Ireland's oldest person dies aged 108
Ms Coyle passed away on Monday, 14 July, ten days before she was to turn 109. She was born on 24 July, 1916.
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Her grandson Thomas said that she died peacefully surrounded by her family. She was living with her daughter Marian Gilligan in Castleknock, Co Dublin.
In an interview with the
Irish Times
in April this year, Ms Coyle's daughter spoke about her mother's childhood in Co Wicklow. She had significant memories of the Black and Tans' operations in her locality as a girl, as well as memories of the War of Independence (1919-1921) and the Civil War (1922-1923).
Ms Coyle married and settled in Drumcondra, having four children, two of whom sadly died as newborns.
Ms Coyle's sister Lily was 103 in April. He brother Andy reached the age of 101.
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Irish Independent
21 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Obituary: Sarah Coyle, Ireland's oldest resident at 108 who lived with ‘positive outlook' despite being blind for 68 years
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.
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Irish Independent
‘The personification of sunshine' – Ireland's oldest person Sarah Coyle is laid to rest
Mrs Coyle, who at 108 was Ireland's oldest person, lived through two pandemics, the Irish Civil War and the War of Independence. She was a native of Knockatomcoyle, Co Wicklow, but lived with her daughter Marian Galligan in Castleknock in Dublin. She died peacefully on Monday surrounded by her family. Her granddaughter Anne Marie told mourners at St Brigid's Church in Blanchardstown in Dublin today that her Nana was the 'personification of sunshine'. 'You felt her warmth. She radiated a positive energy and you would be left with a glow from simply basking in her presence. Like the song goes she made you happy when skies were grey,' she said. 'It is true Nana had much suffering or heartache in her life. She didn't dwell on it. She refused to let it define her. She actively chose happiness and love. Repeatedly.' Anne Marie said that her grandmother had lost her sight by the age of 40. 'Despite living in total darkness for much of her long life she brought light to so many. She was a masterclass in resilience,' she said. 'She proved your energy creates a ripple. When you choose healing over hate, peace over pride and love over fear you become the light that someone end was praying for. 'Today Nana we marvel at your courage, we celebrate your strength and we are forever grateful for your sunshine. The world is so much brighter from you having been in it. 'Your love and sunbeams will continue to shine through all of us whom you have loved so fiercely. You can rest in peace now Nana knowing that you were the very best in nana's and the very best in women.' Anne Marie added that her grandmother was a person of many skills. Sarah, who was widowed in 1968, was a 'talented seamstress and avid gardener' who could singlehandedly flip a double mattress and change sheets until her 90s when her family 'begged her to stop'. Her son-in-law Anthony said that Sarah often marvelled at her longevity. 'She used to say 'I can't believe I'm a hundred years old and I'm still here. I wonder if God has forgotten about me?' And we would say 'Far from it. He hasn't forgotten about you. But you still have important work on earth and he is leaving you here.' 'She would break in to a lovely smile and say 'I suppose he will call me when he needs me.' Anthony said that his mother-in-law had a great sense of fun and would want her funeral to be a happy event. He remembered her 'lovely smile and 'kind words' and indicated that she was a role model to her loved ones. 'By the age of 40 she was almost totally blind. You would think that was as a parent of a young family a tremendous challenge. I can only imagine what it must have been like,' Anthony said. 'She quickly gathered herself. She said there was two choices - 'I could either go under or spend the rest of my life feeling sorry for myself.' She was an inspiration.' Fr John Gilligan, who celebrated the mass, said that it was being watched online by Sarah's 103-year-old sister Lily, who is based in Birmingham in the UK and by her son Patrick who lives in Melbourne, Australia. Fr Gilligan said that the congregation were in the church to celebrate a 'life well lived'. 'Almost 109 years of life. What changes she would have seen from the Ireland of 1916 to the Ireland of today,' he said. 'When you look at her life she was one who lived it to the full. Her advice to people was 'Don't bear grudges. Be kind to people.' 'We think of all the things she went through in life. The history. 