AMAZING JULIA CELEBRATES 106 YEARS:
SON DONIE CAN’T MAKE IT, FOR FIRST TIME EVER
WHILE last Friday’s birthday party for 106-year-old Millstreet woman Julia Murphy was a joyous celebration, it was not without a tinge of sadness as this was the first time her son, Donie, wasn’t at the celebration.
Due to the restrictions introduced to curtail the spread of Covid-19, Donie, 70, was unable to be with his mother, who’s currently recuperating in Killarney Nursing Home. Instead her carers there helped her celebrate the milestone with a beautiful cake and decorations.
Julia, who’s lived in her parents house at Gortavehy near Millstreet all her life, had a fall at Christmas which led to her spending a few weeks in hospital before being transferred to Killarney Nursing Home.
“She took great care of me always and I owe her everything,” Donie told The Corkman.
“She’s in relatively good health, she’s eating well and she’s being well cared for in the nursing home.
“Of course, it’s sad that we can’t be with her to celebrate her birthday – but we’re really grateful that she’s being so well looked after.”
Donie is also thankful to the team of home carers who visited Julia in her Gortavehy home and her neighbour Sheila McSweeney. “Sheila has always been good to Julia and I’m really thankful,” said Donie.
“Her neighbour Eileen Murphy was there to help too, when Julia fell at Christmas – I want to thank them all.
“I’m also very grateful to my partner,
Winnie O’Connor, who’s always looked after Julia very well – they have great time for each other.”
“The Public Health Nurse, Aileen O’Riordan, has also been a great help.”
Julia was born on April 26, 1914, so she’s outlived Two World -Wars, a revolution ( War of Independence), a civil war, and now two pandemics.
From a young age she worked for farmers in the region and was regarded as a trojan worker, and despite retiring a number of years ago she is known to not rest on her laurels. She follows all the soaps on TV, loves traditional music and Cork hurling and football.
And while w thinks there’s no great secret to her reaching the age of 106, she’s known to favour a hale and hearty diet of bacon and cabbage.