Marking a century

CELEBRATING A CENTURY Some of the staff at St Fionnan’s, Achill Sound celebrating the 100th birthday of Gladys O’Malley, Dooniver. Front, from left: Anne Vesey, Gladys O’Malley, Joan Western and Barbara Moran, Director of Nursing. Back, from left: Margaret Kilbane, Marie Kilbane, Sheila Corrigan, Sally Gielty, Catherine O’Malley and Carmel Graven. Pics: Frank Dolan.

Landmark day for Gladys and St Fionnan’s

Anton McNulty

THIS week the St Fionnan Nursing Home in Achill will be marking a significant landmark when one of their original patients celebrates her one hundredth birthday.

Gladys O’Malley from Dooniver was the fifth patient to enter the home on September 25, 2000, and tomorrow (Wednesday, September 5)  she will be St Fionnan’s first patient to celebrate her century. To celebrate Gladys’ birthday, her family, neighbours and friends will join the staff and patients of St Fionnan’s for a celebratory Mass this evening (Tuesday) at five o’clock in the nursing home.

Gladys was born in Dooniver to parents Anthony O’Malley of Inisbiggle, and Julia O’Malley (nee Grealis) of Dooniver. She was born into a family of three brothers and four sisters with her sister Margaret (88) of Dooniver, her only remaining family member alive.

Like a lot of people of her generation, Gladys went to Scotland when she was only 14 to work in the potato fields, taking the boat from Bullsmouth to meet the ferry in Westport. She remained in Scotland where she lived in Edinburgh before returning to Achill when she was in her twenties following the death of her father. Gladys never married which she claims was one of the reasons for her long life.

Her nephew Tony Grealis explained that Gladys always loved to see her nephews and nieces come and visit and her front door was always open.

“She came home when her father died to look after her mother and remained in Achill since then. Her door was always open and her home was the local visiting house, and with everyone who visited was always given a warm welcome. It was the house at the end of the village and people were always up and down going to the shore and stopping off in the house.

“She entered St Fionnan’s shortly after it opened and I cannot overstate how good the staff have been to her. The quality of her life and the service have been exceptional since the first day she arrived and even when she was poorly, they were very good to her and to the family when we visit. Gladys took a few turns over the years, including breaking her hip when she was 90, but she has always rallied and we are all delighted for her that she will celebrate her one hundreth birthday,” he said.

Her sister Margaret said Gladys was always very good to her family and a great sister to have. She said she loved living in Scotland and would go back on regular occasions to visit friends and family.

“She was a great sister to have and looked after all of us. I remember when my father died she came back from Scotland to look after mother and I will always think of that. She came back when she was in her twenties but never got married and puts her long life that down to that,” she said.

Gladys is very popular with the staff of St Fionnan’s, who have got to know her very well since she moved into the nursing home. While she does not have the energy she once had, the staff explained she always got involved in all the activities and loved getting dressed up and listening to music.

The Director of Nursing at St Fionnan’s, Ms Barbara Moran,  said Gladys was one of the most popular patients and everyone at the nursing home is delighted that Gladys is the first person in St Fionnan’s to reach her one hundreth birthday.

“Gladys has been with us for a long time and we are all delighted for her. She is a great patient who gets up everyday before feeding herself and always enjoys herself. Even though she is now fragile she participates in everything and enjoys getting the newspapers and visits from family and friends. We will have celebratory Mass for her on Tuesday and it will be a great day for her family and everyone at St Fionnan’s,” she said.