Cork’s Tess Cahill celebrates 100th birthday in UK

Tess Cahill (née Grandon), who left Cork’s shores with her husband Joe aboard the Innisfallen in 1958, recently celebrated her 100th birthday with her family in Oxford.

Tess, who lived all her young life in Glounthaune, landed a job as head cook at a girls’ private school when the couple moved to England.

Joe had been the head barman at the Elm Tree in Glounthaune, but switched jobs to become an inspector on the buses.

When they came home on holidays, naturally enough the Elm Tree was the first port of call and they were highly impressed when they discovered it was now a thriving and award winning bar and restaurant.

Predeceased by her 14 brothers and sisters, Tess is still hale and hearty, lives happily in her own house and takes no tablets or any form of medication.

The secret of Tess’s longevity? No alcohol, no cigarettes, and a regular read of The Echo and the Irish Examiner.

She particularly loves the Holly Bough, sent over by family members.