Death of one of mayos oldest citizens

DELIA Henry, Charlestown, who died at the weekend aged 104, was a woman of many roles in her long and fruitful lifetime – teacher, painter, storyteller, historian and, more latterly, internet surfer.

Born in Killaturley, Swinford, in 1910, the seventh of nine children, Delia went on to forge a successful and respected career as a primary teacher.
Schools where she taught included Cloonlyon, Barnacogue and Tavneena, Charlestown. She retired as principal of Tavneena N.S. in 1975 at the age of 65.

In 1976 she came out of retirement to teach again in Barnacogue for two years. The school was threatened with closure at the time but is still open. Delia is credited with playing an important role in the school’s survival.

Various writers, including Cathal Henry, one of her sons, chronicled her life’s experiences and thoughts over the decades.

On the advent of TV in the rural Ireland of the 1960s, she recounted: “TV almost took over the house. To interrupt a programme in any way was almost a sin. Work was scheduled to fit in with the picture or saga until people became more selective in their viewing.”

Delia did not curse modern technology. Instead she embraced it, as she did some 40 years later when the internet became popular and she joined the swelling ranks of the e-mailers.

Her remains will be reposing at St. Anne’s Nursing Home  tomorrow evening (Tuesday) from 5 to 7.30 p.m. before removal to St. James’s Church, Charlestown. Burial takes place in the adjoining cemetery on Wednesday following Requiem Mass for the repose of her soul at 12 noon.