Geevagh native Rita Lavin celebrates 100th birthday
THERE was celebrations in Geevagh recently as much loved local Rita Lavin turned 100 years of age.
The station area of Creevagh- Corrigeenboy, along with her family are immensely proud of Rita’s longevity and celebrated in style.
Rita was born on the 15 th of March 1918 to Tom and Teresa Brennan. She was christened Margaret Mary Patricia and became affectionately known as Rita. She is the sole survivor of her family. She had one sister, Josephine and one brother, Tommy. She lived in Corrigeenboy with her family, a noted house for rambling, card games and music sessions.
She moved to Creevagh following her marriage to Tommy John Lavin on the 28th of June 1943. She gave birth to seven fabulous children, namely Tommy, Michael, Dolores, Angela, Pauline, Christina and Austin. She is now a proud Grandmother of eleven grandchildren and has taught them the importance of education, family and having a good laugh. ( Waving her finger at them to ensure the message was received loud and clear!)
She was very busy all her life, caring for her family, working on the farm and keeping a very clean and tidy house. She was also famous for cycling; Boyle and Sligo were no challenges for Rita.
She even mastered these routes in her late seventies. She loves animals and always kept her own notes to keep the men on their toes-especially around calving season! Her family believe that Rita prompted the Department of Agriculture to introduce animal registers and records.
When Rita’s daily chores were completed, she took some time out to devote the late hours of the evening to prayer time. She prayed for up to three hours every night. She had an outstanding collection of prayers from her numerous trips to Knock, Lourdes, Lough Derg and Tobernalt. Indeed, Rita successfully finished her pilgrimage to Lough Derg at 88 years of age in her bare feet, putting some of the younger generation to shame.
She always supported many Catholic Volunteer organisations. She wrote to many charities across the waters. It was this love for writing and sending her good wishes that reconnected the family with her American relations some forty plus years later.
Rita is a true inspiration to her family and friends, and remarked her longevity is “down to good genes, hard work, spending quality time with friends and family and lastly her profound faith”. These good genes are sweeping Creevagh locals by storm, with many of them weathering the storm in close competition with Rita. There must be something healthy in the fresh air and the waters of Lough Skéan. The history books will make for very interesting reading in the near future.
As a Centenarian, Rita has lived through many significant events in world history. Rita has lived through two world wars, the creation of the Irish Free State, Ireland becoming a member of the United Nations in 1955 and joining the EEC in 1973. She has lived through many recessions and even the odd boom. She read all about the troubles and the implementation of the Peace Process. She was on the pig’s back when Pope John Paul visited Ireland in 1979 and of course she was in the middle of all the excitement in her beloved Knock Basilica. Rita witnessed Mary Robinson becoming the first female President of Ireland in 1990. Rita also saw the introduction of the euro in 2002 but she adapted well and nothing was a challenge to her!
Here’s wishing Rita a very happy birthday. 100 years young and beautiful!