200 Irish citizens to be honoured with ‘Centenarian Bounty’ this year

MORE than 200 Irish people celebrated their 100th birthday this year according to figures released this week.

According to the Department of Social Protection, who compile a list of 100th birthdays each year, each new centenarian was the lucky recipient of the “Centenarian Bounty”, a cheque for €2,450 and a personal letter from President Mary McAleese.

A Social Welfare Inspector visits the person in order to confirm entitlement to the bounty before passing the details to Áras an Uachtaráin.

The highest number of new centenarians to date this year, 55, live in Dublin, while 23 recipients were in Cork and 14 each in Donegal and Mayo.

The bounty was first introduced by Douglas Hyde, and in 1993 was extended to included all centenarians on the island of Ireland, regardless of citizenship.

This was again extended in 2006 to include all centenarians worldwide who were born on the island of Ireland.

On his or her 101st and every subsequent birthday, the person receives a special commemorative coin in a presentation box, along with a congratulatory letter signed by the President.

One Donegal lady has now accumulated seven of those coins.

Back in August, Katie McMenamin from Rathmullan celebrated her 107th birthday.

Born in 1904, Katie travelled to Derry after she left school to do a secretarial course which led to her working in various post offices around Donegal.

Katie also recalled shots being fired across Lough Swilly during the Civil War as well as the huge British Army presence in the seaside village during the First World War.

In 1941, Katie married Paddy, the man she would share her life with for 58 years until he passed away in 1999.

At the age of 98 she visited Rome; Lourdes at 99 and Amsterdam at 101.

She has seen Riverdance, met President McAleese and the Papal Nuncio and even boarded the Jeannie Johnston in 2007.

Her recipe for a long life: “I try to look after myself and my family are very good to me. I have never tasted alcohol and for many, many years Paddy grew all our own potatoes and vegetables,” Katie said.

Picture: Katie McMenamin from Co Donegal — who is in her 107th year — casting her ballot in the 2011 general election.