A great-great-grandmother has said she “felt like a film star” after the local parish marked her 100th birthday with a live church concert celebration.
At least one person for every year of Elizabeth Lyons’ long life attended St Mary’s Church, Athlunkard Street, Limerick, to pay tribute to her.
Mrs Lyons, born Elizabeth Kelly, on January 3, 1922, is a regular Mass-goer at St Mary’s, where she was baptised in the former church grounds on January 6, 100 years ago.
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Fr Richie Davern, PP, St Mary’s Church told the congregation on January 3: “She brought 12 children into the world, including one little baby, Philomena, who is an angel in heaven.
“She has 41 grandchildren, 55 great-grandchildren and one on the way, two great-great-grandchildren and another on the way.
“I would say you have more descendants than Moses and Abraham combined. We gather today, Mrs Lyons with real gratitude and joy in our hearts for you, that you have reached this amazing milestone. Believe it or not, you have lived 36,525 days, and apparently you have slept 12,172 of them, this is what the statistics tell us.”
Married in St Mary’s church, in 1946, Mrs Lyons’ husband Martin, a former ship worker, sadly passed away in 1999.
Fr Davern added: “You were born on this island at a time when Ireland was embroiled in a civil war, and you have lived all of your 100 years in this parish, which is truly remarkable. None of us can comprehend how this lovely lady has seen all the changes through the last 100 years in society, in the church, and yet, she has remained faithful throughout that journey.
“But today is about celebrating Mrs Lyons.
"She was at her granddaughter’s wedding last Saturday, and not alone did she attend the ceremony here in the church, she didn’t go to bed until 3am, and she was back up here for Mass at 11am – they don’t make them like that anymore.”
The St Mary’s Prize Fife and Drum Band, founded in 1885, thundered out a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday, backed by the congregation. The special Mass was concelebrated by five priests from the Diocese. Speaking afterwards, having receiving a standing ovation, Mrs Lyons beamed: “I feel like a film star.”
She joked: “Thank you very much, I’m not feeling too bad, all I want is two new knees and I’ll be alright. I only came down to Mass and I didn’t know anything like this was going on, so I’m after getting a surprise now.”
Asked what she had planned for the remainder of her day, she replied: “I’ll do a bit of work, if there’s anything to be done, I’m still able to go about.
“It’s only my knees, and I’d be alright if only for that, but I’ll still go dancing.”
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