Mrs. Mollie McArdle

One of the oldest natives of Killinkere passed away recently in Our Lady of Mercy Nursing Home, Newry. Co. Down. Mrs. Mollie McArdle (nee McMahon) formerly of Termon, Virginia, was the last surviving member of her family. She was predeceased by her sister Bridget and her brothers Mickey, Frank and Phelim. Born in 1906, Mollie celebrated her 104th birthday in May. For her 100th birthday she received the customary greeting from President McAleese and because of her residency in the North, from Queen Elizabeth. Mollie emigrated to the USA in 1927, sailing from Queenstown on the White Star Line, on a voyage that took 11 days. She maintained close contact with the Irish Community in New York and attended the historical All-Ireland Football final between Cavan and Kerry in the Polo Grounds on September 14, 1947, in which Cavan defeated Kerry by 2-11 to 2-7. Through numerous holidays in Ireland over the years, she kept in touch with her family friends and neighbours. Having spent 36 years in New York Mollie returned to Ireland with her husband Felix McArdle, to his native Meigh, Co. Armagh in 1963. They quickly settled down to life in an Ireland vastly changed from the 1920s, rekindling many old and making many new friendships. Their home became a place of welcome and hospitality for family and friends. Though shaken by the death of her husband in 1979, Mollie continued with her zest for life. No one loved a social gathering more; she would tell nephews and nieces: "Come and see me when I'm alive, no point in coming when I'm dead." Through her 80s and most of her 90s she lived independently until, at 97, illness finally forced her to reside in a nursing home. Her passing marks the end of an era and it is impossible not to think of all the historical events she has lived through over the last century. She saw the fall of the British Empire, two world wars, the Wall Street Crash, the development of commercial air travel, the rise and fall of the Soviet Union, new technologies of computers, videos and mobile phones and many other groundbreaking events. Mollie is mourned by her sister-in-law Margaret, her nieces and nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews, great-grand-nieces and great-grand-nephews and many friends and neighbours.