Sherry and cream proves Kathleen’s (100) secret
A TAGOAT woman celebrated her 100th birthday at the weekend, the county’s second new centenarian in the space of a week.
Born in 1917 in Ballygary, Tagoat, to Michael and Bridget Doyle, Kathleen Whelan is one of nine children.
Three of her siblings are still living, Laurence, in Australia, is aged 94, Donald, in Cork, is in his 90th year and Nora, in Canada, is 92.
Kathleen attributes her long life to cream, not milk in her tea, and a glass of sherry most days.
More than 35 members of Kathleen’s extended family attended her birthday party, including her five grand daughters Marion, Lisa, Hazel, Breda and Alana, who travelled from Cheltenham.
Kathleen received her early education with the nuns in Rosslare Strand and went on to marry the late Jim Whelan, of Woodtown, Rosslare, where they lived for many years.
They had two children, Liam and Rose, both of whom are sadly deceased. Kathleen has five beautiful granddaughters and her daughter-in-law Marion who all live in Cheltenham with their families.
Kathleen is a keen card player and still enjoys her game to the present day, her all-time favourite game is 45, at which she is always very competitive.
Kathleen was a hard-working lady all her life. She worked for many years in Cheltenham and only came back to retire to her native Tagoat in 1970, where she and her late sister Bridie enjoyed many social outings together. They went on many trips with the Joe O’Brien tours over the years of which Killarney would have been her all-time favourite.
Kathleen has spent the last few years in the care of Lawson House Nursing Home, where she is looked after like a queen.
Last week, Sr Raphael at the Adoration Convent in Wexford celebrated her 100th birthday with her fellow sisters at the convent.