Moore woman dies in her 104th year
One of the area's oldest citizens has died in her 104th year this week less than a month after her daughter.
Nellie Tumulty of Tanvey, Ballydangan, passed away peacefully at Ballinderry Nursing Home, Kilconnell on September 11 last, just weeks after her daughter Mary, of Greenhills View, The Pines, Creagh, died suddenly but peacefully on August 18 in Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe.
On the occasion of Nellie's 103rd birthday on April 6 last, her late daughter Mary spoke of hard work, faith and abstinence from alcohol was Nellie's answer when asked the secret of her longevity. Born in the year of the deadly Spanish Flu, remarkably, another worldwide pandemic gripped the world as she marked her big day quietly at her home when she was delighted by a visit from local priest Fr Michael Molloy, and of course, some birthday cake.
Nellie (née Kenny) also received a letter and a medal from President Michael D Higgins, her third at the time, the first received on the occasion of her 100th birthday when relatives from as far as America, Australia and all over Ireland congregated locally for the special occasion.
The second eldest of seven, she was born Ellen Kenny on a farm in Clonfad, Moore, to parents Michael and Catherine Kenny (née Kelly) but had always been known as Nellie.
She trained in psychiatric nursing and worked in St Brigid's Hospital, Ballinasloe until she married Thomas (Tom) Tumulty in 1956 and moved a short distance away from her homeplace to Tanvey.
Here she helped to run the family farm and bring up her two children Mary and Cathy. Caring and sociable, she had always been known for helping her family and neighbours, and in the past was always called for when there were medical problems in the village where her expertise was highly valued.
A lifelong Pioneer, Nellie Tumulty enjoyed card games in years gone by, travelled to bingo several nights a week, and loved completing crosswords.
Predeceased by her husband Tom, her daughter Mary and all the deceased members of the Kenny family, she will be sadly missed by her loving family, daughter Cathy (Tanvey), nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and many good friends.
Nellie's funeral cortége left her home on Monday, September 13 making its way to St Mary's Church, Moore for Funeral Mass at 11am followed by burial in Kilbegley Cemetery. May she rest in peace.