Offaly centenarians vote in Presidential Election

Offaly centenarians, who were born before Ireland even had a President, were among those to cast their votes in the most Presidential Election last Friday. 

Pictured on the left above is 101 year old Maureen Hanley casting her vote in the Presidential election in Coolderry Hall.

Pictured on the right above is Paddy Claffey, Noggus, who celebrated his 104th birthday last April is pictured casting his vote in last week’s Presidential election accompanied by his son Pat on Friday last October 24.

Ireland was voting to elect the nation's 10th President with the first President being selected without an election in 1938. Douglas Hyde was the only nominee after other potential candidates failed to get the required backing of 20 members of the House of the Oireachtas or four County Councils. 

The first actual Presidential Election in Ireland took place in 1945 when Maureen would have been 21 and Paddy would have been 24. Fianna Fail's Sean T O'Kelly was elected with 49.5% of the vote.