Anne and Sr Alphonsus celebrate in style – at the youthful age of just 100

ANNE O’Regan is living proof that, when it comes to celebrating birthdays, she can party with the best of them.

The 100-year-old mother of nine from Ballinacourtha, Belgooly, celebrated her special birthday in style last weekend.

Anne was delighted that her family, friends and neighbours were all on hand to celebrate her big day, including two of her daughters who made the trip from Australia.

Last Saturday’s special celebrations began with a thanksgiving Mass in Belgooly, which was celebrated by Anne’s nephew, Fr Charles Kiely.

‘Following Mass we had a big gathering in The Hunstman Inn in Belgooly with family, friends and neighbours, and Anne loved it – she was still up celebrating into the late hours of the night,’ her son Micheál told The Southern Star.

‘She’s in good health and is well aware of what’s going on and it was 11 years since the whole family – eight children who are alive – were all together, so it was a fantastic occasion.’ 

Anne was also delighted to receive a letter and a  cheque for €2,500 from President Michael D Higgins and Micheál got the letter framed for her. 

Anne lives with Micheál and his sister Monica in Belgooly and was married to Dan Joe O’Regan, who died in 1989.

Meanwhile in Bandon, Sr Alphonsus also celebrated her 100th birthday recently and the Bishop of Cork and Ross John Buckley visited her at the Presentation Convent on the day to mark her milestone birthday.

Sr Alphonsus, an active member of Bandon parish, is known throughout West Cork for her hugely popular productions of the Advent Celebrations and the Good Friday Passion Drama that take place annually in St Patrick’s Church, Bandon.