By Dionne Meehan
IRELAND’S oldest person, Castlefinn woman Ruby Druce, has passed away.
Named as Ireland’s oldest person last August following the death of Galway woman Phyllis Furness, Ms Druce celebrated her 109th birthday on New Year’s Eve.
Born and raised in Castlefinn, Ruby came to live in Letterkenny with her niece Margo Butler on her 98th birthday where she spent 10 wonderful years.
However, following Margo’s sad passing last July, Ruby returned to Castlefinn to live with her niece Carmel Harran and Carmel’s husband Martin.
In her early days, Ruby began working in a shirt factory at the ripe age of 15.
She loved working and said it was a contributor to her long and healthy life, along with plenty of walking and a daily cod liver oil capsule.
53 years ago, Ruby’s husband Jim sadly passed away. Despite having no children of her own, her nieces and nephews were the apple of her eye.
Apart from her nieces Margo and Carmel, Ruby has a nephew, Seamus Ponsonby, who lives in Letterkenny. He was a regular visitor with his wife Kathleen, and another niece, Claire Mullan, who lives in Canada.
In her last months, Ruby could be found most days reciting the Rosary from the comfort of her armchair, as she listened to Mass on YouTube.
She was fully aware and conscious of her age, but she was never one to boast.
However, in a previous interview with the Donegal News, she said one of the happiest days of her life was turning 100-years-old.
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