Born Before the 1916 Rising – Mrs. Nora Curtin Celebrated 100th Today

Baby Ruby Haigh was baptised in St. Mary’s Knocknagoshel Parish Church earlier today – the same day on which her great-grandmother, Mrs. Nora Curtin celebrated her 100th birthday at her home in Knightsmountain. Included are: Philip and Hudson Haigh, Charlie and Sheila Curtin, grandparents with baby Ruby and her mom, Catherine. ©Photograph: John Reidy

The Harp stamped special letter from President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins was another special delivery at the home of Mrs. Nora Curtin for her 100th birthday celebrations today.

Newly weds, seated: Nora Mulchrone, Buchagh, Newport, Co Mayo and Charlie Curtin, Knightsmountain, Knocknagoshel pictured on their wedding day in Kilburn, London on August 8th 1941 with best man, Michael O’Connell and bridesmaid, Nell Chambers.

Three Castleisland women, Mary McCarthy (left) Bridie Pembroke and Ann Cahill at Mrs. Nora Curtin’s 100th birthday celebrations at her home in Knightsmountain earlier today. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Mrs. Nora Curtin celebrating her 100th birthday at home in Knightsmountain earlier today with her children from left: Charlie, Rose Kelly, Mary Cameron, Noreen O’Connor, Joan Hughes, Eamon Curtin and Kathleen Leen. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Happy 100th Birthday Nora: Mrs. Nora Curtin being congratulated on her 100th birthday by her carers, Lil Burke (left) and Bridie Begley at her home in Knightsmountain earlier today. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Mayo and Kerry musicians mixing it, Box player, Frank Moore, Westport, Co. Mayo and Sliabh Luachra fiddler, Paddy Jones playing at Mrs. Nora Curtin’s 100th birthday celebrations in Knightsmountain earlier today with Rosaleen Moore listening. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Rosaleen Moore, Westport, Co. Mayo (left) pictured with: Mary Morrissey, Lyreacrompane; Ann Higgins, Galway and Concepta Murray, Mayo at Mrs. Nora Curtin’s 100th birthday celebrations at her home in Knightsmountain earlier today. ©Photograph: John Reidy

The Papal Blessing from His Hoilness Pope Francis arrived at Mrs. Nora Curtin’s home in Knightsmountain in time for her 100th birthday celebrations today.

Locals: Bridie Curtin (left) pictured with Patricia Ahern and Agnes Cremins with Paddy Murray, Newport, Co. Mayo and Rose Sheehy, Lyreacrompane at Mrs. Nora Curtin’s 100th birthday celebrations at her home in Knightsmountain earlier today. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Jerry Courtney (left) and Charlie Curtin at Charlie’s mother, Mrs. Nora Curtin’s 100th birthday celebrations at her home in Knightsmountain earlier today. ©Photograph: John Reidy

I got an invitation last week to an amazing event which took place in Knightsmountain earlier today and I suspect it’s still going strong. The event prompted two very special deliveries. One from Áras an Uachtaráin and the other from The Vatican, from President Michael D Higgins and Pope Francis respectively.

In the cosy cottage in Knightsmountain, which has been her home since 1943, Mrs. Nora Curtin celebrated her 100th birthday today.

She was born, Nora Mulchrone on February 18th 1916 and was raised in Buchagh, Newport, Co Mayo with her six siblings: Tommy, John, Charlie, Molly, Catherine and Rose and her parents Edward Mulchrone and Rose Moran.

Her parents had a farm and her father was a weaver. The family were known as the Weaver Mulchrones.

She went to school in Trienbeg NS and left Mayo in 1938. Her father would send her tweed twice a year for her to get a suit made in the latest fashion as Nora was so tall she could not get suits to fit her. He would always make sure it was a different pattern or colour.

She met Charlie Curtin and married him in the Church of the Sacred Heart on Quex Road in Kilburn, London on August 8^th. 1941 and they returned to Mayo in 1942. Their first child Rose was born the same year.

They returned to Kerry in 1943 and  they made Knightsmountain their home where Nora still lives today. They went on to have six more children. Mary, Joan, Noreen, Charlie, Kathleen and Eamon.

Nora kept a cow which was milked daily and had a well for fresh water. Charlie worked for the forestry and enjoyed nothing more than going to Castleisland on his Honda 50.

Kathleen and Eamon are still living in Kerry and look after Nora daily with the help of her fantastic carers Bridie Begley and Lil Burke.

Mary, Joan, Noreen, Charlie all live in parts of England and are regular visitors home. Nora has 16 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.

Another special family event took place on the great day when one of her great-grand-children – Ruby Haigh – was christened in St, Mary’s Parish Church in Knocknagoshel by Fr. Eoin Mangan earlier in the day.

Nora, with the help of her grandchildren Rosie and Carole, has a Facebook account.
She has many friends and loves nothing more than to scroll through the pictures and news from all her family who are stretched from New York to Australia.

While she likes the pictures on Facebook she loves nothing more than writing or receiving a letter which has been a hobby of hers all her life.

She attributes her longevity to starting her day with a cup of cooled boiled water.

Her birthday was marked with a celebration in her home with all of her children and family and a special cake made by her niece Rosealeen Moore, which came all the way from Mayo.