Sarah Forde celebrates 100th birthday

Sarah Forde celebrates 100th birthday


Michael Commins

FORMER school teacher Sarah Forde from Bekan celebrated her 100th birthday last week. She reached the major milestone on Thursday, August 6 and a special party for family and friends was held in Knock House Hotel on Saturday.
Sarah was formerly Morley from nearby Lissiniskea. She taught for a good many years in Laraganboy National School before moving to Bekan NS where she spent the rest of her teaching career up to her retirement.
Her late husband, Tim Forde, served as court clerk in the Ballyhaunis area for many years. They had a family of five, four daughters and one son. All of the family but Ann Nestor (Belcarra) now reside in Dublin.
Mass was celebrated in Bekan Church at 3pm by Fr Paddy Mullins. Afterwards, Sarah and guests travelled to Knock House for the special reception in her honour.
On arrival, she was presented with a Mayo Crystal plate depicting the apparition in Knock. Hotel general manager Brian Crowley and duty manager, Catherine Culliney, a neighbour of Sarah, presided at the presentation on behalf of the management and staff at the hotel.
Present were her daughters Ann, Mary, Helen and Sr Jacinta and son Liam, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, in-laws, neighbours and friends.
Sarah is now a resident at the Claremount Nursing Home in Claremorris. She loves to reminisce about former times and still retains an active interest in matters relating to the region. Warmest congratulations to Sarah on this special occasion.