HANNAH Browne celebrated her 100th birthday yesterday in the company of family, neighbours, and her special friend, Ted the dog, after a feed of sausages, rashers and porridge.

Hannah, who has lived in Watergrasshill for the past 70 years, has generated great excitement around the village with her milestone.

The centenarian said the secret to her long life was eating lots of garlic to keep bugs away.

Mrs Browne also paid tribute to her GP, Dr Tadg Grufferty in Glanmire, who has been looking after her health for the past 30 years.

“If you want to live to be 100, go to Dr Grufferty,” Hannah joked.

A letter from President Michael D Higgins arrived at Hannah’s house on Friday evening with a cheque for €2,540.

“It was very poetic, you could hear his voice in your head as you read it,” said Hannah’s youngest daughter Joan.

Joan told the Evening Echo that her mother asked her to deposit the cheque in Fermoy Credit Union, which she did.

Joan, who is a nurse in the Cardiology ward at Cork University Hospital, has lived with Hannah since 2014.

Hannah has received a wide selection of birthday cards from people far and wide, including her three other daughters, Cora, who lives in Midleton, Eileen, who lives in France, and Patricia who lives in Dublin.

Hannah, who is originally from North Kerry, moved to Cork with her husband PJ, who was a guard.

PJ was stationed in Watergrasshill and they lived there together until he sadly passed away at the age of 55.

Hannah also received a cheque for €100 from the Garda Widows Association, which she has been a member of for the past 30 years.

Now, Joan tells me, Hannah spends her day in the company of her dog Ted, who sits with her throughout the day.

“I often hear her chattering away and I wonder who she is talking to and it is Ted the dog!”