RIP: Ireland's oldest woman sadly passes away aged 109-years-old in Donegal

There is deep sadness following the death of 109-year-old Ruby Druce in Castlefin, County Donegal.

Ms Druce was believed to have been Ireland’s oldest person before her passing.

She had been living at the home of her niece, Carmel Harran, in Castlefin, since last July.

Born on December 31, 1915, at Sandy Row, Castlefin, the eldest of five children to parents George Crawford and Elizabeth (née McBride), Ruby was a pioneer all her life and survived the Spanish Flu in 1918 and the Covid-19 pandemic.

At the age of three, she was given poitín when she contracted the Spanish flu in 1918 following the deaths of her brother James and sister Mary Elizabeth.

Ruby worked in Porter’s Shirt Factory for 48 years and credited walking, hard work and a daily cod liver oil capsule for her amazing life.

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In 1956, she married James Druce and her husband sadly passed away 14 years later.

On the occasion of her 109th birthday on New Year’s Eve, Ruby was joined by a large crowd of family and friends.

In all, she had 28 great-grandnieces and nephews, including five in Canada and two in England. 

Ruby was born before daylight saving time was widely implemented and four months before the Easter Rising of 1916. She saw off two World Wars and two global pandemics having been vaccinated against Covid-19 in 2021 at the age of 105.

She lived on her own until she was 98, when a broken hip necessitated daily assistance and she moved to Letterkenny to live with her niece Margo Butler, who sadly passed away last summer.

Up until 2024, Ruby watched Mass every morning on YouTube and was a much loved citizen in Castlefin.

At Christmas, children in St Mary’s NS got together to make Christmas cards and on St Patrick’s Day 2024 she was treated to a surprise musical session when musicians Martin Mullan and Barney McDaid called.

Ruby was a massive fan of Donegal country star Daniel O’Donnell and was visited by Daniel and his wife Majella in May of last year. She joined Daniel in a rendition of ‘The Homes of Donegal’.

Daniel regularly telephoned her to wish her a happy birthday and in 2022 she performed the official switch on of the Christmas lights in Castlefin.

Ruby will be waked at the home of her niece, Carmel Harran, F93 E67R from 6-9pm on Friday 21st March, and Saturday from 12pm until 9pm.

Her funeral will take place on Sunday, 23rd March, at 12pm in St. Mary’s Church, Castlefin, followed by interment in the adjoining cemetery.