My Greystones: Doris O’Neill

There’s definitely something in the whiskey around here…

Having already figured out that 80-something spring chickens Bridie Mooney and Joe Sweeney are most likely vampires, we’re now faced with Doris O’Neill.

Take a good look at this handsome woman. And try and guess what age she is.

And before you do, let us just say that when we swung by Doris’ home this afternoon, she was sharp as a tack, and full of beans. Man, even Max was impressed.

When I later told the world’s greatest Guide dog that the lady who had just so vigorously massaged his head had only just celebrated her 90th birthday last weekend, well, he nearly dropped the cat that he’d just snagged.

Yep, I’m definitely going to start drinking whatever Doris O’Neill is having.

Time for a little history…

Born in London before seeing sense and moving to Ireland in 1950, just a year after marrying the man of her dreams, Charles, the couple settled in deepest, darkest Offaly. Over the next twelve years in Edenderry, Doris and Charlie raised three children – Karen, David and Susan – before moving to nearby Blackrock in 1964. Life was pretty much perfect for this fine family of five. And then, in 1969, they had Pete.

It was in 1983 that the O’Neill family finally made their way to Greystones, the bould Charles having sadly passed seven years earlier. A friendship with the Robbie family here aided and abetted that move, and, as Doris says this afternoon as we admired her favourite child, Karen, tidy up the flower beds, Greystones felt like home, “even 34 years ago”…

So, happy birthday, kiddo. The craic was 90 last Saturday, and, goddamn, she wears it well…

You can check out young Pete O’Neill’s My Greystones entry from October 2014 right here.