101st birthday celebrations for Moate’s Teresa
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The Greally family (back row, l to r): Olivia Greally; MIchelle Greally (granddaughter); Thomas Greally (grandson); Tom Greally (son); Shane Greally (grandson) and Sophie Greally (great-granddaughter). Front: Owen Waters (great-grandson); Teresa Greally; Mary Greally (daughter in law) and Adam Waters (great-grandson).Not too many people hold the distinction of having coming through the War of Independence and a world war– but redoubtable Moate lady Teresa Greally has survived them all, and was delighted to be able to get out and about to celebrate her recent 101st birthday.
Teresa, who now lives with her only son, Tom, and his wife, Mary, at Mount Carmel Drive, travelled as far as Jack’s bar in the Grand Hotel for a quiet family celebration to mark the big day, and even though she had to wear her mask her daughter-in-law said she was “over the moon” with her birthday party.
Although born in Galway, Teresa Greally has been living in Moate for almost seven decades, so she is proud to call herself a Westmeath woman at this stage!
Local Fine Gael Cllr Tom Farrell, who has been a long-time friend of the Greally family, was on hand to present Teresa with a special commemorative silver coin and a letter from President Michael D. Higgins to mark her 101st birthday.
Much to Teresa’s delight, Cllr Farrell even took the time to read out the President’s letter and she was thrilled to accept all the good wishes that came her way from family, friends and neighbours in Moate.
Due to the on-going Covid restrictions, Teresa’s birthday celebration was a small affair, confined mainly to family, and not only did the management of Jack’s Bar close the facility to other patrons for the special occasion, but they also presented the birthday lady with a magnificent cake, complete with her name and age on top!
Teresa Greally arrived in Moate with her late husband, Willie, in 1963, and the couple living on a small farm in Toorbeg, where they reared their only son, Tom. The couple were totally devoted to each other, according to Teresa’s daughter-in-law, Mary, and when Willie died in 1997, the family were worried that Teresa would not survive long after him. “She is still here,” says Mary, who adds that her mother-in-law continues to enjoy “relatively good health” and enjoys spending time with her family, especially her three grandchildren and her three great-children, the youngest of whom, Owen Waters, is just nine months old.