Irish women celebrate 100th birthdays

Dillon, who will turn 100 in October, told the Irish Voice and IrishCentral she was shocked to find out Wednesday morning that there was a huge celebration.

“I never knew anything,” said Dillon with a hearty laugh.  “And then I got here and my son and family were here for me, and it is just great.”

Dillon, who has been a resident of St. Patrick’s for the past year and a half, left the small village of Cluna, County Clare when she was 17 and spent most other life working as a maid for people in Manhattan.

Jim Dillon, her only child, was very proud of his mother, as were his children, Emily, 19, Charlotte, 17, and James, 14, on Wednesday.

“She is a fantastic person and we are delighted to be here to celebrate this special day with her,” said Jim, who works in finance.

Dillon, whose first husband Martin Dillon from Clare died in 1966, remarried another Irishman, also from Clare. He passed away four years ago.

Dillon used to be a frequent bingo player, but not anymore. She isn’t able. However, the Clare woman knows how to enjoy life.

“I like getting my nails done. Aren’t they pretty?” she said lifting her hands to admire her freshly coated pink manicure.

“They look good,” she said proudly.

Mary Turner, 99 (she will turn a century in October), is an active Irish woman.

Dressed to kill, Turner sported a baby blue dress with a pearl necklace. She wanted to make the day special.

Turner was born in Liverpool to parents from County Louth and County Dublin. In 1928 she left Liverpool and came to New York.  

Turner, who never married, worked at various hospitals in the city for most of her life.

Turner, who has been in St. Patrick’s for 12 years, said she has made a lot of good friends in the home and joins in all the activities.

“I really enjoy it here and the activities. I keep the bright side out,” in a strong Liverpool accent.

As the celebrations continued late into the afternoon, most of the 264 residents of St. Patrick’s stopped by for some cake and sausage rolls.

As Frank Sinatra’s famous “New York, New York” played in the background, several of the residents danced with the staff.  

Seeing how much she wanted to get on the floor, Jim Dillon asked his mother to dance and for the next few minutes the mother and son shared a special moment as Dillon’s grandchildren looked on with smiles on their faces.

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Nster.com