100-year-old Limerick man smoked 'til 70 and enjoyed a small one, then a few pints of porter

CHRISTY O’Connell smoked ‘til he was 70, enjoyed a few sociable drinks - a whiskey to start and then a few pints of porter - and worked hard all his life and it didn’t do him any harm as he has celebrated his 100th birthday.

Christy, who was never in hospital a day in his long life, put his excellent  health down to a wonderful wife, growing his own vegetables and free range eggs, coupled with  hard work and a few pints at the weekend.

Indeed, he and wife Bridie were inseparable for over 68 years. Married in 1955, Bridie passed away in October 2023, aged 88. They both were residents in St Michael’s Nursing Home in Caherconlish at the time  and it's where Christy continues to reside.

He celebrated his 100th birthday in the nursing home with family, friends and staff. Ger, one of Christy’s five children, thanked St Michael’s for the celebration and South Liberties GAA club for the wonderful presentation they gave his dad on the day.

Christy won three east Limerick Junior medals, one Limerick Junior title in 1946 and a minor medal from 1944, recalls local historian and Caherconlish notes correspondent Pat Hourigan.

“He was a lifelong GAA member hailing from a family who provided many players to various teams during their playing years and served as a selector with the Caherline hurling club when they won their first east Limerick junior hurling title in 1971,” said Pat.

Christy was born in Ballinagarde, Ballyneety but moved the short distance to Caherconlish after marrying Bridie, who hailed from Caherline. They built a house and moved to Newtown, Caherconlish in 1966. 

They raised five children - Mike, Jim, Mary, Ger and Noel. Sadly, Mike passed away six months before his mother in 2023. Christy also has many  grandchildren and great grandchildren

Christy had a lot to celebrate and reminisce about on his 100th birthday.

“He had a great day. He enjoyed it a lot.  He cried, he laughed, he talked and traced back the years. His memory is 100% and he’s very healthy. He could tell you some stories,” said Ger.

Christy can recall that during  the war years the O'Connells, like their neighbours, had to put a lot of their land under tillage. 

Christy remembers the army taking over Ballinagarde House during the war years and a detachment of soldiers being billeted there.

Christy was blessed with good health.

“He was hardly sick a day in his life and never in hospital. He was kind of a self-diagnosis and self-cure man - white lemonade and an Anadin if he was sick - and drive on,” said Ger.

He says Christy puts his great age down to growing his own vegetables, free range eggs, hard work and a few pints at the weekend.

“He used to have a few pints at the weekend and a game of 45. He’d start off with a small whiskey and a couple of pints of Guinness then,” said Ger.

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Christy worked on farms in his youth before joining Sweeney's Sand and Gravel where he remained for 40 years.

But most importantly of all in his long and happy life was having a wonderful wife in Bridie. May she rest in peace.

Congratulations Christy and here's to many more years of good health and happiness.

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