Posted online: Dec 1st, 2011

CELEBRATING 100 YEARS, Kildare man Thomas O’Brien is one of the first to receive communication from our new president, Michael D Higgins.
Receiving a letter and cheque from the president on the occasion, The Kilteel native led the celebrations last weekend as a party was held to mark the occasion.
A resident of Peamount Healthcare, Thomas had lived in Kilteel until he suffered a stroke last January. Thomas’ life spans the history of the nation. He recalls talk of World War 1 and the Easter Rising, while he himself witnessed the burning of the Custom House in 1921 when on a visit to Dublin with his father. Though it was cold last year, Thomas himself says he remembers harsher winters in ’62 and ’63 and most especially 1947 which was “real, real bad”. A sheep and cattle farmer, Thomas has enjoyed working outdoors all his life.
Peamount which is almost 100 years also, is an independent voluntary organisation that provides a range of high quality health and social care services. “We help people return home after a serious illness, we provide safe and homely residential care for those who need it, and we support people to live as independently as possible in the community,” a spokesperson said.