Ireland's oldest woman Sarah Coyle dies peacefully at the age of 108
Mrs Coyle, who was born in Knockatomcoyle, Co Wicklow on July 24, 1916, died peacefully surrounded by her family in Co Dublin on Monday evening, 10 days before her 109th birthday.
Her grandson, Thomas Galligan, said his grandmother was an 'inspiration', who lived an amazing life through two pandemics, the Civil War, the War of Independence and two World Wars.
"You knew when you were talking to her that you were in the presence of someone significant. She was amazing,' he said.
She was one of 10 siblings – and one of three who lived over the age of 100. Her younger sister, Lily, aged 103, lives in Birmingham in the UK.
One of Ireland's oldest people, Sarah Coyle, celebrating her 108th birthday last July.
She grew up in Coolkenno before moving to Dublin at the age of 17, where she married her husband Tom Coyle – a near namesake of the place where she was born in Co Wicklow – in 1950.
She lost her sight just seven years later, at the age of 40, though lived independently for much of her life following her husband's death in 1986.
Mrs Coyle has two children, five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
"She loved children, even though she couldn't see she would know the sound of the children's voices. She was just so happy when she had children with her,' said Mr Galligan.
Mrs Coyle had been living with her daughter, Marian Galligan, in Castleknock, Co Dublin, for the last number of years. Her son, Patrick, lives in Australia.
She received eight Presidential medals throughout her life, one for the year she turned 100 and another for each year since.
"She was always someone who was so comforting. She had a very gentle way about her, someone that you go to if you're upset or have any issues. She would calm you,' said her grandson Mr Galligan.
"She loved nothing more than having a cup of tea and chatting away for hours. She would just be so happy with the company.
Ireland's oldest woman Sarah Coyle, who died yesterday at the age of 108.
"Because she lost her sight, the radio was her insight into what was going on in the world. She loved keeping on top of things and then, when she would be chatting to us, she would be discussing it and getting our opinion on things.'
Mr Galligan said his grandmother was a 'kind-hearted person who would have never held grudges against anyone' and was the type of person who would say 'life is too short to be holding grudges'.
"She always thought about others before she thought about herself. She was a very kind, gentle soul, gentle person.'
Mr Galligan recalled how his grandmother could recount stories from the War of Independence, encounters with the Black and Tans, and the rationing faced by the country during the Second World War.
Sarah Coyle.
"She lost her sight when she lived on her own. She loved gardening and flowers. She used to have different guide wires that she made by herself with her hands, to guide from the back door to the flower beds and she knew exactly where the tomato plants and the roses were, to guide herself around.
"She was very adaptable with a positive outlook on life. She learned to be happy with what she had and if her family was happy, she was happy.'
Like most things in her life, he said she took the title of being one of Ireland's oldest people 'in her stride' and her family has many happy memories of time spent with her.
"If we could all aspire to that. Her whole mantra was to kind of 'live and let live, life is too short to be having arguments'.'
A funeral mass for Mrs Coyle will take place in Blanchardstown Village Church on Friday morning at 10am, before she is laid to rest alongside her late husband in Glasnevin Cemetery.
Ireland's oldest woman Sarah Coyle, who died yesterday at the age of 108
Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 16th
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Irish Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Ireland's oldest woman to be laid to rest this Friday after passing away at 108
Ireland's oldest woman, who lived through the War of Independence, the Civil War and World War II, has passed away at the age of 108. Sarah Coyle, who was understood to be Ireland's oldest woman, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Monday evening, just days away from celebrating her 109th birthday, DublinLive reports. Sarah took the mantle as Ireland's oldest woman earlier this year after Ruby Druce, who was previously Ireland's oldest woman, passed away at the age of 109 in March. Born on July 24, 1916, in Knockatomcoyle, Co Wicklow, Sarah was one of 10 siblings, two of whom also reached over the age of 100. Sarah, whose maiden name was Byrne, married her husband Tom Coyle in the 50s and moved to Drumcondra, where the two lived happily together until he passed away in 1986. Mrs Coyle, who had received eight presidential medals each year after she turned 100, lost her sight when she had turned 40, but this did not stop her love of gardening and she had a keen fondness for radio. Sarah will be dearly missed by her adoring children and son-in-law, her sister, and many grandchildren and great grandchildren, as well as all of her extended family and friends. She is pre-deceased by her eight siblings and husband. A reposal will take place at Sarah's daughter's home on Thursday, July 17, from 5pm to 7pm. Removal to St. Brigid's Church, Blanchardstown will take place on Friday morning, July 18, arriving for Requiem Mass at 10am followed by burial in Glasnevin Cemetery. Sarah's Funeral Mass may be viewed online here. Only family flowers are requested. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
Sunday World
a day ago
- Sunday World
Ireland's oldest woman Sarah Coyle dies peacefully at the age of 108
