Annie looks forward to her 107th year

Albert Einstein was making a name for himself as a talented physicist when Annie Kett (nee Hayes) was born in The Glen, Killaloe, in 1905. 
The former Nobel Physics Prize winner obtained his doctorate in 1905 and during his stay at the Swiss Patent Office produced a lot of his most remarkable work.
On New Year’s Day, Annie Kett will make her own mark as one of the oldest centenarians in the country when she starts her 107th year.
According to her daughter Peggy Courtney, Annie, is the fifth oldest person in the country. Having enjoyed the festive season, Peggy says her mother is in “great form” and looking forward to 2012.
Last month, Annie celebrated her 106th birthday with family and friends. Born on November 1, 1905, in The Glen, Killaloe, Annie lived there with her six brothers and sisters until she went to England in her 20s to do nursing.
Having returned to Clare in 1935, she married John Kett from Kilkishen in 1937. From then on she lived in Kilkishen and loved the house and the farm. She had three children, Pat, John and Peggy.
Well-known Sixmilebridge hurley maker, John Torpey gave her a specially crafted hurley for her 100th birthday.
Her favourite politician was Eamonn de Valera and she used to attend Fianna Fáil meetings to support him.
“There was nobody else like de Valera. He was a good man, an honest man. There hasn’t been a politician since him who went even half way to being as good as him,” she stated.
She never smoked or drank a drop of alcohol during her life.
In an interview with The Clare Champion on the occasion of her 100th birthday, she attributed her long life to being happy and content.
She loved working on the farm in Kilkishen. “It was hard work alright, but it’s what we did and knew and liked doing. In Kilkishen we lived in a little community with other families around us who were either relations or close friends.
“It was like our own little world and things revolved around the day-to-day happenings in our communities. I liked it that way because everyone looked after each other and helped one another. Nowadays, people aren’t interested in getting to know their neighbours. I think it is sad,” she remarked.