Five generations gather for birthday celebration

Sunday last was a unique occasion in Marine View, Athlone, as five generations of girls in the one family gathered to celebrate a special first birthday.

Little Paisley Jones, who just turned one, was joined by her mother Danielle Nugent (26), her grandmother Annmarie O'Gorman (47), her great-grandmother Esther O'Donnell (64) and her great-great-grandmother Maureen O'Gorman (93).

Speaking to the Westmeath Independent on Tuesday, Annmarie O'Gorman said she was reading in the Irish Independent recently about five generations of a family but it was mixed with boys and girls. All girls are very unusual, Annmarie believes and she doesn't know of any others.

“I thought if they make it in the Indo we surely can make the Westmeath Independent. We have girls from 93 to 1,” she laughed, adding they were delighted to mark Paisley's birthday with a special photo of the five generations who all live in the one estate.

“I wonder is there anyone who can match that?” Annmarie asked, saying all bar one of the generations are the eldest or the only girls in their families as well.

Maureen, the eldest of the clan, turned 93 in August. She is a well known and popular figure in Athlone for her work knitting hats for the Guide Dogs, her longstanding involvement in St Kieran's Community Centre, and her currant bread which is loved far and wide.

“Nana (Maureen) would tell you the secret of a good life is cod liver oil tablets. I call her my spring chicken,” Annmarie joked, adding that Maureen has seven children Mary, Esther, Marguerite, John, Joseph, Paddy and Tony.

She has a staggering 15 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren with another on the way.