Maureen, 83, ready to take on 14th mini-marathon

Maureen Armstrong, 83, from Thurles, Co Tipperary, who is set to be this year’s oldest Women’s Mini Marathon participant, is enjoying her celebrity status.

It will be her 14th mini marathon and in recognition of her grand achievement she received a Friends of the Elderly certificate of merit from RTÉ’s Pat Kenny on Friday night.

Maureen, who has seven children and 21 grandchildren, is hoping to raise at least €500 for the Irish Cancer Society, when she joins 40,000-plus participants in the marathon in Dublin next Monday.

Maureen, who likes keeping active, walks two to three miles every day and loves dancing.

She is also interested in all sorts of sports but particularly hurling, soccer and football.

She neither smokes nor drinks and proudly wears her gold pioneer pin.

Dermot Kirwan from Friends of the Elderly said Maureen was a wonderful example of an active and fulfilled senior citizen.

“She is blessed with good health and really makes the most of it,” he said.

Maureen, a widow for almost 23 years, puts her age and good health down to working hard on the family farm and caring for her family. “I eat plain food — a bit of porridge in the morning and, maybe, a bit of bacon and cabbage for my dinner,” she said.

And, unlike many participants, she does not expect to be tired after completing the marathon.

“After completing the event last year I felt like doing it all again,” she said.