Sprightly Croghan Woman celebrated her 100th birthday

Mrs. Margaret Josephine Maguire of Lisadaily, Croghan, Boyle, celebrated he 100th birthdayon Monday last - and “celebrated” was the operative word as friends, relations and neighbours gathered at her home to share with her the joys of her centenary.

As gay and sprightly as a woman half her vulnerable age, she was in full possession of all her faculties and is so remarkably alert that in conversation with her it was difficult to realise that she had been in this world for over a century. 

Eleven Children.

Born at Tonroe Kingsland, on April 1, 1868. Margaret Josephine was one of eleven children,seven boys and four girls of Mr. Andrew King and Mrs. King (nee Casey). She is now the only surviving memory of that family.

She first attended school at Ballybain (Boyle Parish, now Grange school) where her teacher was the late Michael Madden.

She walked there daily (a round journey of about nine miles), mostly in her bare feet. When a new school was built in Kingsland she transferred to it, her teacher been Mrs Higgins.

“There was no scarcity of children then for all schools”, Mrs. Maguire recalls.

She was baptised, received her first communion and was confirmed in Breedogue Church

Went to the U.S.

At the age of 15 1/2  she travelled to …