It’s all about love for Nora

Reading a good love story is one of the many things that keeps 103-year-old Nora Canavan feeling young at heart. Maeve Binchy and Danielle Steele are her favourite authors.
Nora has memories of significant historical events in the North Clare area too and has not forgotten the day that IRA freedom fighters ambushed the Black and Tans during the bloody War of Independence.
The Doolin-based centenarian, who has enjoyed exceptional good health, remembers the day 56 IRA men from the Active Service Unit of the Mid-Clare Brigade tried to destroy three lorries of British military and police during the Monreel Ambush.
Nora, who was just 12 at the time, was on her way to Furglan National School on December 18, 1920 when she saw the IRA men carrying rifles, shotguns and grenades taking cover from the plentiful supply of heather and moss as well as the stone walls on either side of the road.
Wisely, Nora opted not to stay around and watch the action as it didn’t interest her and she just wanted to get to school.
The IRA men were shocked to learn that there were three instead of two lorries making the daily routine trips between Ennis and Ennistymon that day, yet they still proceeded with what proved to be a far more dangerous and risky military operation
The injured were treated by Dr Hillery of Miltown Malbay, Dr Peterson of Lisdoonvarna and Dr Hayes of Kilmaley.
A campaign of widespread reprisal was launched after the Monreal Ambush. Unlike the aftermath of Rineen, however, nobody was killed and few were injured, but like Rineen a lot of hay and furniture were damaged.
Still hale and hearty, 103-year-old Nora, who was honoured at the recent Lisdoonvarna Parish People of the Year awards in the local pavillion, hasn’t lost her sense of humour or turn of phrase.
“If I knew you were coming, I would have locked the front door on your,” she jokes with a wicked smile.
Blessed with seven children, Seán, Breda, Stephen, Maura, Micheál, Noel and Noreen; 10 grandchildren and great grandchildren, Nora still keeps in close touch with all the extended family by knitting jumpers, hats and scarves.
If she has any secret for her longevity, she isn’t disclosing it. Various different theories have been suggested, yet Nora insists modestly, she doesn’t know how she has lived to see the inauguration of nine Presidents of Ireland.
Some relatives insist it may be in her blood as her aunt Mrs Marrinan, (nee Mullins) lived to 107. However, her daughter-in-law, Marie points out Nora is predeceased by her own two sisters, her son, Seán and daughter, Noreen.
Others believe the fact she didn’t drink or smoke during her life must have been a help. Regardless of what the real reason may be, everyone marvels at her great health.
Apart from two hip operations, she has never been treated in hospital for any significant health condition or ailment.
Her first hip operation was completely successfully in Croom Orthopaedic Hospital in County Limerick when she was in her early eighties. Doctors were very reluctant to put her through another operation to replace her second about 10 years later when she was in her early nineties. Their understandable caution proved to be misplaced as she sailed through the second operation with flying colours.
She holds former President Mary McAleese in very high regard and believes she had had a very good manner in public and represented Ireland very well during State occasions at home and abroad. She notes the current President, Michael D Higgins is only starting his presidency and recalls seeing the previous President, Mary Robinson at various different events on the television.
Pride of place in her son’s home in St Catherine’s, Doolin is the special papal blessing from Pope Benedict to commemorate her 100th birthday on March 9, 2008.
The framed blessing is given a prominent position in her bedroom and almost four years later is still a great source of pride and delight.
Born in Monreal, about three miles from Ennistymon, she had to stay at home and work on the farm with her parents, Maurice Mullins and Mary Shannon. She remembers milking their herd of about 20 friesian cows by hand until the advent of milking machines.
On January 22, 1928, she married a farmer, Stephen Canavan from Liscannor. His parents died within a short space of one another and they had to live with his uncle in Sandfield, Lahinch.
Even though money was relatively scarce in the thirties, Nora insists she didn’t find it hard raising such a large family at the time.
When Stephen got ill, his son Micheál had to come home from England in the early ’60s and took over the dairy herd in St Catherine’s and subsequently got out of dairying and opted instead for a suckler herd.
Nora, who has spent about 37 years living in St Catherine’s, about a mile from Doolin Church, wasn’t sorry to see the end of the creamery.
She recalled there was a lot of pressure trying to ensure that all the cows were milked early in the morning to ensure the milk got to the creamery in time. This necessitated getting up at 6am even on Sunday mornings.
Knitting and gardening are her two main hobbies. She still finds knitting very relaxing and loves creating a new garment for her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Growing a wide variety of flowers such as dalias, roses and pansies in the garden also gave her great pleasure.