Ireland’s oldest person, Mairin Hughes, just celebrated her 109th birthday.
Mairin Hughes is the oldest person in Ireland at an incredible 109 years old. Still living her life to the fullest, she regularly enjoys crosswords, birdwatching, and keeping active.
On Monday, Mairin, who was born in Belfast but lived much of her life in Kerry, Dublin, and Cork, celebrated her 109th birthday at Maryfield Nursing Home in Chapelizod, Dublin.
Her fellow residents and a family member threw her a birthday gathering at the home with balloons and a big cake.
Mairin Hughes – living a long and fulfilled life
Talking about her upbringing, Mairin said, “I’m a cosmopolitan, because I was born in Belfast, and then dad was transferred to Dublin, and we were in Dublin for a couple of years, and then transferred to Killarney, and he retired while we were in Killarney so we still stayed there.
“When I married I moved to Cork”.
Arriving for her 109th birthday party clad in a navy blazer and pink scarf, Mairin was surprised to find her fellow residents and a family member waiting with cake and balloons.
For each year she has lived as a centenarian, Mairin has received a medal. She read a quote out to the room from her latest medal;
“You have lived through remarkable times in the history of Ireland and the world. You have witnessed remarkable changes, unimaginable at the time of your birth in 1914”.
Her 109th birthday party – a lovely celebration
After hearing her favourite song, ‘Óró Sé do Bheatha Bhaile’, Mairin and her friends boarded a vintage tea bus that awaited them outside the home.
When asked for advice on a happy life, she expressed that it is all to do with your attitude. She said that her advice to people who wish to live a fulfilled and happy life is to not waste any time.
On getting older, she said, “You learn a certain amount and you do advance that way, and you learn to cope with situations”. Mairin said that her life at Maryfield was the next step in her remarkable life’s journey.
When asked if she liked city life, Mairin said, “I like the country, I want to see greenery. I like the quietness and the birds, which we have here. They’re gorgeous around the river”.
Friends and family – Mairin is a super lady
Director of Nursing at Maryfield, Orla Quigg, talked of Mairin’s intelligence and how she loves to do puzzles every day. “Mairin is a super lady. She really is inspirational to all of us here,” she said.
“She’s lived on the grounds of Maryfield for over 30 years. She lived in apartments at the front and then she moved into the nursing home when it was rebuilt.
“She plays Scrabble every day, she does a crossword every day, she does everything you’re supposed to do to keep well”. Orla continued, “She loves history and she’s part of history. She’s very witty; she’s so smart”.
She added, “She doesn’t like the fuss, she doesn’t see why she should be made a fuss of. She just does what she does, and she feels if you get up every morning, sure that’s enough”.
Happy Birthday, Mairin!
