​Sadness in Kilkenny and Tipperary at passing of Nancy Lennon, aged 102

Nancy, who celebrated her 102nd birthday on January 17, was predeceased by her husband Stephen (a Monaghan man originally), and her daughter Deirdre (McSherry). She will always be lovingly remembered by her family Bernard, Jerome, Stephen and Anne Marie (Cosgrave), daughters-in-law, sons-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, extended family, neighbours and friends.

Nancy will repose at Fennessy’s Funeral Home on Thursday from 5 to 7 pm, with removal on Friday morning to St John the Baptist Church, Powerstown, arriving at 11.50 am for requiem Mass at 12 noon. Interment will take place at Lisronagh Cemetery afterwards.

In an interview with Eamonn Wynne on the occasion of her 100th birthday in January 2022, Nancy explained her longevity “Plenty of fresh air, plain food and hard work are the recipes for a long and happy life,” she said.

In great form on the day, surrounded by her family, Nancy added:

“If you don’t stay out in the fresh air you’re finished. “I don’t smoke or drink and I like plain food.”

Although she lived in Clonmel for most of her long and happy life, Nancy was born in Kilkenny and remained a proud Kilkenny woman up to the very end. She was born into a farming family in Julianstown, Castlecomer, on January 17, 1922, at a time when Ireland was enduring the birth pangs of a new nation.

She was baptised Anne Nancy Tynan but for the past 102+ years was known to all and sundry, who had the pleasure of knowing her, as Nancy. She came to Clonmel in the early 1940s to help out in the bar of the Ormonde Hotel in Gladstone Street for what she presumed would be a short spell. Little did she know then.

Shortly after her arrival she met Stephen Lennon, originally from Tullycara in Castleblayney, Monaghan, who had moved to Clonmel with the army during the Emergency.

Nancy and Stephen were married in 1947 and lived for a short time at King’s Close on King Street before setting up home with their family in the old schoolhouse in Powerstown, right opposite the church, in 1952.

A few years later they opened a shop at the front of the house selling groceries and newspapers. The shop also sold sweets, which meant it was a popular meeting place for local children on their way home from school.    

Nancy Lennon celebrating her 100th birthday in 2022 at St Anthony’s Unit in Clonmel with her sons and daughter. From left, Stephen, Bernard, Anne Marie and Jerome. Picture: John D Kelly

The couple raised a family of five children - Bernard, Jerome, Deirdre (McSherry, who died  in 2003), Stephen and Anne Marie (Cosgrave).

The couple met when Nancy was assistant manager of the Spanish Arms, the guesthouse and lounge bar near the bus and railway station in Clonmel. One of her colleagues suggested to Nancy that she should go and listen to Stephen speaking, because she couldn’t understand his northern Irish accent. As they say, the rest is history.

Despite her 80 odd years spent in Clonmel, a hint of a Kilkenny accent was always evident when Nancy spoke. 

She got the ‘Kilkenny People’ and ‘The Nationalist’ every week without fail and read both newspapers from cover to cover, to keep her up to date with all the news and sport from her home county and her adopted county. She also read the ‘Irish Independent’ daily.

“I like world affairs and all that but I don’t have much time for television. I prefer to read a book,” she told Eamonn Wynne back in 2022.

Nancy always kept in touch with her relations and friends in Kilkenny, and one of the nicest surprises she received on the occasion of her 100th  was a birthday card from her hero, legendary Kilkenny hurler Henry Shefflin, which she treasured almost as much as the letter and cheque she received from President Michael D Higgins on her special birthday.

Throughout her life Nancy was actively involved with Powerstown Lisronagh ICA, serving as the branch’s president, and also enjoyed her trips to Lourdes, both as a helper and a pilgrim.

For her final seven years of life Nancy was a resident of St Anthony’s Unit and enjoyed her time there. “It’s a friendly place and they look after me very well,” she always said.

“I’m alright,” she smiled when finishing up her chat that day on her 100th birthday. “Please God, the man above will leave me here for another while,” she said. And indeed, He did.

May she rest in peace.