Tag Archives: centenarian

TRIBUTES are being paid in Mountshannon, following the passing of its oldest citizen, Cappaduff’s Pakie Dooley. Pakie turned 100 in February, marking his centenary in the grip of lockdown, and showing characteristic courage and selflessness in enduring the public health restrictions. Pakie’s cousin, Senator Timmy Dooley was among the many people who remembered the centenarian fondly. “He was my father’s first cousin and we lived a few fields away from him,” he recalled. “He was highly regarded as a hard-working man, a great neighbour and always very positive. “He had time for children and you remember that when you’re a kid. He knew every blade of grass and turn of the ditch in his local area.” The Fianna Fail member said his cousin had provided recounted many stories of political events in Clare. “He used to tell me about Dev’s visits and he was a great man to follow news and politics,” Senator Dooley said. “It’s always sad when someone …

THE death of one of the oldest residents along the banks of Lough Derg evoked a great deal of sympathy in the local community. Dora Benson (102) was one of the centenarians living in the twin communities of Ballina and Killaloe. Mary (Dora) Benson, who would have been 103 in October, died peacefully at her home in Ballina surrounded by her loving family recently. Born in Grange, Ballina in 1917, nee Clarke, she attended what was known at the time as the Iron School in Killlaloe, which was subsequently closed due to small numbers so she transferred to Ballina National School. She and her sister were sent to live with an uncle and aunt in Adare so she could attend a Church of Ireland national school. At the age of 15, she returned to Grange to look after her mother who wasn’t well at the time. She continued to look after her mother and work on the farm until she …