Donegal woman Kathleen McFadden (née Doherty) celebrated the big 100 with her family and friends in Dublin.
Originally from Falcarragh, Kathleen lived in Downings from 1945 until 2014.
Now living in the Mount Hybla Private Nursing Home in Castleknock, Dublin, her family and friends joined her for a celebration at the Castleknock Hotel.
A nurse, Kathleen had her portrait painted by artist Gaetano De Gennaro during her time working on Inisheer, off Galway in 1943. Amazingly, De Gennaro is the same artist who painted a portrait of Douglas Hyde, the first President of Ireland, which now hangs proudly in the Áras.
Kathleen wed Jack McFadden, a primary school teacher, who sadly passed away in 2002.
A mum to ten children; Maureen, Ciaran, the late Ethna, Aedan, Declan, Sean, Ronan, Dairine, Raymond and Orla, Kathleen is kept on her toes with 31 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren!
Kathleen’s sisters Maureen and Nan (Nan taught in the local school in Falcarragh up until her retirement) lived in the Main Street in Falcarragh up until their deaths in 2001 and 2004 respectively.
She was one of ten children to the late Antoine Ó Dochartaigh who was a Cruit Island man, and Mary Mc Cann from Templemoyle in Inishowen.
Dairine McFadden filled Donegal Daily in on their family history.
“Kathleen is the last of her family but they all lived long lives. Her sister Winnie lived almost to age 99 and died only in 2013, her sister Rose died aged 95, Maureen was 93, Nan was 94 and Paddy who was a Monsignor in Fresno, California was 90 when he died in 2009. Her uncle Dan of Belcruit was 98 when he died in 1946.”
Amazingly, Kathleen’s half brother Lance-Corporal James Doherty took part in World War One. Part of the First Battalion, the Royal Irish Fusiliers, he sadly died of his wounds in March 1918 in a German Prison Hospital.
Lá breithe shona duit from all at Donegal Daily!
Tags:
