VIDEO: Mart worker celebrates 90th birthday by going viral

Ireland’s latest viral video sensation, charismatic Kerryman Eugene O’Sullivan, was born in 1925 — at least 70 years before the first mobile phones and PCs became popular in Irish households.

But this week, Eugene celebrated his 90th birthday by becoming an internet sensation — so far, between Facebook and YouTube views, more than 100,000 people have watched a video of the drover at his workplace birthday party.

“Oh my good God, I never knew I was so important. Am I going to get money out of this now?!” joked Eugene when he heard the video had hit the 65,000 mark.

“Oh blessed be to God, 65,000? Sure that’s amazing.”

Dan McCarthy, the manager of the Kenmare Co-op Mart where Eugene works, organised the event and invited the Irish Examiner along to film the special occasion.

“People laughed at me when I said we’ll do this for Eugie, but it’s gone all over the place now! It’s unbelievable. Eugie deserves every bit of publicity he gets,” said Dan.

“The reaction has been phenomenal. The phone hasn’t stopped ringing with radio stations and the media and even just people wishing him well. He’s absolutely thrilled with all the attention — took to it like a duck to water. I told him beforehand to just be himself and that’s exactly what he did.”

Eugene started working at the mart 11 years ago, at the age of 79, and has no plans to retire any time soon.

“Eugie worked all his life and has never taken a shortcut, has never taken the easy road. All the staff here really look up to him and have the utmost respect for him, especially the younger lads,” said Dan.

“He didn’t even take time off for his wedding. There were four people there, himself and his wife, the bridesmaid and the best man. And as soon as the ceremony was over, Eugene was up on his bike and off making silage.”

Having previously worked as a farm labourer, a wool-packer and in a butcher’s, Eugene, now a widower, is thought to be the country’s oldest livestock mart employee — his philosophy is early to bed and early to rise, stay away from alcohol and cigarettes, and do a hard day’s work.”