Celebrations as Downpatrick woman Rose enjoys 100th birthday milestone

Celebrations as Downpatrick woman Rose enjoys 100th birthday milestone

9 November 2022

TRIBUTES have been paid to a Downpatrick woman who celebrated her 100th birthday last week.

Mrs Rose Feenan was inundated with cards and messages of goodwill — including one from King Charles.

Mrs Feenan’s birthday party last Wednesday was attended by family members, friends and care staff at River House residential home in Newcastle where she has resided for almost two years.

Among those celebrating was her sole surviving sister, Mrs Jean Price.

“Rose had no kids, but she has over a dozen nieces and nephews who all love her,” said Mrs Price, who is a mere 97 years young.

She attributed her and her sister’s long, healthy lives to “good genes”.

One of eight children, Mrs Feenan was born on November 3, 1922, to Tom and Bridget Keenan and spent her formative years at Creevy, near Crossgar.

After attending St Joseph’s School in Crossgar until she was 14, Rose began work in the service industry in Downpatrick. She loved to help people and worked for over 60 years before finally retiring.

“I worked in the Oakley Fayre and in Rea’s Hotel for most of my years. When I finished in the Oakley Fayre, I was in my 70s,” she said.

In the 1950s Rose met Jack Feenan through work, and they went on to marry in 1960. Jack passed away in 2001, after over 40 happy years.

She shared her special day last Thursday with many nieces, 

nephews and other extended family members. They all spoke fondly of Rose’s kindness and generosity, describing her as an aunt who “never missed a birthday”, such is her thoughtfulness and affection for her family.

Most of Rose’s family members live in Downpatrick and Crossgar and enjoy making the short jaunt to picturesque Newcastle to visit her.

Due to ongoing restrictions, other well-wishers from further afield were unable to celebrate with her in person last Thursday.

“We haven’t got far to travel, and it’s a lovely place to visit,” one family member explained. “Everyone here today is local, but we could have had family from England and the south of Ireland. However, we are restricted to a certain amount of people who are allowed to visit. We could have had many, many more, but we didn’t want to fill the place.”

Mrs Feenan was delighted to see her visitors and was also thrilled by the many messages of good will.

“I got a card from King Charles, wishing me a happy birthday,” she beamed. “I got one from the Pope and the Irish President, Michael D Higgins as well. It’s been wonderful.”

Rose is fiercely independent and lived and took care of herself at her home in Crossgar before moving to River House when she was 98.

“The girls at River House are really lovely and they read the letters to her,” one niece said. “They look after her really well.

“On Saturday morning they brought a pipe band to play for Rose and the other residents and she had a lovely wee morning. They had presents and everything, so this is her second party.”

“I would like to extend my family’s thanks to the staff of River House, who care for Auntie Rose with such love and compassion. They have really went the extra mile to make a special time really memorable.”

Mrs Feenan credits a loving family and a lot of faith for living such a long, happy and healthy life.

“Just life and luck and keeping quiet has kept me going,” she said. “I have a good, strong faith in God and I just feel blessed to have lived this long and get to 100 years old.”