Centenarian Sarah enjoys milestone

Centenarian Sarah enjoys milestone

25 May 2022

THE district’s latest centenarian puts her long life down to hard work and abstaining from cigarettes and alcohol.

Mrs Sarah Blair — who lives at Magheralagan outside Downpatrick — celebrated her 100th birthday on May 11 and to mark the occasion she received 103 birthday cards and enough flowers to open her very own florists.

The Queen, Irish president Michael D Higgins and the Lord Lieutenant for Co Down, Mr Gawn Rowan-Hamilton, were among those who congratulated Sarah, who is better known as Sadie. 

And she also received a special birthday visit from the Church of Ireland Bishop of Down and Dromore, the Rt Rev David McClay.

Sadie was born in what was a very historic year which saw the formation of the former USSR, the launch of the BBC and the end of the Ottoman Empire.

The Prime Minister was David Lloyd George while the US President was Warren G Harding and Billy Jones and Ernest Hare topped the US charts with Indiana Lullaby.

Born in the townland of Magheralagan, Sarah, her three brothers and sister emigrated to Canada with her parents, Hugh and Elizabeth Newell, when she was just eight years old.

But within weeks of moving across the Atlantic to North America, Sarah’s mum tragically passed away and while she and her siblings returned home in 1930, her father stayed in Canada.

Sarah’s brothers including Walter, who would later become a charge nurse at the Downshire Hospital in Downpatrick, stayed with bachelor uncles at Farranfad, while Sarah and her sister stayed with her late mum’s sister.

Educated at Annadorn and Seaforde primary schools, Sarah helped look after her elderly uncles when she completed her education before marrying William Blair from Tullymurry on October 21, 1942, at Downpatrick Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church.

The couple bought a farm at Magheralagan and were blessed with 10 children — eight girls, Maureen, Anna, Georgina, Cathleen, Joan, Hazel, Elaine and Julia, and two boys, Maurice and the late Hugh.

Sarah dedicated herself to bringing up her children and also helped out on the family farm as she was someone who could turn her hand to anything.

She baked her own bread daily, churned her own butter and the all the meals were cooked fresh and featured a healthy mix of farm produce which Sarah described as “good old fashioned, wholesome food”.

And she has no doubt that working on the farm, eating healthily and being out in the fresh air has all contributed to her longevity. While she never drove, Sarah didn’t miss a car as she cycled everywhere.

“I have always been active and never smoked or drank alcohol in my life,” she said, joking that having passed the 100 mark, she might not see her 101st birthday.

During his recent visit, Bishop McClay told her that his oldest parishioner was 109 and that he would return to Magheralagan when Sarah celebrated her 110th birthday.

“I don’t think I’ll see him again,” laughed Sarah who has 23 grandchildren and 34 great grandchildren.

Remarkably fresh for her age Sarah, who has lived with her daughter Maureen for the past nine years, enjoys word puzzles and crosswords, with The Chase her favourite television programme. She also enjoys watching the news which is not surprising given the many world events that have taken pace during her lifetime.

Sarah also recalls the arrival of American GIs at the Seaforde estate during World War Two.

Despite reaching her 100th birthday, she is still an early riser and is up every morning at 7am, ready for another new day in what as been a remarkable and fulfilling life.

Sadly, two years ago, Sarah lost her last surviving brother, George, who passed away in New Zealand aged 96, with his wife Vicki, who was from Downpatrick, dying the following year.

Sarah says she is thankful for living so long and enjoying the love and support of her extended family for which she will be forever grateful.