Party time for Mary Kelly at 100th birthday
February 1988
MRS. MARY KELLY, Grangebellew, was in excellent form on Monday afternoon when she celebrated her 100th birthday with a party in St. Marys Hospital, Drogheda. Surrounded by friends and relatives, she cut her birthday cake and reminisced.
Mrs. Kelly was born on February 15, 1888, in Inniskeen, Co. Monaghan. The eldest of her family, she had eight brothers, the youngest of whom Peter McHugh, aged 84, is still living. Due to an accident Peter is now in the Louth County Hospital and was unable to join his sister for the celebrations.
Both Jimmy and Mary liked the quiet life, reading a lot and listening to the radio. Mary attributes her robust good health to the fact that she never smoked or drank and she enjoyed baking her own home made bread.
She and Jimmy both knew the late President of Ireland, Eamon de Valera, and Louth T.D. Frank Aiken. And at Monday afternoon’s party President Hillery’s cheque for £250 was presented to her by Very Rev. J. C. O’Reilly, P.P., St. Mary’s.
Among those present was the Mayor and Lady Mayoress, Tommy and Anna Murphy; former Government Minister, Padraig Faulkner; Mr. Aidan Megennis, representing the North Eastern Health Board; Dr. Gerry Costello, retired; Dr. Joe Cremin, the matron, Mrs. Anne Curtis.