Ireland's 'Oldest Woman' Dies Aged 109 In Galway

Phyllis Furness, a woman believed to be Ireland's oldest person has died just a few months after celebrating her 109th birthday.

Ms Furness, who died on Monday evening, had celebrated her 109th on May 23, at her nursing hoe in Moycullen, Co Galway. She was joined by her granddaughter Jackie Ord who travelled from Melbourne, Australia for the celebrations.

Having been born in Nottinghamshire England, Phyllis Furness moved with her husband John to the Glann Road outside Oughterard in 1981 as a retirement project. The couple married in 1940 and had one son Michael who was born in 1942. He died in 2012. 

Following her husband's death in 1984, Phyllis moved closer to the Oughterard village, continuing to live there until last year, when she moved to Moycullen Nursing Home. 

She was an active member in the local community, especially in Kilcummin Church, having arrived in Galway more than four decades earlier.

In her nursing room in Moycullen, framed greeting cards from the late Queen Elizabeth and the current king and queen Charles and Camilla were on display. She also received commemorative coins from President Michael D Higgins every year since her 100th birthday. 

Phyllis had previously expressed a wish to celebrate her 110th birthday next May, and become a supercentenarian.