Centenarian Nellie's secret is ‘hard work and the odd fag'

AS the country remembers and commemorates all of the events of 1916, they probably all went a little unnoticed in one household in Lislevane, all of one hundred years ago, when Nellie Moloney was born – the third eldest of seven children of Laurence and Bridget Moloney.   

On July 12th last, Nellie celebrated her milestone birthday in the comfortable, peaceful and tranquil surroundings of Care Choice in Clonakilty.

Meeting a centenarian are pretty rare occurrences and also quite humbling.

 Alert with a beaming smile, it was evident that Nellie liked and still likes her style and seemed to enjoy the attention. No traces of ageing skin and no request to airbrush the photo – there are still things in life that are all so natural. 

How times have changed as she left school at the tender age of 12 years and went to work for the Griffin family in Maryborough, Timoleague, where she stayed until she was twenty.

At that time, Nellie’s sister (Bridget) was housekeeper at O’Sullivan’s Knockbrown (between Timoleague and Bandon).

 In due course, Nellie took her sister’s place at O’Sullivan’s and worked there until 1987.  When the O’Sullivan farm was sold, Nellie continued her working life at Edward O’Driscoll’s farm at Convent Hill, Bandon.  

Having spent about 20 years at Convent Hill, Nellie subsequently moved to sheltered accommodation at Avenue House in Bandon, where she spent several happy years. Then, at age of 96, she moved to Care Choice in Clonakilty where she is extremely happy.  She puts her longevity down ‘to hard work and the odd fag’ – the latter up to about four years ago when she gave up smoking.  

Nellie enjoys life at the excellent facility that is Care Choice and is very much a favourite with the staff. Nellie also received the customary cheque to honour her 100th birthday and a game of bingo is still part of her life.