Ireland’s oldest person ‘lived all of her 109 years to the fullest’

THE funeral of Ireland’s oldest person, Máirín Hughes, who “lived all of her 109 years to the fullest”, took place in the chapel at Maryfield Nursing Home in Chapelizod on Saturday.

Máirín died last Tuesday in Maryfield after a short illness, surrounded by her Maryfield community. Many tributes have been paid to her.

In Máirín’s death notice on RIP.ie, staff from Maryfield wrote: “All at Maryfield, including management, staff, residents and religious sisters, would like to take the opportunity to say that Maírín was an inspirational lady who taught us so much about life.

“Maírín was full of knowledge and kindness. She cared deeply about nature, giving back to her local community, and religion played a large part of her life.

“She lived all of her 109 years to the fullest and we will miss her every day.”

Many tributes were also paid to Máirín in her book of condolences, particularly by past pupils of hers from when she was a chemistry teacher in Ballyfermot Vocational School in the 1970s.

One past pupil credited her as being “the best chemistry teacher ever”, and many recalled fond memories of being taught by her, while others noted her kindness and elegance.

Máirín’s long life began when she was born in Belfast in 1914 to parents Liam Sheehan and Annie Dineen, but moved to Dublin three months later as her father took up work in the city.

The UK authorities would not recognise Máirín or her brother’s name, Ruaridh, on birth certificates, so her official name on papers is Mary and her brother went by Rory.

Máirín lived through the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918-1919, which killed at least 50 million worldwide.

Piper Eamon Walsh pl;ayed at the funeral

She previously recalled dropping food supplies to the doorstep of sick neighbours in Co. Kerry with her older brothers Ruaridh and Conn before “running away”.

Máirín went on to be a trailblazer for women in the workplace, and between the 1930s and 1960s she did a degree in science and a diploma in education at University College Cork.

She then worked in the pathology lab in UCC’s Department of Medicine for 14 years, as at that time hospitals did not have on-site pathologists.

Máirín and her colleagues would run the blood tests for them in the lab.

After marrying Francis Hughes in 1950, the couple relocated to Palmerstown.

Francis, a Sligo man, passed away in 1971 and Máirín lived in Palmerstown until 1986 before moving into one of Maryfield’s independent apartments and, later, into the nursing home itself.

Over the years, Máirín’s milestone birthdays were marked with a number of exciting events, with her 107th birthday celebrations being particularly memorable.

Maryfield Nursing Home commissioned a ‘pope-mobile’ to bring Máirín out for a spin in Chapelizod and the Phoenix Park, where she met Sabina Higgins who presented her with flowers.

Máirín used to go out for a walk every day, was a woman of faith, and an avid fan of classical music.

Her funeral was held on Saturday morning and was followed by a cremation service in Glasnevin cemetery.

Champion uilleann piper Eamonn Walsh, who is from St Maelruain’s Park in Tallaght, performed many pieces at the moving cremation service.

They included ‘Gabriel’s Oboe’ by Ennio Morricone, ‘Raglan Road’, ‘The Brendan Voyage’ by Liam O’Flynn, ‘The Town I Loved So Well’, ‘You Raise Me Up’ and ‘Amazing Grace’.

For full access to all content on Echo.ie and to support the continuation of local news and local journalism in your community subscribe HERE.

Thanks for your ongoing support.