1916. Raised in the that time. She even talks about the Black and Tans. All the stories we hear of in history she experienced so much of in her life. 'She loved to have the minister of the eucharist come to her in the parish. I have always been impressed by the care Marian and Anthony gave to her. 'This day three weeks ago I went up to visit her after the ten o'clock mass here. We brought her communion and we anointed her. And I said 'I hear you have a big birthday coming up.' And she had a lovely big smile. I said 'when were you born?.' She said 'the 24th of July 1916.' 'She was full of joy living life to the full. It was wonderful to see the type of person she was. 'She was always a lady with a great sense of fun. She loved people and she loved chatting with them. 'She kept herself informed with current affairs. Radio Éireann and Liveline. She was always one step ahead with the quick retort.' Offertory gifts at the 10am mass included holy water, signifying Sarah's deep faith, a 'talking book', seeds to represent her love of gardening and a picture of Sarah with her family on the occasion of her 100th birthday. As a young woman Sarah worked in Foxrock in Dublin where she was employed as a housekeeper. She met her husband Tom Coyle at a dance. He was a native of Cavan who worked as a postman until ill health set in in his late fifties. The couple lived in Drumcondra, and had four children, two of whom died as newborns. Mrs Coyle became the oldest person in Ireland following the death on March 20th last in Letterkenny in Co Donegal of 109-year-old Ruby Druce. Sarah Coyle is survived by her two adult children, her son in law, her grandchildren, great grandchildren, extended family and friends. She was pre-deceased by eight of her nine siblings. After her funeral mass today she was laid to rest in Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin.
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Irish Times
Woman who died days before 109th birthday ‘lived life to the full', funeral hears
The woman believed to be Ireland's oldest person, who died just days before her 109th birthday, 'lived life to the full' and was a 'masterclass in resilience', her funeral has heard. Sarah Coyle , who was born in the year of the Easter Rising, died on Monday surrounded by her family. Fr John Gilligan, who led the Requiem Mass at St Brigid's Church in Blanchardstown in west Dublin on Friday, described her as a 'lady with a great sense of fun who loved chatting'. Fr Gilligan said Ms Coyle saw Ireland change 'through many seasons', while her advice was 'don't bear grudges and be kind to people'. READ MORE Ms Coyle was born in Knockatomcoyle, a townland in Co Wicklow, before her family moved to Coolkenno, near Tullow. She was working as a housekeeper in Foxrock when she met her husband Tom Coyle from Cavan at a dance. They lived in Drumcondra and had four children, though two of their daughters died as newborns. Mr Coyle died in 1968 while Ms Coyle began to lose her sight from her late 30s. She is survived by her daughter Marian, son Patrick and sister Lily, aged 103. Ms Coyle's granddaughter Anne-Marie said she was 'selfless and would do all she could for others'. She described her grandmother as 'an amazing host' while 'acts of service were her love language'. She spoke of Ms Coyle's self-deprecating nature saying she was 'never demanding, not one to hog the spotlight or be the centre of attention'. Anne-Marie said despite the 'much suffering and heartache in her life', her grandmother 'didn't dwell on it and refused to let it define her'. 'It would have been easy for her to grow bitter and angry at the world and nobody could have blamed her, but she actively chose happiness and love repeatedly,' she said. 'I always found it a testament to her strength and resolve that, despite living in total darkness for the majority of her long life, she brought light to many. She was a masterclass in resilience.' She added that the 'world was so much brighter' for her being in it and was 'the very best of nanas and the very best of women'. Anne-Marie said she would 'forever think of sunshine' when she thinks of her grandmother. Ms Coyle's son-in-law Anthony described her as a 'role model to all of us, an inspiration and an example of how we should all live our lives'. He said she had 'all the qualities of a saint here on earth' while recalling her 100th birthday celebrations. 'She used to say: 'I can't believe I'm 100 years old and I'm still here. I wonder has God forgotten about me?' And we would say: 'Far from it, he hasn't forgotten about you but you still have important work here on earth and he's leaving you here for more'. She would break into her lovely smile and say: 'I suppose he'll call me when he needs me'.'
