Read more: Oldest living Irishwoman at 108 gives us exclusive interview

The oldest man in Ireland has died at the age of 106 – Mick Fitzsimons is to be buried in the Cavan church he helped restore.

Fitzsimons, a carpenter by trade, died on Saturday at his son’s house in the village of Stradone where he lived all his life.

He was, until recent, in ‘perfect health’ and has celebrated his 106th birthday at the local Lavey Inn in February.

“He was a great man with a good sense of humour. He always had a smile and loved his shave,” Emma Crowe, one of Mr Fitzsimons’s carers, told the Irish Times.

“He took a glass of brandy every night before going to bed.”

A committed Fine Gael supporter, Fitzsimons voted in the recent Irish general election.

A committed Fine Gael supporter all his life, Mr Fitzsimons cast a ballot in the recent general election.
“He worked hard for the party and had a great interest in politics and history,” said Sr Maura Fitzsimons, one of Michael’s six children who is a member of the Presentation Sisters in Mississippi in the US.

“He had a great memory and could recall a lot of the great events from Irish history. He would still talk about politics until last year.”

A member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Fitzsimons attributed his longevity to “porridge and hard work” according to the paper and had continued cycling until the age of 100.

Read more: Oldest living Irishwoman at 108 gives us exclusive interview