Galway woman thought to be Ireland’s oldest living person dies at 109

Phyllis Furness, thought to be Ireland’s oldest living person, died on Monday, August 12 at a nursing home in Co Galway.

Phyllis was born in Newark, Northampton in England on May 23, 1915, but had been living in Co Galway since the early 1980s.

She is thought to have become Ireland's oldest living person following the death of 109-year-old Kitty Jeffery in Co Cork in January.

Less than two months before her passing, Phyllis celebrated her 109th birthday in style at the Moycullen Nursing Home in Co Galway in May. Her granddaughter, Jackie Ord, traveled from Australia for the occasion.

Photos shared on social media showed the birthday girl being treated to a cake, balloons, gifts, and visitors.

On hand for the celebrations was Rev Anthony Previte, who told the Connacht Tribune: “She was originally from Northampton [in England] and moved around a bit before going to Christchurch in Bournemouth where she ran a nursing home. 

“She tells the story that when she applied for the job, they asked her what qualifications she had and she said she had none, but she knew how she would like to be looked after.

“She’s always very matter-of-fact and well-known in our community here.

"Her knitted nativity scenes were also well-known, and she even appeared on RTÉ to talk about them at one point.”

Upon the occasion of her 100th birthday in 2015, Corrib News caught up with the inspirational octogenarian. 

Phyllis married her husband John Furness in 1940 in England, and they welcomed their son two years later. (Sadly, Phyllis is predeceased by her son who died from cancer in 2012.)

"In 1981, Phyl’s husband, John, who already loved Ireland, bought a house in Glann [in Co Galway] when he was over on a fishing holiday," Corrib News reported.

"Phyl claims that her life really came alive when she came to live here in Ireland."

Phyllis - whose middle name is Olwyn - shared that upon moving to Ireland, she had to drop her middle initial from her signature because - "much as she liked the feeling of being adopted by Ireland" - she was often being addressed as 'Mrs. O'Furness.'

In Galway, Phyllis made friends through the Kilcummin Church of Ireland. She frequented music hall type events and took part in many competitions and social evenings.

"Phyl is especially gifted in recitatives," Corrib News noted. "Anyone who has heard her recite ‘Albert and the Lion’ won’t be surprised that she won an impressive Oscar for this in one of the John Player League’s competitions."

After her husband died in 1984, Phyllis moved to Oughterard the following year where she enjoyed tending to her garden. Phyllis lived in Oughterard until she entered nursing home care last year.

For her 109th birthday in May, Phyllis again received a commemorative coin from President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins just as she had every year since she turned 100. She has also received birthday greetings from the late Queen Elizabeth as well as King Charles since her 100th birthday.

“I wouldn’t mind if the President inscribed the coins with my name,” Phyllis told the Irish Independent in May, explaining that it would make it a “bit more personal."