connell, came from Foilmore and her mother was Hanorah Foley of Kilkeveragh.

A brother, John, died at the age of 17, and she also had a sister Mollie, who passed away aged 88 in 2003.

Johanna emigrated to England in 1942, going to Manchester. Having married in England, she and her husband Tom left there for the USA in 1953, to settle in New York. They returned in 1980 to reside at the Cable Station.

On turning 100, she received the Presidential Cheque and humorously stated that she intended receiving for quite a while the Presidential Coin token which follows each yearly milestone from that onwards.

We are glad to mark her first Presidential coin this year. All in Valentia Island and Iveragh congratulate her and extend all good future wishes. Bean shlaintiúil faoi leith atá ann agus go maire sí na blianta

Johanna Griffin of The Cable Station, Knightstown, who celebrated her 101st birthday on Thursday, January 11.