Mary B. O’Connor celebrates her 100th birthday!

It was a lovely to meet Mary last week as she celebrated her milestone birthday with family, friends and staff in Bramleigh Lodge, Cahir.

Mary was deservedly the centre of attention at several small gathering during last week as friends and family came from near and far to take part in her very special birthday celebrations which were spread out to accommodate everyone.

Mary was born on March 14, 1918, and grew up in Abbey Street, Cahir. Her father was John Gleeson from Upperchurch/ Drombane. Her mother was Mary Ann McGrath from Kilnabutler, Cahir.

She attended the Convent National and Secondary School in Cahir where subsequently Mary’s daughter, Peggy, and granddaughter, Terri O’Donnell also attended.

Mary married James (Jimmy) O'Connor in1938, in St. Mary’s Church, Cahir. They owned a farm at Kilnabutler, on the Ardfinnan Road where they raised four children, Peggy, Desmond, Kevin and Sean.

They later went on to have eight grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. Jimmy passed away in 1993.

A keen golfer Mary joined Cahir Park Golf Club in her late 50s and won the ladies captain’s prize in June 1987 and three occasions in total. She had six or seven holes-in-one too.

In 1995 and at 78 years of age Mary was the first in the club to score a hole-in-one across the river Suir in the then newly extended Cahir Park Golf Club's 18 hole golf course! Mary continued to play golf until her early 80s.

Over many years Mary was an also active member of Cahir Country Markets attending and contributing on a regular weekly basis.

A party for a large number of close family and friends was held in Kilcoran Lodge Hotel on Saturday, March 10, to mark Marys special birthday. Happy Birthday Mary!