Longford woman who 'did all her shopping on her bicycle' celebrates 100th birthday
The Centenarian Bounty is a tradition where people who reach their 100th birthday receive a gift from the State and a special message from the President of Ireland, wishing them a happy birthday and congratulating them on their longevity.
It was begun in 1940 by President Douglas.
Last Friday Elizabeth ‘Lizzy’ Keena was the latest Longford person to achieve the milstone and she was delighted to receive the president's letter.
Her son, John “Laddy” Keena, told the Leader about his mother's life: “She was born in Kenagh, but her mother passed away when the family were quite young. Her maiden name was Gill and she came to work in a miller's farm in the parish of Rathowen. She met Daddy, Sean Keena, in the 1940s and they had five children.”
Lizzy settled down with Sean: “They moved to Aughnagera, Edgeworthstown, where my Dad was from. My father was a ganger in the railway and my mother worked at home. He kept the line from Multyfarnham to Longford and he would travel that route on a bicycle. Mam always looked after the farm, she always kept a cow and calf.”
The five children were Tommy (RIP), Patsy (RIP), John, Elizabeth, James (Jas).
John said Lizzy's bond with her family is very strong “She loved her grandchildren and now her great-grandchildren. She also has a great love of bingo. She used to go to Edgeworthstown, Ardagh, Ennybegs, Cullyfad and Street. She really enjoyed it.”
Lizzy is now in Manor Nursing Home in Edgeworthstown and was very active right up to her later years, “She did all her shopping on her bicycle, she saw a lot of changes over the years.”