101-year-old Johnny Sheehan is a healthy living link to the past
The release of the 1926 census generated wonderful family discussions in the Sheehan household
The release of the 1926 census generated wonderful family discussions and reflection in households all over the country, none more so than in the Fethard home of 101-year-old Johnny Sheehan.
His friend Larry Kenny called on a visit with a printout of the 1926 census for Johnny, a living link to the past, to have a look at.
There Johnny could see his name entered on the census as a one-year-old, the firstborn of his parents, his father Patrick(43) and his mother Mary (24) of Clarebeg, Killusty. The name of his grandmother, Mary(70), was also entered as she lived with the family.
“I was delighted Larry called with it, and I started to think back on the last 100 years,” said Johnny in his St Patrick’s Place home in Fethard.
Johnny, who celebrated his 101st birthday on January 27th earlier this year, said he was blessed with good health throughout his life.
“I don’t be a day sick, I am very lucky,” he said.
The census information brought back many happy memories of growing up.
“My grandmother Mary was known by everybody as The Queen, as she dressed up as Queen Victoria in a parade once in Fethard,” he said.
Johnny, who was the firstborn of twelve children, said he remembers going to school in Killusty at four years old.
“I remember my father, every Sunday, he took down a notebook and a carpenter p pencil from the shelf, and he showed me how to use the pencil, and he was teaching me how to write before I went to school, and I had no problem when I went to school,” said Johnny.
“My father was a wheelwright making wheels for cars, and I was very interested in all of that, and that is how I picked up the interest in wood turning,” said Johnny.
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He often ponders out to his workshop beside the house where Johnny carried out his wood turning craft throughout his life.
“It does bring back great memories for me to go out to the workshop. I also go for a walk down in the Fethard Town Park when I can. I can’t believe I am this age, I just take every day as it comes,” he said