Death of Irishtown centenarian

Death of Irishtown centenarian


Michael Commins

NORA Hosty, Shanballybocht, Kilvine, Irishtown, who died in recent days, was in her 101st year and had resided at the Group Home in Brickens for some time. She was in America on vacation on the day of the 9/11 attacks back in 2001 and had developed a great liking for America during the last three to four decades of her long life.
Nora was a well-liked and popular member of the Irishtown community over many years. Her passing, together with the recent deaths of her neighbours Bridget Kirrane (102), Kilvine, and Bridie Canny (98), Rockfort, means that the three most senior ladies in the region all died within three months of each other.
Born Nora Mitchell in Bawnmore, Irishtown on January 6, 1908, she married Patrick Hosty in April, 1937, two years before the outbreak of World War II. Nora and Patrick raised a family of eight and they worked many a long day on their farm in Kilvine. Patrick died back in January, 1982. Nora was also predeceased by her son Peter who died in Chicago back in 2000.
Last January, family members arrived home from Melbourne, Chicago and England to join Nora for the special celebrations to mark her 100th birthday. She was in great form on the day and was delighted to see them all arrive at Lohan Park in Brickens.
Fr Martin O’Connor celebrated a special Mass of Thanksgiving on the day and also present were some of Nora’s 21 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren as well as some relatives, neighbours and friends. Afterwards, a celebration party was held in Keane’s lounge in Cloonfad at which Nora was again the centre of attention.
Nora never travelled overseas until 1967 and her first trip was to Chicago that year for the wedding of her eldest son, Pete, Over the following three decades, she made almost annual trips to the Chicago region, often spending terms of six months in America before returning for the other six to Kilvine.
She maintained this tradition up to the age of 93, visiting the White House on one occasion with one of her cousins and also the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.
She was proud of her family and their respective achievements and always loved to hear from them and welcome them to Mayo. Nora was truly ‘old stock’ of the area in every sense of the word, a lady whose life spanned a time of huge change in the world and society in general.
Removal took place from Carey’s Funeral Home in Ballindine to Irishtown Church with burial in the local cemetery following Requiem Mass celebrated by Fr Martin O’Connor, PP.
She is survived by her sons, Tommy (Manchester), Eddie (Holycross, Thurles), Paddy (Leeds), Gabriel (Chicago) and John (Kilvine), daughters Frances (Leeds) and Carmel (Melbourne), in-laws, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, relatives, neighbours and friends.