Cork-born woman to mark turning 90 with a charity skydive

Lelia Doolan is undertaking a skydive to mark her 90th birthday in May.

While most people would be content with afternoon tea, one thrill-seeking lady is opting to jump out of an airplane to mark her 90th birthday.

Cork-born film producer Lelia Doolan, who now lives in Galway, was the first female artistic director of the Abbey Theatre.

She also co-founded the Galway Film Fleadh in the late 80s.

The trailblazer is unsure, however, if she will be the oldest Cork native to participate in a tandem skydive on May 6.

The event will take place in Offaly on the day before her milestone birthday.

Lelia is undertaking the challenge to raise vital funds for Doctors Without Borders.

She has already raised €9,015 for the charity and hopes to raise even more cash leading up to the big day.

Ms Doolan is taking plans for the upcoming event in her stride.

“It’s quite a surprise to me to be turning 90. I don’t have any recollection of thinking at 40 or 50 that life was over. There were always things to be done and events to be part of,” she says.

“You just went on doing and being. It doesn’t matter a damn what age you are. A person’s age is irrelevant to their personality.

“You see people who are lively as bees at the age of 90. Meanwhile, there are people a lot younger who haven’t got a spark in them at all.” The remarkable octogenarian insists she is not fearful about the skydive.

If things were really bad I wouldn’t bother with the parachute, but I’m really glad to have the possibility of staying alive when I jump out of the airplane.

“I love life but, with that said, I’m not interested in living forever. How uninteresting would it be not to be able to read a poem, or watch a bird, or go for a swim.” Lelia joked that she won’t be practicing for the event anytime soon.

“Why would I practice when I will be tied to a gentleman who will, hopefully, do the landing.

“I’m not going to start jumping off the bed and cracking any of my bones.

“If I’m going to die, I’ll die. The skydive is the day before my birthday so hopefully, I will reach 90, but if I don’t, too bad! I’ve had a marvellous life. There are no two ways about it.” She reiterated her reasons for planning the skydive.

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“This is about an amazing charity, a band of sisters and brothers, as well as mothers, sons and daughters who are helping others.

“I’m listening to the shattering newsabout Gaza. Me jumping out of a plane seems like nothing in comparison to what Doctors Without Borders are doing.”

To donate to Lelia’s fundraiser visit idonate.ie/fundraiser/LeliaDoolan