Celebrations as county’s oldest resident marks 106th birthday
LIZZIE BYRNE FROM FERNS IS NOW THE THIRD OLDEST PERSON IN THE COUNTRY
THERE were big celebrations for a big birthday in Ferns recently as County Wexford’s oldest resident celebrated her 106th birthday! Lizzie Byrne was surrounded by family and friends as she blew out the candles on her birthday cake at her home in Castlelands, Ferns. Remarkably fresh looking for her years, Lizzie is now believed to be the third oldest person in Ireland, but she still has all her faculties about her and she was delighted to chat away to friends and family on her special day.
Born Elizabeth Keyes back in 1912, Lizzie was reared on Station Road before she settled down with her husband James Byrne following their marriage in 1944. Sadly, James died back in 1975, but Lizzie is still going strong 43 years after his passing.
It’s incredible to think of some of the changes that Lizzie would have seen over the course of her life. For example, while a lot of column inches were devoted to the presidential election recently, Lizzie would have been 25 years old when the very first President of Ireland, Douglas Hyde, took office. She would have been a toddler of three years old when volun- teers took over the Athenaeum in nearby Enniscorthy. She has lived from a time when Irish homes had no electricity, to being able to make video calls with relatives abroad via Skype!
Lizzie believes she owes her longevity to her active lifestyle, having worked minding children and doing housework up until she was 84. Also a drop of sherry does no harm! She loves to keep up to date with current events and still loves picking up the papers for a good read!
Lizzie had a great time marking the landmark birthday and was delighted to be surrounded by family and friends as she blew out the candles on her birthday cake.