Centenarian from Kilclief whose life in the country gives her happy times

Centenarian from Kilclief whose life in the country gives her happy times

11 January 2017

A YOUNG at heart Kilclief woman has celebrated her 100th birthday.

Mrs Maureen Gilmore, who received a birthday card from the Queen and a letter of congratulations from Irish President Michael D Higgins, joined with family and friends at Ballydugan Mill to celebrate the landmark.

A former primary school teacher, Mrs Gilmore reached 100 last Friday. The occasion was marked by a special mass in St Malachy’s Church in Kilclief at which one of her three sons, Father Sean, officiated.

Born on January 6, 1917, Mrs Gilmore was one of 10 children to Agnes and James Denvir from Kilclief. 

She was educated at St Malachy’s Primary School before it was off to St Louis’ Grammar School in Kilkeel. She obtained her Senior Certificate after studying at a convent in Ballycastle.

Delighted to reach her 100th birthday, Mrs Gilmore puts her longevity down to a healthy lifestyle, enjoying the fresh air in Kilclief, eating sensibly and her strong faith.

A mother of seven children, Mrs Gilmore was a teacher all her life and during her first posting to Newtownards she met her husband, Alfred, who sadly passed away in 1990.

Mrs Gilmore’s daughter, Philomena, died in an accident at the Bloody Bridge outside Newcastle in 1982 aged just 

25. Two other people lost their lives in the tragedy.

Her sons, Fr Sean, Ciaran and Seamus, and daughters, Moira, Roisin and Ann, joined her for the birthday celebration which was also attended by her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Kieran said his mother enjoyed gardening and still likes to get outside. Although her eyesight is fading, she listens to audio books, which is one of her favourite pastimes.

He said the Denvir family were great GAA people and that his mother’s brothers, Brian and Kieran, involved with Down’s 1960 All-Ireland success. Kieran was a squad member while Brian was part of the management team.

“My mother grew up in Kilclief and after completing her education her first teaching job was in Newtownards where she met my father who was a plasterer by profession. They subsequently married and had seven children,” explained Kieran.

“My mother was a teacher all her life and has been retired for 30 years. The family initially lived in Belfast with mum teaching at the Sacred Heart School at the Old Park Road after she left the school in Newtownards.

“We lived in the city for about 20 years before the family moved back to Kilclief during the Troubles in the early 1970s to the holiday home we still had in the area.”

Kieran explained his mother then secured a job at St Mary’s Primary School in Portaferry, where she worked up until her retirement.

“Religion has played a big part in mum’s life and she goes to Mass almost every day,” Kieran coninued. “She loves her family and is someone who never smoked, drank or gambled. She has 

no vices.

“She was a keen gardener and would have done a little bit of knitting and some walking. Her main hobby was her garden. Perhaps living in Kilclief and being surrounded by fresh air has probably contributed to her longevity.

“Mum is a healthy eater and her grandchildren and great grandchildren, who she sees on a regular basis, also keep her young.”

Kieran also revealed that his mother was fully involved in helping arrange her 100th birthday at Ballydugan Mill.

He added: “Mum received a substantial number of birthday cards with the good wishes from many people including those from the Irish President and the Queen.”