THERE were celebrations in Gaoth Dobhair last Wednesday when Annie (Winnie) O’Donnell, Knockastolar, Bunbeg celebrated her 103rd birthday.
A very well known and popular lady, Annie was inundated with birthday wishes by her many friends and family members.
She was born in Culacrick, Annagry on December 4, 1921. Her mother, Winnie (Neddie Shorcha Óg) Boyle was a native Bun na mBeann, while her father, Paddy O’Donnell (Paidí Johnnie Sheáin Óig) hailed from Culacrick, Annagry.
Annie was the eldest of a family of seven. She attended Annagry school but left at the age of 13 to help her mother with the housework.
A few years later she started working as a maid with the Gorman family in Dungloe, before taking up the same position with the Houston family in Kingarrow near Fintown.
The Houstons owned a shop in the area and also travelled around the locality selling goods from a truck. She subsequently worked as a maid with the Cunnanes, two local teachers in Falcarragh, where she stayed for two years.
She met Eoghan O’Donnell (Eoghan Chonaill Pheigí) from Cnoc an Stolaire, Gaoth Dobhair in the early 1940s.
She later spent some years working in Scotland and she married Eoghan in Glasgow on March 1, 1950.
Shortly after they married, Annie and Eoghan returned to Knockastolar where they raised a family of five children: PJ, Connie, Úna, John and Éamonn. She has five grandchildren and a number of great-grandchildren.
Her husband, Eoghan died in September 2012 and sadly her eldest son, PJ, passed away suddenly in December 2017.
Annie was always an outstanding baker, a skill she acquired from her mother.
Down through the years she won prizes for her delicious brown bread and also has given baking demonstrations in Ionad Naomh Pádraig, Dore. Annie also has had a life-long passion for gardening.
She is wished many happy returns on her special birthday.
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