Weekend of celebrations for Crusheen family

THERE were double celebrations for the Keehan family of Crusheen last weekend as baby Éabha was christened and her great-grandmother Bridget celebrated her 100th birthday.
Bridget was surrounded by family at the celebrations on Saturday at the Páirc na Coille Retirement Village in Ennis, where she now lives.
Bridget actually turned 100 on Monday, according to her son Sean. “She was born on November 14 1911 in Killian, Barefield and she had a twin brother, Donal.
“She was born Bridget but she became known as Babs and her own mother died in 1919. After that, herself and Donal were brought out to Crusheen, where they were looked after by an aunt and uncle. She went to school in Crusheen and she married back in 1946. Her husband, Michael, my father, died in 1973 and her son, Donal was drowned in 1975.”
As well as her sons, Sean, Gerry and Donal, Bridget has five grandchildren, Denise, Michael, Elaine, Brendan and Sandra, while she has three great-grandchildren, Oran, Yasmin, new arrival Éabha, along with nieces and nephews.
Bridget was one of eight children and is the last one surviving, with her twin dying just five years ago.
The amount of changes that his mother has seen are phenomenal, said Sean. “She was born a British citizen, was alive through two world wars, the War of Independence and the Civil War, several recessions and an economic war.”
He said the celebrations were very enjoyable. “It was a great day. Dessie Mulkere and Willie Dooley provided the music and it was very good.” He also paid tribute to the staff at Páirc na Coille for their work.
Bridget’s grandson, Michael and his wife, Louise celebrated the birth of their first child, Éabha, last month. Michael said Bridget was very good to himself and all his siblings.
“We were all her children in a sense. When we’d come home from school she’d feed us and look after us. That was up to Sandra finishing school about eight years ago.”
He said she was very active throughout her life. “She liked homemade bread and making jam. She was never a drinking woman but she was partial to a glass of Baileys now and again.
“Up to 10 years ago she’d have been out forking silage. She was very active throughout her life as regards farming. If there was a cow calving she’d be the first person out to tell everyone about it. Until two years ago, she’d still have been doing different things around the house.”
He said the family had a very enjoyable weekend. “Éabha was born on the ninth of the tenth, 2011 and we said we’d have the two celebrations on the same weekend so family members who are away would be there. My brother, Brendan came from England, with his daughter but his partner, Danielle couldn’t come as she is expecting their second child. My sister, Denise came from Kilkenny with her fiancée, Eoin.
“We had a great day at the christening in Shanaglish. It was a quiet family affair and people kept us up to date at the ceremony with texts from Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
“Of course, the main person at the weekend was my grandmother and we’re all very proud of her. Éabha is very lucky, it’s not everyone who has a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, as well as the rest of her family.”
A special mass to celebrate Bridget’s milestone will be celebrated in Crusheen this Saturday at 5.30pm.