One of Donegal’s oldest residents is celebrating another birthday today as she turns 106 during the country’s second pandemic year.
Popular Castlefinn native Ruby Druce was born on New Year’s Eve 1915.
Having lived through the 1918 pandemic, Ruby says times have changed greatly in this strange year.
There may be no party for 2021, but Ruby is still able to celebrate her birthday with cake and countless cards and phone calls from well-wishers.
Ruby Druce celebrating her 105th birthday last New Year’s Eve with her nieces, Carmel Harron from Castlefinn and Margo Butler from Letterkenny.
Ruby lives in Letterkenny with her niece Margo Butler, while the latest restrictions have even put a halt to too many family and friends visiting from Castlefinn.
Born in 1915 to George Crawford and Elizabeth (née McBride) of Castlefinn, Ruby has lived a long and interesting life.
She was the eldest of five children and lost two siblings, her brother James and sister Mary Elizabeth, to the Spanish Flu.
Ruby worked in Porter’s Shirt Factory from the age of 14 to 62. In 1956 she married her childhood sweetheart James Druce, who sadly passed away in 1970.
Ruby Druce on her moped in the 1960s
In recent years, Ruby’s birthday would have been marked in the company of her nieces, grand nephews and nieces, great grand nephews and nieces.
Today the celebrations are much more low-key, but Ruby is grateful to be keeping well.
Ruby’s secret to a long life has always been ‘plenty of walking, hard work and a daily cod liver oil capsule’.
Looking ahead to 2022, Ruby is hoping for better days.
Happy Birthday Ruby.
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