Edna celebrates 100th birthday
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A large circle of family and friends gathered at the Oakview Nursing Home last week to help 100 year old Edna McIntyre celebrate her birthday.Image 2 of 4
The proprietor of the Oakview Nursing Home, Maureen Dennehy, surprises Edna with a magnificent birthday cake.Image 3 of 4
Five generations of the McIntyre family: Chloe McIntyre with baby Jacob, Edna McIntyre and Robin McIntyre. At the back is David McIntyre.Image 4 of 4
Mothers Union Friends join Edna to celebrate her big day. From: Leila Beattie, Eva Gibson, Phyllis Cassidy, Valerie Livingstone and Charlotte Browne.There were great celebrations and happiness at the Oakview Nursing Home in Belturbet last Wednesday afternoon when the remarkable Edna McIntyre celebrated her 100th birthday with family, friends and staff in the beautiful open air garden area.
The gregarious Edna, who was born in Beragh in County Tyrone, made Kildallan and Cavan her home 75 years ago.Her late husband was Robert McIntyre and the couple had a family of two boys and two girls.
A retired mental health nurse, Edna received a letter from both Queen Elizabeth and President Michael D. Higgins. It’s not her first interaction with royalty! Young Edna got a prize for the best hand writing when she was in primary school and was taken to Belfast by teachers for the presentation, where she met the Queen mother.
Known herself as the Queen of Oakview, Edna never complains and keeps on smiling, Edna received a stack of birthday cards and quipped: “It will take me hours to open them all!”
Blessed with a ready smile, She told theCeltthat the birthday celebrations were “just great” and “I am delighted to see all these people here today.”
A music fan, Edna loved Joe Dolan and acquired his tie at a concert in the Cavan Crystal Hotel shortly before he died. She smiled when it was suggested to her that she got many hugs from the legendary Joe.
She also was enjoying Country Star Nigel Livingstone singing all her favourites live in the garden including some Joe Dolan numbers.
She was delighted to see all her friends from the Mothers’ Union.
Made of stern stuff, Edna attributes her longevity to “hard work” and carrying sticks on her back for the fire and carrying two buckets of water up a hill from the well every day.