Teasie’s100this agreatnight
DANCED THE NIGHT AWAY AND THEN MADE SPEECH!
IT WAS a very special weekend for Teasie Tiernan (nee Howard) who marked her 100th birthday in style.
Teasie was born in September 1917 in Mooretown, Ardcath, Co. Meath. She was the youngest member of the Howard family and is now the last surviving member of that same family, having had four sisters and three brothers. She grew up in the family home in Mooretown and lived a normal happy life.
In 1939 she married Bill Tierney from Primatestown, Ashbourne and they settled down to married life in Garristown in North County Dublin. They raised eight children, six of whom are still living, Maureen, Packie, Delia, Tess, Eithne and Liam. Peggy died in 2004 aged 57 years and Kathleen at one year and 10 months. Teasie’s family has since extended to 16 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren and it’s interesting to note that her own Mother (Julia Howard) lived to be 91 years of age.
Rearing children in the 1940’s and 1950’s, Teasie would explain that times were very tough back then and not only rearing a large family they managed to subsidise their weekly income by running a lucrative Market Garden business, growing and selling Gooseberries, Raspberries and Strawberries etc.
In 1978, Teasie’s husband (Bill) sadly died at the relatively young age of 67. She remained in her family home in Garristown for a further six years and in 1984 she moved up to Ashbourne where she still lives, very close to some of her family members.
Teasie lived a very healthy life, and when asked for her recipe for a long life she would quickly state that being a non-drinker, non-smoker, plain food, exercise and plenty of hard work plus a deep love for music and a regular sing-song, which was always present in the Tierney household and indeed still is by her family members.
She would readily admit that moving to Ashbourne was the right decision for her with some family members nearby and all amenities on her door-step. In later years her everyday existence was greatly enhanced by getting involved in the Senior Citizens Group and she would always happily inform family and friends that ‘ Ireland is a great country for Senior Citizens’. Being so involved, kept Teasie young and alive and so very happy, making life-time friends.
The Tierney family would like to acknowledge and thank the Ashbourne Senior Citizens Group for the excellent care and kindness given to their mother. A special mention was reserved also for her Home-Help HSE Ladies, Geraldine and Mary.
The celebrations started off in the Coolquoy Lodge, outside Ashbourne with a Mass celebrated by Fr. Derek Darby, followed by a meal.
Later the dancing began with music and songs provided by Liam Tierney, son of Teasie’s, along with Packie & Carmel’s daughter Siobhan, plus a lot of other singers who joined in. There was a short interval when her great-granddaughter, Niam McGuinness (Duleek) took to the floor and delighted all present with some fantastic Irish dancing. This went down a treat.
Finally, with Teasie spending a lot of the night out dancing, she concluded with a little speech, thanking her family for the great night.