IRELAND’S oldest voter cast her ballot paper in Rathmullan yesterday and told people to forget about the recession as long as they had their health.
Katie McMenamin, Red Brae, Rathmullan didn’t look her 107 years when she cast her ballot at the local St. Joseph’ s national school in the town.
Katie was driven the short distance from her home by her daughter Mary Bowden.
And Katie smiled broadly as she was greeted by well-wishers and the locals out casting their votes in the sunshine in Rathmullan.
She was brought into the polling station by Ireland’ s oldest candidate, Independent Cllr. Ian McGarvey, who himself is a sprightly 81 years of age.
She took time to look at the eleven names on the ballot paper before coming to a decision and she is able to read and write without the aid of spectacles.
She was in a jovial mood during her ten minutes at the polling station chatting to all and sundry who came along to share in her historic experience.
Katie has never voted for Fianna Fail and in fact she recalled casting her very first vote for Cumann Na Gheadhal in Frosses NS in June 1927.
Asked what she thought of the state of the country Katie said it was desperate but as long as we have our health well will be okay.
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