Five Galway siblings make this the family of the century!

It is not only the presidential cheque that will be winging its way to East Galway native Madge Fanning on reaching her 100th birthday next Wednesday.

There could well be a certificate from the Guinness Book of Records as she is the fifth member of her family to turn 100 – believed to be a first in the world for siblings.

Madge is one of the Clarkes of Castlenancy, Mullagh, a family boasting an astonishing gene pool.

She and another sister are the only surviving members of the family of 13 – the baby, Sheila, is 97 and living in a nursing home in Portumna.

Her brother Joe Clarke was the first to reach the milestone on January 1, 2001. He was followed by Charlie in 2002, Pat in 2003 and Jimmy in 2006. Jack (also known as Sean) died in 1999 just a few months short of his centenary. Hubie died in 2002 at age 88 – the same year which claimed Joe and Charlie.

Jimmy and Hubert emigrated to America. Charlie was the last surviving member of the Garda Siochána formed in 1922 following the civil war.

The matriarch also reached 100, Margaret Clarke, nee Coen, died in 1975, leaving behind 79 grandchildren. She was killed in a car crash before reaching her 101st birthday.

Madge is cared for by two of her sons in Skerries, Co Dublin, where she raised her own eight children after marrying bookmaker James Fanning in 1998.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.