100 years on Inishturk

MILESTONE Paddy Faherty pictured at his home in Inishturk island last Tuesday, the day of his 100th birthday, with his four children. Back, from left: Pauline O’Toole, Pete Faherty and Mary Ann O’Toole. Front, Noreen Faherty and Paddy Faherty.

Edwin McGreal

Born, reared and living all of his life on Inishturk, there was only one place Paddy Faherty was going to be for his 100th birthday last Tuesday.
Paddy was in Mayo University Hospital in the days before but he was adamant he was going to be home in time for the big day so he got out of hospital on Monday and woke up in his own home on Garranty, overlooking Inishturk harbour, on the morning of his birthday.
He celebrated the day with his four children - Pete Faherty, Pauline O’Toole, Mary Ann O’Toole and Noreen Faherty, all of whom live on the island too - and with some of his grandchildren and great grandchildren. His wife Mary Kate died in the early 1980s.
“Paddy was adamant he was going to be home for the birthday regardless of whatever medical complaint. It was amazing his health improved by the time he got home, there’s nothing like your own corner,” his grandson Danny O’Toole told The Mayo News.  
“He was delighted that the cheque from Michael D (Higgins, President of Ireland) came on the Tuesday too. The post only comes to the island twice a week so thankfully it came on Tuesday,” Danny added. A party is planned on Inishturk in the coming weeks.

Family history
Long life runs in the family. Paddy was one of six children, three boys and three girls. The three boys - Paddy, Peter and John - lived all their lives on Inishturk while the three girls all emigrated to Birmingham.
His sister Mary died last year aged 98, his sister Ann died only last month aged 96 while another sister, Delia, is 90 and living in Birmingham.
His grandfather lived to the hearty age of 106 while his great-grandfather is believed to have lived to the incredible age of 113 though it was that long ago, there is no documentary evidence of it.
Danny O’Toole admits his grandfather ‘could pass for a man of 70’ so he could challenge his ancestors’ long lives yet. What’s his secret to long life?
“He jokes that it is all the whiskey he drank when he was younger,” said Danny O’Toole. “Between that and smoking the pipe for a good many years, he was the exception to the rule! But he did have a very healthy lifestyle with fishing and farming and general island life.”