Age is no barrier to 102 year old Laois voter
Great grandmother Mollie Ryan who turns 103 next week
Having never missed a vote in her adult life, 102 year old Mollie Ryan returned to her local polling station in Laois to cast her ballot in the referendum today.
Mollie, who turns 103 next week, was accompanied by her grandson Peter, who himself was brought to vote for the first time by Mollie a number of years ago.
Her daughter Mary described her as a “passionate voter” and who would never reveal what way she voted.
Mary was pleased that the voting coincided with International Women's Day given that women had to fight for the vote in the past.
The eldest in a family of five sisters from Kilmartin near Borris-in-Ossory on the Laois Tipperary border, Mollie believes in “doing what is right” and exercising her civic duty by using her vote, Mary explained.
She said her mother, who was born on March 14, 1921, reads the papers and keeps abreast of what is going on in the world.
“She reads the Leinster Express and the Tipperary Star and the Midland Tribune,” said Mary.
She revealed her mother also gets the Irish Independent every morning.
Aside from reading, Mollie also enjoys music and in particular the Clancy brothers and other Irish music, Scottish music and ballads. She loves a cup of tea and has maintained a strong faith throughout her life.
“She is a very private person and her faith is important to her and it keeps her going,” Mary said. Mollie gets mass twice a day using the internet to watch the service in Roscrea and then again on television.
A mother to five children, Mollie has 11 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.
Mary explained that she had a particular interest in the ties worn by newsreaders and the cut of their suits.
True to form, the inspirational great-grandmother who had braved the elements to cast her ballot on international Women’s Day remained tight-lipped about what way she was voting in the referendum.