Taughmaconnell's Patsy celebrates 90th birthday with family party

One of Patsy Naughton's favourite places is Ballinasloe Mart during the Thursday evening sheep sale, and that's exactly where he went on the day of his 90th birthday on Thursday of last week, September 5.

The local mart has always been one of Patsy's highlights, according to his only son, David, who, along with members of the extended Naughton family, attended a very special celebration in Gullane's Hotel in Ballinasloe to celebrate the long life of the local farmer.

The fit and hardy 90-year old, a son of the late Mary and Michael Naughton from Skyvalley, Taughmaconnell, has enjoyed a long and happy life working on the family farm alongside his wife, Ita, who celebrated her 81st birthday in recent weeks and is a native of Kiltoom.

The couple, who got married in 1966, have three children, Sheila, Michelle and David and eight grandchildren, Ross, Lee, Ollie, Jamie, Shane, Dean, Emma and Ciara. David, who lives in Navan, said his parents are "in great form" and like to get "out and about" on a regular basis, including travelling to Navan to visit him and his family and going out for Sunday lunch.

David describes his Dad as being "as fit as a fiddle" and, as well as tending to his sheep, he likes to "help out on the school runs" and has also been involved in ferrying his grandkids to their various after-school activities over the past few years.

While he has been a lifelong farmer and a lifetime resident of the townland of Skyvalley in Taughmaconnell, Patsy Naughton took a step back from his farm some years ago and has now leased out most of his farmland. However, he still keeps a few sheep and retains "a great interest in everything to do with farming" according to David.

"He always loved driving, so when he was well into retirement age he started driving minibuses for a company in Ballinasloe and one of his favourite routes was collecting the students from Garbally College outside Ballinasloe every Friday, driving them home, and then collecting them every Sunday and driving them back to school for another week," recalls his son.

Known as a man with a quick wit, who is well able to tell "a good yarn," David Naughton says his Dad's lighthearted attitude to life has stood him in good stead through all of the ups and downs of the last 90 years.

The second eldest of a family of eight, Patsy Naughton was joined at his birthday celebration in Gullane's Hotel by three of his siblings, Frank, Nuala and Teresa, who travelled from the United States for the occasion. Another sister who lives in the US, Kathleen, was unable to travel, while his remaining siblings, Mary Ellen, Marty and Mickey have all passed away.

As well as having a family of three, and eight grandchildren, Patsy and Ita Naughton were blessed to welcome their first great-grandchild, Saoirse, into the family in April of this year. Saoirse was born to their grandson, Shane, and his wife, Sandra, and they are also looking forward to the birth of their second great-grandchild in December. The happy arrival of the next generation of babies into the extended Naughton family has given Patsy and Ita "a great lift" according to David.

The 90-year old Patsy likes the odd pint, though David says he doesn't like to go to the pub that much anymore because "most of his friends have already passed away." He also retains a healthy interest in all aspects of the modern world, and his family feel that one of the keys to his long life is his sense of humour and the fact that he doesn't take life too seriously.

On the all-important health front, Patsy Naughton has been blessed with "great health all his life" says his son David.

"He is one of the lucky ones. He is unbelievable for his age, it's just brilliant," David concluded.