Featured photo: Ruby Druce and family with her nine President’s medals on her 109th Birthday. Photo North West Newspix
Special celebrations are underway this New Year’s Eve as Ruby Druce, Ireland’s oldest known citizen, marks her 109th birthday.
The remarkable Castlefinn centenarian will be ‘Queen Bee’ for the day as well-wishers gather to mark another incredible achievement.
Born on New Year’s Eve 1915, Ruby has lived through two World Wars and two pandemics.
She now lives in Castlefinn with her niece Carmel and Carmel’s husband Martin.
“She’s unbelievable for her age,” Martin tells Donegal Daily.
“She is getting on very well for a woman of 109 years of age.”
When her age is mentioned to her, Martin says that Ruby laughs at the idea and simply says ‘He’s forgotten about me’ – referring to God above!
Ruby Druce, who is believed to be Ireland’s oldest resident, with her 109th birthday cake
This year has sadly seen a lot of change for Ruby. Her niece, Margo Butler, who had cared for her in Letterkenny for 10 years, passed away in July shortly after a cancer diagnosis.
Ruby came to live with Carmel and Martin after Margo’s passing, and while she was very happy in Letterkenny, there is a sense that her life has come full circle now she is back in Castlefinn where her heart lies.
“It’s been a big change in her life, nobody could have looked after her better than Margo did,” Martin said.
Ruby was surrounded by family this Christmas. She welcomed a visit from singer Sinead Black and received scores of cards, including 29 handmade cards from local school children.
Ruby became Ireland’s oldest known resident in August, following the passing of Galway woman Phyllis Furness, aged 109.
A non-smoker and a tee-totaller, Ruby has only ever had a sip of poitín at the age of three when she contracted the flu in 1918. Ruby lost her six-week-old baby sister Molly and two-year-old brother James to the influenza outbreak.
Born to George Crawford and Elizabeth (née McBride), Ruby was the eldest of five children. Ruby worked in Porter’s Shirt Factory from the age of 14 to 62. She married Jim Druce in 1956, but Jim sadly passed away 14 years later.
Ruby Druce on her moped in the 1960s
Ruby has always been surrounded by a great circle of nieces, one nephew, grand nieces and nephews and great grand nieces and nephews. Ruby shares her name with her great-grand-niece, Ruby Shields, who was born exactly 100 years later and christened in the same outfit.
The remarkable Ruby Druce has always belied her years, keeping active and walking whenever she could, and amazingly, she lived independently until she was 98.
We wish Ruby and her family a very happy birthday and a Happy New Year in 2025.
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