Mary and Maun top of the class at Coppeen parade
Two classmates from the 1920s were reunited yesterday to help the village where they went to school celebrate the national holiday.
Mary Morgan, who turns 91 today, and Maun Warren, who was 91 a few weeks ago, started school together in Coppeen National School in West Cork in 1926.
They sat together in class until 1932 before moving to a new school building. They have remained friends ever since.
As part of The Gathering celebrations, the organisers of Coppeen’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations tracked them down as the school’s oldest surviving past-pupils, and invited them to open the festival, rolling out the red carpet and giving them the full VIP treatment.
“You’d think it was the election of the Pope,” Mary joked as she took all the excitement in her stride.
“I remember fun and playing from our days in school. In our day, we had one fire in the school room and a corrugated roof. You’d hear the hailstones hopping off the roof.
“And you’d have to cycle seven miles to Ballineen to make a phone call to get doctor or a priest.”
Mary, who lives in Glasheen with Tom, her husband of almost 60 years, was accompanied by two of her children, Pat and Anne.
Her other children are Tom, who lives in Dublin, and Marie and Donal, live abroad. However, Pat said they are all very proud of their mother.
“She is still very sharp and lives independently. She’s a great storyteller and still writes poetry,” he said.
Mary, who never drank beer or stout and who quit smoking in 1988, plays Scrabble and cards regularly.
“I’ve always tried to keep my brain busy. And I’ve a good appetite — meat every day,” she said.
“The secret is to find something relaxing to do every evening.”
Both ladies were presented with certificates to mark the day.
