A MANORCUNNINGHAM grandmother has a lot to be thankful for this Christmas after she recently welcomed her 100th grandchild into the world.
And just as the celebrations were ending, two more grandchildren arrived to make it 102.
With 42 grandchildren, 55 great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren, Sadie Devenney (86) from Drumbarnett has quite the festive gift list ahead of her this year.
The mother of nine first became a grandmother in 1971 with the birth of her granddaughter Norma.
And in the years that followed, the Carrigans native became not only a great-grandmother but also a great-great-grandmother.
On November 5 Sadie’s great-grandson, baby Brody Boyce, was born, marking the milestone 100th grandchild.
However, in just a few weeks, that number has already grown by two more.
In her younger years, Sadie grew up in Tullyannan, Carrigans, and worked as a cleaner in Mervin Peoples’ farmhouse.
After meeting her husband, William Devenney, at a dance in St Johnston Hall, she left her job to become a housewife.
In 1957, the couple welcomed their first child, Molly, into the world, and soon, Janette, William, Hugh, David, Anna, Philip, Margaret and Mary followed.
Already blessed with a big family, the numbers soon began to grow rapidly. In November Sadie was “over the moon” with the arrival of her 100th grandchild, baby Brody, the son of her grandson, and godson, Anthony Boyce in Tullyannan, Newtowncunningham.
Speaking to the Donegal News, Brody’s mother, Shauna Boyce, spoke of how meaningful this milestone was for their family.
“My husband Anthony has a deep connection with his granny, so it
is very special for him,” she said. “We said to Sadie, ‘imagine if you hadn’t been put on this earth, none of these people would exist; they all came from you’.”
