By Dionne Meehan
CASTLEFINN woman Ruby Druce (108) is now believed to be the oldest person in Ireland.
It follows the recent passing of Galway’s Phyllis Furness.
Ms Furness died in Galway on August 12 after celebrating her 109th birthday on May 23 at Moycullen Nursing Home.
After turning 108-years-old on New Year’s Eve, Ruby said she is very proud of the age she has reached.
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 in July, Ruby has now 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 have always been the apple of her eye.
Apart from her nieces Margo and Carmel, Ruby has a nephew, Seamus Ponsonby, who lives in Letterkenny and is a regular visitor with his wife Kathleen, and another niece, Claire Mullan, who lives in Canada but keeps in touch by phone and Facetime.
As well as being a fountain of knowledge, Ruby is also a dab hand at technology.
Listening to Mass daily on YouTube, Ruby can be found most days reciting the Rosary from the comfort of her armchair.
Fully aware and conscious of her age, Ruby isn’t one to boast. But, one of the happiest days of her life was the day she turned 100-years-old.
On that day, a special Mass was held in Castlefinn and the whole village attended.
Blown away that so many people turned out to wish her a happy birthday, Ruby still tells the yarn to this day.
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