Old friends are centenarians

By Jacqueline Hogge and Tom Gilmore

TWO former neighbours and school friends in Tuam have celebrated their 100th birthday within days of each other.

Hard work and having no money are the secret to longevity, according to Kathleen Lowry (née Forry) of O’Keeffe Terrace. She received her letter of congratulations along with a cheque from President Michael D Higgins last Tuesday, shortly before she celebrated with family and friends at a reception in the Ard Ri House Hotel.
Kathleen is not the only lady in the area to reach 100 this month, as her neighbour and school friend Bríd Lynch has also celebrated her centenary year.
The ladies sat next to each other in school, with Kathleen having moved to Tuam from Kilkee in Co Clare when she was 14 years old.

Popular Tuam woman Brid Lynch, a native of Old Road, celebrated her 100th birthday on Sunday surrounded by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren at a function in Brooklodge Nursing Home, Ballyglunin.
Brid has been a resident of Brooklodge for the past two and a half years and prior to that she was active in many facets of the cultural, business and religious life in Tuam.
Read more in this week's edition.