Oldest living Dubliner Susan Jackson celebrates her 105th birthday in Mansion House

By Maurice Garvey

DUBLIN’S oldest living citizen is also a Cherry Orchard resident who loves to party.

Susan Jackson, a grand-aunt of Ballyfermot councillor Vincent Jackson, celebrated her 105th birthday this week in the plush surroundings of the Mansion House with Cllr Jackson and Lord Mayor Brendan Carr.

Originally from Maryland in Dublin 8, Susan was born in 1912 and is a living embodiment of history, having lived through two world wars, the 1916 Easter Rising, and the Irish War of Independence, all by the time she was ten years old.

Susan lived independently up until just three years ago, before moving into nursing home Willow Unit at Cherry Orchard Hospital.

Cllr Jackson, who is related to Susan on his father’s side, hailed his grand-aunt as a “remarkable lady”.

News of Susan’s birthday generated a lot of interest. Cllr Jackson said the national newspapers had been in touch, along with RTÉ: “I was talking to her today and she said she’d prefer Gay Byrne – I’d better not tell her it was Ray D’Arcy.”

Cllr Jackson added: “She loves parties and going out but is one of the healthiest people I know. I see her every day in the Willow Unit and take her out at the weekends for a drive. She never drank, smoked or got married. Maybe that is her secret to living a good life. She lived on her own until 2014.

“Religion is so important to her but she also loves bingo, eating and sing-songs. She would be a very traditional person, and would go for basic stuff, but she is a fantastic person.”

Susan had further reason to party this week after Lord Mayor Brendan Carr invited her to the Mansion House to celebrate her birthday on Monday.

A spokesperson for Dublin City Council told The Echo it has been “officially confirmed that she is the oldest living Dubliner” and congratulated Susan on her achievement.