Galway already holds the world record for the longest living siblings – now the county could be home to the world’s oldest global traveller.
Bridie Daly marked her 106th birthday by travelling back from Boston to her native Loughrea this month.
Bridie, who is one of eight siblings in the Duggan family of Ballinakill, Moyglass, found it difficult to get a flight due to her age.
But that did nothing to deter Bridie, who has flown home regularly since emigrating to America in 1929.
Bridie organised another flight with a Scandinavian airline, which involved a marathon trip and several stops in some far-flung places.
She has returned to see her family in Galway every two years since the year 2000.
And apparently Bridie is already talking about a return on her 108th birthday.
“She’s absolutely unbelievable. She lives on her own, a family member comes to stay at night time but she will not allow in home help. She can walk perfectly up and down the 14 steps to her apartment without being linked, she only recently agreed to use a walking stick,” explained Mary.
“Since she’s been home, she’s visited two nursing homes, seen grand nieces and nephews at two schools and travelled to Cork to see her husband’s cousins. She’s constantly on the go.”
Her brother Henry continues to farm in Moyglass at age 90. Her brother Kevin, 85, who followed her out to Boston, takes her out on regular lunch outings.
After 88 years living on the other side of the Atlantic, there is still not the hint of a twang, reveals Mary.
When Bridie first emigrated at age 18, she worked in a local church as a cleaner and secretary. She married Bill Daly from Cork and the couple had six children. Tragedy struck when she lost her husband to cancer when the youngest was only four, leaving her to raise the family alone.
She lost a son in a car accident at age 25 and two other children to natural causes in recent years. She remains remarkably active.
“She’s is a mass-goer without fail and says her prayers a lot. She goes out to get her hair done every Friday. She goes to Irish events, you just couldn’t believe she’s 106.”
At a party to celebrate her latest milestone last Friday in Portumna, she revealed her secret to a long life is to stay positive.
“Never despair. Live in hope,” is how she explained it to the 60 relatives and former neighbours.
Some believe she could be Ireland’s oldest person following the death of fellow Galwaywoman, Sarah Clancy in late December at age 108.
Sarah, a native of Sruthán, Connemara, had also emigrated to Boston before returning to the homeplace in 1988. She too had lived at home before passing away in her sleep.
The baby of the remarkable Clarke family of Castlenancy, Mullagh turned 100 in January. Sheila Burns became the sixth sibling and seventh family member – her mother was knocked down by a car at 101 – to survive a century. The family are now in the Guinness Book of World Records for the family with the most siblings to reach the age of 100.
See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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