'You knew when you were talking to her that you were in the presence of someone significant' – says Mrs Coyle's grandson Mrs Coyle, who was born in Knockatomcoyle, Co Wicklow on July 24, 1916, died peacefully surrounded by her family in Co Dublin on Monday evening, 10 days before her 109th birthday. Her grandson, Thomas Galligan, said his grandmother was an 'inspiration', who lived an amazing life through two pandemics, the Civil War, the War of Independence and two World Wars. "You knew when you were talking to her that you were in the presence of someone significant. She was amazing,' he said. She was one of 10 siblings – and one of three who lived over the age of 100. Her younger sister, Lily, aged 103, lives in Birmingham in the UK. One of Ireland's oldest people, Sarah Coyle, celebrating her 108th birthday last July. She grew up in Coolkenno before moving to Dublin at the age of 17, where she married her husband Tom Coyle – a near namesake of the place where she was born in Co Wicklow – in 1950. She lost her sight just seven years later, at the age of 40, though lived independently for much of her life following her husband's death in 1986. Mrs Coyle has two children, five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. "She loved children, even though she couldn't see she would know the sound of the children's voices. She was just so happy when she had children with her,' said Mr Galligan. Mrs Coyle had been living with her daughter, Marian Galligan, in Castleknock, Co Dublin, for the last number of years. Her son, Patrick, lives in Australia. She received eight Presidential medals throughout her life, one for the year she turned 100 and another for each year since. "She was always someone who was so comforting. She had a very gentle way about her, someone that you go to if you're upset or have any issues. She would calm you,' said her grandson Mr Galligan. "She loved nothing more than having a cup of tea and chatting away for hours. She would just be so happy with the company. Ireland's oldest woman Sarah Coyle, who died yesterday at the age of 108. "Because she lost her sight, the radio was her insight into what was going on in the world. She loved keeping on top of things and then, when she would be chatting to us, she would be discussing it and getting our opinion on things.' Mr Galligan said his grandmother was a 'kind-hearted person who would have never held grudges against anyone' and was the type of person who would say 'life is too short to be holding grudges'. "She always thought about others before she thought about herself. She was a very kind, gentle soul, gentle person.' Mr Galligan recalled how his grandmother could recount stories from the War of Independence, encounters with the Black and Tans, and the rationing faced by the country during the Second World War. Sarah Coyle. "She lost her sight when she lived on her own. She loved gardening and flowers. She used to have different guide wires that she made by herself with her hands, to guide from the back door to the flower beds and she knew exactly where the tomato plants and the roses were, to guide herself around. "She was very adaptable with a positive outlook on life. She learned to be happy with what she had and if her family was happy, she was happy.' Like most things in her life, he said she took the title of being one of Ireland's oldest people 'in her stride' and her family has many happy memories of time spent with her. "If we could all aspire to that. Her whole mantra was to kind of 'live and let live, life is too short to be having arguments'.' A funeral mass for Mrs Coyle will take place in Blanchardstown Village Church on Friday morning at 10am, before she is laid to rest alongside her late husband in Glasnevin Cemetery. Ireland's oldest woman Sarah Coyle, who died yesterday at the age of 108 Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 16th
Extra.ie
2 days ago
- Extra.ie
Ireland's 'oldest woman' dies just days before 109th birthday
A woman who is believed to have been Ireland's oldest person has died aged 108, her family has confirmed. Sarah Coyle died peacefully, surrounded by her family, at her home in Dublin yesterday evening (Tuesday), just ten days before her 109th birthday. Sarah (Byrne) was born on July 24th 1916 at Knockatomcoyle in County Wicklow where she was one of ten children, but she moved to Dublin at the age of 17 to work as a carer for an elderly lady in Foxrock, before moving to Drumcondra after she married Tom Coyle in 1950. Sarah Coyle. Speaking to RTE's Morning Ireland Radio programme, her grandson Thomas Galligan said his grandmother had a great attitude to life, and even though she lost her eyesight in an accident in 1957, she had a 'get on with it' way about her, which saw her adapt to life without her sight. Thomas Galligan said his grandmother had two young children to care for at the time of the accident and though she was blind as a result of a head injury, she had a very positive mindset and just got on with it. He also said his grandmother's advice to anyone hoping to live a long life, was not to hold grudges and drink lots of tea. Sarah Coyle often spoke of her life and her memories of seeing the 'Black and Tans' on the streets and remembers their very distinctive uniforms, and she also had clear memories of The Emergency (WWII) as it was called at the time, and the rationing of food that came with it. Sarah Coyle had a total of eight presidential medals, an honour received each year by people who reach the age of 100 and over. Sarah has one living sibling, a sister Lily who is 103 and lives in Birmingham. She is remembered fondly by her two children, five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
