The Bolton family came from Kerrykeel to celebrate the big birthday.
By Thomas Maher
Rose McBeth celebrated a very special 100th birthday last week surrounded by her six children, 22 grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great-grandchildren.
Rose, who is originally from Dungloe, lives in Strabane.
She moved to the town in the late 1960s first running a boarding house before buying Rosses Bar now known as Charlie’s Bar on Castle Street, which she ran until her retirement.
Following Saturday night’s party at the Fir Trees Hotel in Strabane, Rose’s daughter Breda said her mother is still very active and enjoys shopping and socialising with friends.
Rose gave up driving over a decade ago, but ‘weather permitting’ now gets around the town on her mobility scooter.
Breda said, “Mummy is still very active she loves socialising, shopping and she loves technology.
She is very active on social media and is a active member of a number of Co. Donegal pages on Facebook.
“She now lives in Melmount Manor and loves having visitors and still goes to the shops on her mobility scooter whenever she can.”
Rose had seven siblings, three of whom are still living, her sister Anne McLaughlin from Dublin (93), her sister Bridie Bradley, Strabane (96) and her brother James Gallagher (94).
By the time Rose bought the bar in Strabane, she had already a huge knowledge of the hospitality industry having worked and owned hotels and other businesses in Donegal.
With her late husband Neil ‘The Barber’ McBeth, whom she married in the late 1940s, she ran the once-famous Campbell’s Hotel (now the Bridge Inn) in Dungloe and, later, the Barrack Brae pub and adjoining barber shop.
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