Rosmindle celebrates Bridget’s 100th birthday

THERE were great celebrations around Rosmindle in Kilmeena over the weekend as the community came out to celebrate the 100th birthday of its oldest resident, Bridget Joyce.

Bridget Joyce reached this magical milestone in her life on Thursday, February 1 – also St Brigid’s Day, and the great-grandmother was surrounded by her family for a weekend of festivities. A special Mass said in her home in Rosmindle on Friday evening was followed on Saturday evening by a special celebratory dinner in her favourite restaurant, Nevin’s Newfield Inn.

The youngest of three girls, Bridget was born in Kilbride, Newport, on February 1, 1924, to Michael Dever, originally from Murvagh, Mulranny, and Mary McLoughlin, originally from Glenisland.

Following her marriage to Christy Joyce, Bridget moved from Kilbride to Drimurla, Newport, in 1951, finally moving to Rosmindle in 1957. She worked hard all her life on the family farm, and together with Christy she raised a family of four boys – Pat, Michael, Paul and Brendan – and one girl, Rita.

Speaking to The Mayo News, her granddaughter Sarah Joyce said that Bridget remains in rude health.

“She is in very good health and well fit to get around with her two walking sticks and still goes to Mass when she can,” Sarah said. “She is an avid reader of The Mayo News and keeps up with the local politics and current affairs. As a big Fine Gael supporter, she was delighted to get a visit on her birthday from Michael Ring.

“Neighbours and friends have been calling in to wish her a happy birthday, and she is in a bit of disbelief at the amount of cards and well wishes she is getting. There was a lot of fun in the house on Thursday for her birthday and when she was asked what it was like to be 100 she said she could not believe she had made it.”

One of the highlights of becoming a centenarian is the Centenarian Bounty – a cheque and special message from the President of Ireland. Sarah joked that Bridget ensured that her cheque was lodged straight away.

Bridget is a grandmother to seven grandchildren, Sarah, Carmel, Fiona, Elaine, Gary, Bianca and Emma and a great-grandmother to Patrick, Adam and Jack. Sarah explained that all her grandchildren were very close to her growing up.

“All she wanted for her birthday was for all her family to get together,” she said. “We were all very close to her growing up, and now she loves spending time with her great-grandchildren. She is a normal person who worked hard all her life, but her family is her whole world. She always puts her family first.”