West is best for ladies in quest for long life!

If it’s long life you’re after, then west is definitely best – particularly if you’re a woman. Because all of the indicators point to Connemara ladies reaching ages that the rest can only envy.

It’s not just the females living longer however; for a start, over two thirds of the farmers in the mountain terrain of Connemara are now over 65 years of age – and a further 38% of that group are over 75.

But President Michael D Higgins is getting writer’s cramp with all of the congratulatory letters going out to Connemara centenarians – although the area has lost three of its oldest citizens, all of them women and all well over 100, in the last few weeks.

Sarah Clancy from An Cheathrua Rua is 108 – the oldest person in Ireland. Not far behind her, Mary Hayes (nee Ridge) from Cashel celebrated her 105th birthday in the Carna Nursing Home. And Clifden woman, Barbara Lovatt is 105.

In recent weeks, Margaret O’ Neill from Ballyconneely passed away at 103; Bairbre Ní Fháthata from Indreabhán passed away at 100 and just this week, Katie Mannion (formerly Comer) from Cloch Bhreac in Corn a Móna was laid to rest in her native hills; she was close to 104.

All of them had said their final farewells after a wonderful and venerable ten decades and more on earth.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.