Mayo woman reveals secret of her longevity on 102nd birthday
Despite Ireland’s giant slaying win over South Africa in the rugby World Cup Catherine ‘Katty’ Delaney, who was 102 on Friday last, isn’t overly excited.
“I’m not that interested in rugby," she confided at her birthday bash in Mayo Abbey Community Centre.
“I prefer Gaelic football, I always follow Mayo," she explained.
When asked if she believes in ‘the curse’ as an explanation for Mayo not winning an All-Ireland since 1951, she replied: “I shouldn’t, I suppose, but I do."
Asked if she ever thought she’d reach the venerable age of 102, she replied: “No I did not. I’m just taking it as it comes."
Although she is not a Pioneer (member of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association) Katty has never tasted an alcoholic drink in her life.
Neither did she ever enter a dance hall although she has lived through the halcyon days of ballroom dancing.
Asked why she never went to a dance she replied: “It’s just that I didn’t go. I never bothered."
‘Katty’ gave more than 80 years service to the Catholic Church as a sacristan housekeeper.
As neighbours, friends and relatives gathered to celebrate her 102nd birthday in Mayo Abbey Community Centre, pride of place was given at the intimate gathering to two memoirs she has written about her busy and productive life.
The books, ‘Priests in Mayo Abbey in my time’ and ‘My century in Mayo Abbey’, were written in her 100th year.
Both publications have been very well received and are regarded as having added significantly to the social history lore of the central Mayo area already available.
There are marvellous stories of bygone days in both, tales that will intrigue and provoke laughter.
One of the many tasks ‘Katty’ had to perform during her days as a cleric’s housekeeper included milking cows, saving hay, growing vegetables.
She even looked after a Suffolk ram which won many show-day ribbons for the late Canon Heaney, parish priest of Mayo Abbey in the 1950s.
‘Katty’ served Mass for Canon Heaney in Latin Mass times.
As a result the canon was summoned before Archbishop Walsh in Tuam as it was against the rules of the Catholic Church at the time for girls to serve Mass.
Longevity may well be in Katty’s genes for her grandfather, Walter Hughes, was 103 when he died in 1939.
Grandad Walter used to tell her stories of the Great Famine and is believed to have been one of the first persons in the west of Ireland to ride a bicycle.
Local church leaders have praised ‘Katty’ as “an extraordinarily devoted servant of the church down through the decades”.
Katty lives independently thanks to Mayo Abbey Parish Housing Association which is spearheaded by Ger Maguire.
“Katty is an inspiration, always smiling,” says Mr. Maguire.
“The turnout at her party speaks for the esteem in which she is held by the entire community. Her books have contributed greatly to the volume of local history over the last century."