Family’s party marks Sarah’s 101st birthday

It was déjà vu all over again for the family of a hale and hearty Tuam woman who celebrated her centenary a year ago – because they returned again from around the world…this time to mark her 101st!

Sarah McHugh reared twelve children, and many of them – along with her grandchildren and great grandchildren – travelled from overseas to celebrate with her.

Sarah, who also received a special medal from President Michael D Higgins, was born in Clough, Cummer to a farming family and she married Hubert McHugh from Belclare.

Hubert was a member of the Corofin team that won their first county title back in 1932.

They lived in Bishop Street in Tuam and then at 40 Acres which is on the Dunmore Road out of Tuam. Hubert was a foreman in Tuam Sugar Factory and had previously worked on many sugar beet campaigns.

Between them they reared twelve children, but their son PJ who lived in Lanesboro in County Roscommon passed away, much to the regret of the whole family, most of whom live in the States.

Sarah is also the mother of Padraic McHugh, who lost his daughter Ann Marie in the Twin Towers disaster in 2001. There is a garden of remembrance for Ann Marie beside the river in Tuam.

Padraic and Margaret McHugh had been in America but returned to Tuam and opened the Town Hall Tavern on High Street during the 1970s. It was one of the most popular public houses in the town and closely associated with the local GAA.

Sarah always emphasised the importance of education to all of the members of her family and she ensured that they all sat and passed their Leaving Cert.

Apart from Padraic in Tuam, her children are Hugh (North Carolina), Marie (Florida), Harry (Pennsylvania ), Sean (Boston), Marguerite (Florida), Catherine (New Jersey), Dolores (London), Gerry (New York), Pauline (Boston) and Deirdre (London).

Sarah is the oldest of resident of Stella Maris Nursing Home in Corofin and gets up and walks to her meals on a daily basis. Last year more than 170 attended her 100th birthday and she was well chuffed at the attendance.