The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
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 …
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