Annie celebrates 106th birthday milestone

PHOTO: Ballydangan’s Annie Dillon celebrated her 106th birthday in Garbally Nursing Home Ballinasloe on June 15 last with her nieces and nephews. Left to right, John Dillon, Edel Dillon, Eileen Finnerty and Patrick Dillon.

On June 28, 1914, Austria's Archduke Ferdinand was assassinated in Sarajevo, an incident which sparked a chain of events that led to the outbreak of World War I later that year. It was 13 days before that landmark date in world history that Annie Dillon was born in Clonulty, Ballydangan, in the parish of Moore, and last week this amazing lady celebrated her 106th birthday in Garbally View Nursing Home in Ballinasloe surrounded by staff and her nieces and nephews.

Born on June 15, 1914, Annie enjoyed a simple life, growing up on a farm with her father Mike, who incidentally also had longevity on his side, living to 102, mother Ellen, sister Kate who lived to age 98, and only died in 2016, and four brothers Pat, Michael, John and Jim, all now sadly deceased.

She never left the farm, living with her brother John, and busying herself with outdoor tasks on the land, growing vegetables, and then looking after the indoor work.

She moved into the newly-opened Garbally View Nursing Home, Ballinasloe, some 26 years ago now.

Therese White, nursing home manager, describes Annie as a very quiet lady who enjoys the simple things in life, plain food, routine and everything being in order.

Indeed, she recalls fondly when Annie first came to the nursing home they called her 'The Gaffer' because she would rise at 6am every morning, and would check all the tables to make sure everything was as it should be for breakfast and would certainly voice her opinions if something was not being done correctly or on time.

Not one for fuss, Annie wanted just a simple celebration on her 100th birthday, and wouldn't entertain much talk about the secret to her long life. Six years on, Therese says they were delighted to have another little celebration on June 15 when the weather obliged and they could go outside to mark such a marvellous lifespan which surely makes her one of the oldest residents in not only Roscommon but across the country.

Last year, Mary Coyne, a resident of the Aras Mathair Phoil Community Nursing Unit in Castlerea, then Ireland's oldest person died aged 108.

Her nephew John Dillon explains that for her 100th she put her long life down to plain food - back in Ballydangan everything came from the garden or the land and was probably organic became the word was even used.

On behalf of the family, he thanked the nursing home and neighbours for their good wishes and cards on Annie's birthday on Monday week last, saying it was lovely with all that is happening to be able to celebrate with Annie outside and take some photos for all her relatives all over Ireland, England and America to see.

Even singer Daniel O'Donnell wished her well, John explains, adding that a neighbour contacted him, and the Ballydangan woman got a lovely mention on his weekly Facebook show on Sunday evening.

President Michael D Higgins also sent Annie a letter of congratulations and a beautiful silver medal, something she has received every year since her first one on her 100th birthday in 2014.