Fresh as a daisy at 102
Posted online: Aug 31st, 2010
One of Inishowen’s oldest residents is today celebrating a special birthday – her 102nd.
Family and friends of Daisy Smyth from Ballyloskey, Carndonagh, will gather in her home for a quiet celebration to mark the milestone, which Daisy informed the Inish Times she has reached due to “hard work, independence and lots of tea.”
Daisy was born on 31st August 1908 in Cartruse, Newtowncunningham, the youngest of Richard and Mary Ann Cresswell’s seven children.
Tragically, her parents passed away when she was just seven years old “from the bad flu” and she and her siblings were separated, going to different members of the family. Daisy was cared for by her aunt and uncle Liza and John McLaughlin on a farm in Carndonagh, known as The Parks.
She wasn’t reunited with any of her siblings until she was 61 years old, after her brother John came over from California and a small family reunion was held, much to everyone’s delight.
As a young girl, she attended Craigtown National School, Wesley School and Carn Tech and married her husband David on April 23, 1935 after meeting him while attending Donagh Church, from which they used to walk home together. The couple went on to have five children, James, Greta, Ray, David and Maureen.
Daisy’s husband David died in 1975 and, sadly, her eldest son James also passed away a few years ago, both of whom she misses very much.
Daisy finds great delight in her 13 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren and recently, she was over the moon to become a great-great grandmother for the first time, to little Jacob Bond.
Daisy’s daughter Maureen said her mother had always been a hard worker.
“She had her own little home industry as you could call it. She sold eggs, milk and butter on the farm and worked very, very hard. She would tell you hard work is one of the reasons why she has reached over 100 years of age!
“She was also always a very independent and a very active lady.”
Daisy was also very active in the community, helping out at Donagh Church and getting involved in the Mother’s Union. In her later years she enjoyed travelling and has had numerous trips to England and Scotland to visit her children. In 1976, she made her first long-haul flight when she visited Maureen in Texas and this was followed by trips to France and Spain.
Up until recently, Daisy frequently attended the Day Centre in Carndonagh. She enjoys drinking tea and watching TV, especially the soaps, gardening and cooking programmes.
Daisy was keen to pay tribute to the great work of her “wonderful” home-help Helen Kelly, who has been with her for many years.
Throughout Daisy’s life, she has seen many world changing events, including two World Wars, the sinking of the Titanic, the Easter Rising, the discovery of penicillin, women winning the right to vote, the first man on the moon, the invention of television, the assassination of John F Kennedy and the discovery of the Internet.
On her 100th and 101st birthdays, Daisy received a “Happy Birthday “letter from President Mary McAleese. She is now looking forward to receiving yet another, on the landmark occasion of her 102nd..