Limerick's oldest woman (107) was a regular visitor to Mayo and Westport

LIMERICK'S oldest woman who died at the age of 107 earlier this month had close connections with Westport where her late brother was a member of staff at Westport Post Office.

Betty McElholm, nee Carroll from Kilmallock, Co Limerick was the fifth oldest person in Ireland when she died on August 13 at the age of 107 years. She had been a regular visitor to Westport where her late brother Dan Carroll was married and lived from the 1950s until his death in 1992.

Dan, also a native of Kilmallock met his wife Mary Rooney, a native of Liscarney, Westport after coming to work in the area with An Post and they lived for many years together in the Crescent in Westport.

Dan worked as a clerk in Westport Post Office and was heavily involved with St Anne's Boxing Club in Westport until his sudden death in 1992.

The late Dan Carroll with his sister Betty McElholm, who died aged 107 years in Limerick earlier this week

His son Liam Carroll still lives in Westport and recently travelled to Limerick to attend the funeral of his aunt who was the oldest person in Limerick. He said that she had lived a remarkable life and was loved by all her nieces and nephews and her passing marked an end of an era.

Betty who had been a regular visitor to Westport was born on March 18, 1917 and described as the 'heart and soul of Kilmallock'. She was married to Sam McElholm, a former national school teacher and the family ran a shop in the south Limerick town. She lived an independent life and had resided at her home in Kilmallock until quite recently before being cared for in the nearby nursing home.

A hurling fanatic, Betty attended the 1933 All-Ireland final between Limerick and Kilkenny when she was just 16 years but was left heartbroken after a late Kilkenny goal sealed victory for the Cats.

However in recent years Liam McCarthy was a regular visitor in her Kilmallock home with the Limerick manager John Kiely calling to see her after the team's recent All-Ireland victories.

Predeceased by her husband Sam, Betty is survived by her nieces and nephews. Following Requiem Mass at Sts Peter & Paul's Church, Kilmallock, she was buried in the local cemetery.