Garret who celebrated milestone birthday was ‘living to be 100’

A BOHERNABREENA man has credited hard work and eating well with helping him to reach his 100th birthday last Thursday, February 16.

Garret Smith celebrated his milestone birthday in the Sally Park Nursing Home in Firhouse, where four generations of his family were in attendance.

He was born in Bohernabreena in 1923 and, after he married his wife Bridget, Garret moved to Oldcourt and the couple had three sons, Peter, Garret and Terrence.

Garret spent his entire working life as a beef and dairy farmer before deciding to retire when he reached his early 80s.

Garret’s daughter-in-law, Karen Smith, told The Echo: “He was a beef and dairy farmer all his working life.

“His passion has always been animals, and I think, with the farming lifestyle, you never really retire – and he loved it, he ate, drank and slept it.”

Garret with staff members at Sally Park Nursing Home

Many of Garret’s children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren went to his 100th birthday party to help him to celebrate becoming a centenarian.

He also received 100 cards from schoolchildren in nearby Scoil Carmel, and from children who attend the Killakee Montessori and Creche in Firhouse.

“It was brilliant, there was a lovely atmosphere,” said Karen.

“The family all got together, and the staff in Sally Park were absolutely amazing.

“He had a birthday cake, cupcakes and sandwiches, and he wanted champagne, so we got him that too.

“I think he had been looking forward to being 100 since last year, and since January he’d been counting down the days.

“It sounds funny to say, but he was living to be 100.”

Mick and Veronica McFadden from Scoil Carmel presenting Garret with 100 cards made by school pupils

She added: “Kids from Scoil Carmel and from a Montessori in Killakee made cards for him, so he was inundated with cards, and I think he was overwhelmed by the whole thing.

“He couldn’t believe it.”

When asked what the key to Garret’s longevity has been, Karen said she believes it’s the result of a winning combination of hard work and eating well.

“He always says that it’s hard work and proper food, they didn’t have takeaways back then like we do now,” said Karen.

“And, because he supplied Premier Dairies, he was drinking the best milk. But his motto has always been ‘hard work never killed anyone’.”