Ireland's 'oldest woman' dies just days before 109th birthday
Sarah Coyle died peacefully, surrounded by her family, at her home in Dublin yesterday evening (Tuesday), just ten days before her 109th birthday.
Sarah (Byrne) was born on July 24th 1916 at Knockatomcoyle in County Wicklow where she was one of ten children, but she moved to Dublin at the age of 17 to work as a carer for an elderly lady in Foxrock, before moving to Drumcondra after she married Tom Coyle in 1950. Sarah Coyle.
Speaking to RTE's Morning Ireland Radio programme, her grandson Thomas Galligan said his grandmother had a great attitude to life, and even though she lost her eyesight in an accident in 1957, she had a 'get on with it' way about her, which saw her adapt to life without her sight.
Thomas Galligan said his grandmother had two young children to care for at the time of the accident and though she was blind as a result of a head injury, she had a very positive mindset and just got on with it. He also said his grandmother's advice to anyone hoping to live a long life, was not to hold grudges and drink lots of tea.
Sarah Coyle often spoke of her life and her memories of seeing the 'Black and Tans' on the streets and remembers their very distinctive uniforms, and she also had clear memories of The Emergency (WWII) as it was called at the time, and the rationing of food that came with it.
Sarah Coyle had a total of eight presidential medals, an honour received each year by people who reach the age of 100 and over.
Sarah has one living sibling, a sister Lily who is 103 and lives in Birmingham.
She is remembered fondly by her two children, five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
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Servings 6 Preparation Time 20 mins Cooking Time 30 mins Total Time 50 mins Course Main Ingredients 1.5 lb minced meat 1 beef Oxo cube 2 carrots, diced 1 onion, diced 3 cloves garlic minced 1 celery stick, diced 4–5 cherry tomatoes, halved 1 carrot grated 1 small red pepper, diced 1 tbsp dried oregano 4 tbsp tomato purée 1 tin chopped tomatoes 500ml water Handful of fresh basil, roughly chopped Salt and pepper, to taste Olive oil and butter, for cooking 1 clove garlic, minced Method Heat a little olive oil in a large pan. Brown the minced meat. Once browned, stir in the crushed Oxo cube, 3 tablespoons of tomato purée, oregano, and season with salt and pepper. Set aside. In the same pan, melt a little butter. Add the onion, garlic, celery, cherry tomatoes, carrots and red pepper. Cook for 5–6 minutes until softened. Return the mince to the pan. Add the chopped tomatoes, remaining tomato purée, and water. Stir well. Bring to a gentle simmer. 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Irish Independent
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A mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who lost her sight at the age of 40, she lived through the early years of Irish independence and the Civil War, two World Wars and several pandemics. She was born Sarah Byrne on July 24, 1916, in Knockatomcoyle, Co Wicklow, and was one of a family of 10 reared at Coolkenno, near Tullow on the Carlow-Wicklow border. She had clear memories of significant periods in Irish history, including recounting how members of the Black and Tans called to the family farm. They brought her grandfather James out and 'were going to shoot him at the gable end [of the house] — for no reason', her daughter Marian Galligan told the Irish Times earlier this year. However, after he blessed himself, the group leader ordered his men to put down their guns and let him live. Ms Coyle moved to Dublin at 17 and became a housekeeper in Foxrock. At a dance in Dún Laoghaire she met a Cavan man, Tom Coyle, and they married and moved to Drumcondra on Dublin's northside. Tom worked as a postman, and the couple grew vegetables and kept hens, supplying their neighbours with eggs. Their first two children, two girls, died just 10 days after they were born, but the couple went on to have a daughter, Marian, and son, Patrick. Sarah began to lose her eyesight in her 30s and her daughter believes it may have been linked to an incident where she was accidentally hit in the face and it affected her optic nerve. However, as those at her funeral in Blanchardstown on Friday heard, she never complained. Her husband Tom died in 1968 when only in his late 50s after suffering a stroke and a brain haemorrhage. With her two children still quite young, she was given much support by neighbours and her family. Her grandson, Thomas Galligan, said that she continued to garden, using guide wires that she made to navigate from the back door to the flower beds, including roses, and to her tomato plants. She was always someone who was so comforting He described her as very adaptable with a 'positive outlook on life'. One of her most frequent pieces of advice was 'not to bear a grudge' as life was 'too short'. She had been an avid reader before losing her sight, and continued with audiobooks. Ms Coyle also had a strong faith. She welcomed visitors, providing generous hospitality, and loved the sound of children's voices. 'Because she lost her sight, the radio was her insight into what was going on in the world,' Mr Galligan said. 'She loved keeping on top of things and then, when she would be chatting to us, she would be discussing it and getting our opinion. 'She was always someone who was so comforting. She had a very gentle way about her, someone that you go to if you're upset or have any issues. She would calm you.' She was happy to sing a song or recite a poem at social gatherings, but 'to keep the party going' rather than because she wanted to perform. She rarely drank alcohol, apart from the odd sherry on social occasions and attributed her longevity to a good diet, including using the first new nettles of spring to blend with cabbage and help to 'purify the blood'. She received eight presidential medals, the first being when she turned 100. After Ireland's then oldest resident, Phyllis Furness, died last August at the age of 109, Ms Coyle took on that mantle. She was just 10 days short of her own 109th birthday when she died at her daughter's home in Castleknock, where she had been living latterly. Sarah Coyle is survived by her children, her five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
