Ireland’s oldest person, who celebrated her 109th birthday this week, credits her long life to “hard work, no smoking and no drinking”. Eileen Hynes was born on December 15th, 1916, in Cullenwaine, near Moneygall in Co Offaly. She is the youngest of four boys and two girls born to William and Mary Jones (née Kelly). This prohibited married women from working in Civil Service jobs and largely prevented them from working in the private sector too. Hard work took place in unequal measure “inside and outside”, she says, raising her family alongside working on their farm.

Source: The Irish Times December 18, 2025 16:22 UTC